Visiting Scholar and Postdoctoral Appointment Program

Visiting scholar and postdoctoral appointment programs at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) have been established to accommodate:

• scholars with a Ph.D. or foreign equivalent conferred more than 5 years ago, who desire to pursue their research and professional interest on the Berkeley campus
• scholars with a Ph.D. or foreign equivalent conferred less than 5 years ago but currently holding a professorial tenure-track position, e.g., Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor
• scholars who do not possess a Ph.D. but have substantial professional experience beyond a master's degree which permits IRLE to certify to the Dean’s authorizing unit that the individual functions at the level of a Ph.D. scholar
• scholars who plan to do research for more than one month in duration

Honorary appointments under these programs are contingent upon the interest and ability IRLE to accommodate the affiliate for the period of time desired and upon the approval of Michael Reich, Director-IRLE. A UC Berkeley professor or labor specialist affiliated with IRLE must agree to mentor you during your stay.

If the above criteria are met, please e-mail your request for visiting scholar status to: Michael Reich (mreich@econ.berkeley.edu), with a copy to the visiting scholar coordinator, Myra Armstrong (zulu2@berkeley.edu). Please be specific as to the period of time you would spend at IRLE, your proposed mentor and planned research.

It takes approximately 4-5 months for J-1 visa processing and approval from the Visiting Scholars and Postdocs Affairs office at UC Berkeley. Annual fees for J-1 visa processing through Services for International Scholars and Students are $425.00, payable by the Visiting Scholar during the application period. Fees for VSPA are $200.00, payable by the Visiting Scholar upon arrival to UC Berkeley.

All applications and forms will be provided by Myra Armstrong. You should check with your local consulate to get a better idea of the length of time the visa process will take. The Institute can offer you shared office space in our visiting scholar offices. Computer access, a printer, fax and copier machine is available to the scholar. The IRLE administrative fee for our services of $200 per semester is due upon arrival.

Please Note:
Any individual who participates in an Exchange Visitor program in the Professor or Researcher Scholar categories on or after 11/18/06 is subject to a 24-month bar on “repeat participation” in those categories. Scholars subject to the bar may not return to the U.S. as a J-1 scholar in the Professor or Research Scholar categories for the 24-month period.

The maximum period of participation for J-1 Professors and Researcher Scholars has been increased from three years to five years. The five-year period is not an aggregate of five years. It is a continuous five-year period given to a participant on a “use or lose” basis.

Use of the Short-Term Scholar Category
As an alternative, departments may elect to use the J-1 Short-Term Scholar category which allows scholars to engage in research programs for a period of up to 6 months. This is a good option for scholars whose programs are short in nature, want to leave open the possibility of returning in the future, and do not wish to be subject to the 24 month bar on repeat participation.