Appointment Dates and Funding

Appointment Dates

Choosing a Start Date

Departments must establish appointment start dates that allow sufficient time for the collection of required information and documentation, preparation of immigration documents (e.g., J-1 DS-2019 forms), and/or filing of immigration petitions with USCIS (e.g., H-1B petitions), as well as visa issuance and travel to the United States, if applicable. The guidelines below are intended to assist departments in determining an appropriate and realistic start date.

  • For J-1 Scholars and J-1 Student Interns, the requested start date must be at least 90 days from the date all documentation and data are submitted to OISS. (Because Canadian citizens are exempt from needing to apply for a U.S. visa, there may be some flexibility in the 90-day lead time.) Typically, within 10 business days of receiving a completed MyOISS request, OISS will issue the DS-2019 needed for the visa application and entry to the U.S During busier times of the year, this process may take longer.
  • For H-1B sponsorship, which requires applications to both the Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), OISS therefore requires at least six months’ lead time from the date a request is initiated through MyOISS, and the requested sponsorship start date must be at least five months from the date all required documentation is submitted. If these timelines cannot be met, a later start date may be required. Expedite requests cannot be accommodated due to federal agency processing timelines outside of OISS’s control.
  • If the scholar is already in the U.S., the timeline may be different. Hiring units should consult with OISS.

Choosing an End Date/Appointment Period Length

OISS encourages all departments, when appropriate, to request the longest DS-2019 period possible if there is an intention to re-appoint a scholar beyond the length of their current initial appointment. The maximum allowable length for J-1 Research Scholars is 5 years, and for J-1 Short Term Scholars is 6 months.

A longer DS-2019 period benefits everyone: the J-1 scholar and their families by reducing the need to travel back home to obtain renewed visas, paying additional visa fees, and alleviating the stress surrounding the U.S. immigration process; decreasing training disruptions due to required travel periods; and decreasing the administrative work for both the hiring departments and OISS. We strongly recommend taking this approach when the faculty mentor or supervisor intends to continue reappointments in future years. 

Proof of Funding is Required

Please remember we still need proof of funding for the full requested period to issue the DS-2019. If the scholar has multiple funding sources to support their J-1 program at Yale, you must include ALL funding sources the scholar will use during their J-1 program at Yale.

End Date and Commitment to Employment

Issuing the DS-2019 with an end date beyond the current appointment end date does not represent a commitment to employment. Annual reappointments are still required per the University policy and the scholars must meet reappointment eligibilities, including a successful annual IDP report. The employment may end at either party's will and the scholar's DS-2019 will be modified when the employment end date at Yale is finalized.  

Funding Requirements (J-1 Visa Only)

U.S. immigration regulations require that Yale verify and document adequate funding arrangements for all incoming scholars on J-1 visas. In all instances, the minimum funding level must be met before a visa document (such as DS-2019) can be issued.

Appointments Within Postdoctoral Affairs

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs sets minimum funding amounts for the positions of postdoctoral associates and fellows, postgraduate associates, laboratory associates, and visiting fellows.

Postdoc Minimums as of July 1, 2025:

  • Year 1: $68,500
  • Year 2: $69,000
  • Year 3: $69,500
  • Year 4: $70,000
  • Year 5: $71,000
  • Year 6: $72,400

Details on Postdoc Compensation Minimums (Note: The FY26 postdoctoral minimum salary rates listed above will remain in effect after July 1, 2026, until further notice.)

Postgrad, Laboratory Associate, and Visiting Fellows:

  • $44,400 per year ($3,700 per month) - as of July 1, 2025
  • $45,600 per year ($3,800 per month) - as of July 1, 2026

Details on Postgraduate Compensation Minimums

Details on Other Appointment Type Minimums

Faculty Appointments

Dependents

As of July 1, 2025

  • An additional $9,600 per year ($800 per month) for an accompanying spouse and $6,900 per year ($575 per month) for each accompanying child.
  • For Postdocs, the minimum funding takes the additional spouse and child(ren) amount(s) into account, so the funding for the Postdoc may be less than stated above. See calculator below to get an idea of the minimum funding amount.

As of July 1, 2026

  • An additional $10,800 per year ($900 per month) for an accompanying spouse and $7,824 per year ($652 per month) for each accompanying child.
  • For Postdocs, the minimum funding takes the additional spouse and child(ren) amount(s) into account, so the funding for the Postdoc may be less than stated above. See calculator below to get an idea of the minimum funding amount.

J-1 Total Minimum Funding Requirements Calculator*

As of July 1, 2026

* Disclaimer: This calculator is meant to provide you with an idea of the minimum yearly funding requirements, and results are not guaranteed to be accurate. Results should not be taken as professional advice or relied upon as the sole basis for making important decisions. 

** If a visitor is coming for less than a year, the annual amount may be prorated for the appropriate number of months or weeks.

Appointment Not Funded by Yale

If the J-1 scholar appointment is not funded by Yale, OISS requires documentation of the source and amount of funding (meeting at least the minimum requirements above), such as a letter of support, an award letter, or other third-party support. If the scholar has multiple funding sources to support their J-1 program at Yale,  ALL funding sources they will use must be included in the DS-2019 request. J-1 scholars and any accompanying dependents must have health insurance coverage regardless of funding source.

Visiting Undergraduates Participating in Research or Clinical Activities

Funding for Visiting Undergraduates Participating in Research or Clinical Activities must meet the same minimum funding requirements.

H-1B Sponsorship

Requests for H-1B sponsorship must follow the DOL regulations funding, Prevailing Wage, regardless of the Yale funding level.