J-1 Language Requirement

• Sponsoring Faculty/Staff

All visitors selected to participate in J-1 programs at Cornell must provide proof of sufficient English language knowledge. The academic department must certify that the prospective exchange visitor can function on a day-to-day basis and conduct the proposed academic activities in English.

• "The prospective exchange visitor has the English language skills sufficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the United States": Functioning on a day-to-day basis is defined as being able to communicate successfully with the local community, such as negotiating with a landlord, explaining symptoms to a physician, or understanding emergency instructions from police or fire departments.
• "The prospective exchange visitor has the English language skills sufficient to conduct his/her proposed academic activities (research, teaching, internship, etc.) in the exchange activity environment": The prospective visitor must be able to efficiently communicate and understand academic concepts in English, including safety issues and instructions in a lab context.

Demonstrating English Proficiency

English proficiency may be demonstrated in several ways.

• Through an objective interview conducted in English.
  • Interviews may not be conducted by the scholar's prospective supervisor. 
  • We recommend using English3 as an objective third-party assessment. English3 scores of 3.5 or higher are accepted. 
• By a valid test score meeting the following standards: TOEFL (79 or above) or CEFR (B1/B2).
• By documentation (for example, a letter of certification from an academic institution or English language school).
• The exchange visitor is a native speaker of English and/or from a country with English as an official language (see list below).
• The exchange visitor received education in a country with English as an official language and the language of instruction in higher education.

Countries with English as an Official Language