Date
Name
Address
Email address
Dear NAME:
I invite you to come to Indiana University with appointment as a Visiting Research Scholar in
the Department of Central Eurasian Studies (CEUS) from (INSERT BEGIN AND END
DATES). I will serve as your faculty sponsor and your department contact. As faculty sponsor, I
will collect the information required for your IU appointment and, if necessary, your visa
application. I also will help acquaint you with the resources of our campus and will serve as your
point of contact to answer any questions you might have prior to arrival and during your visit.
This an unpaid academic appointment. Appointment as a CEUS Visiting Research Scholar
provides a university identity card, full access to the university libraries, an Indiana University email account (the e-mail password gives access to the internet on campus computers; IU also has
wireless capability and dial up access) and, for a fee, access to campus photocopy facilities,
recreational facilities, etc. If your research progresses well and you continue to provide proof of
sufficient funding, you can apply for extension of the IU appointment to aid completion of your
research project.
(INSERT THE NEXT THREE PARAGRAPHS FOR NON-US CITIZENS)
You must comply with US and campus policies regarding visa status. While in the US, visa
holders are expected to maintain regular contact with the Indiana University Office of
International Services, with the faculty sponsor and with the sponsoring department, and to
comply with federal policies regarding notification of address changes, etc. The US Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services created the Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System (SEVIS) internet-based system to maintain current information on non-immigrant
students, exchange visitors, and their dependents, including arrival, address changes, and
departure details. Failure to comply with SEVIS requirements can result in cancellation of your
visa or difficulty in return visits to the US. The IU Office of International Services makes every
effort to assist you with compliance.
US policy requires visa visitors and any accompanying dependents to schedule personal
interviews at a US Embassy or Consulate before the visa is issued. There can be lengthy delays
for interview appointments in some countries. IU must send you an approved DS-2019 (J-1 visa
application) form before you go to the interview. You should also take documents that prove you
have sufficient funding, and a receipt showing payment of the SEVIS fee required by the US
government. (See http://www.ice.gov/sevis/ for a description of this fee, the required I-901 form,
and payment instructions. You’ll need a number from the DS-2019 form to make this payment.)
As faculty sponsor, I will collect from you the information necessary for preparation of the DS2019 (J-1 visa) form.
To facilitate your IU appointment, please immediately send a completed and signed IU Personal
Profile Form ED by scan, fax, or mail. The ED form can be downloaded from
http://www.indiana.edu/~uhrs/pubs/forms/hrms/ed.pdf. If you are an international visitor, also
send a copy of your passport name page.
We hope you will accept this invitation to join us as a Visiting Research Scholar and will enjoy
productive research on (INSERT RESEARCH TOPIC).
Sincerely,
CEUS PROFESSOR’S NAME
RANK
E-MAIL ADDRESS
Christopher Atwood
Chair
catwood@indiana.edu