International Student and
Scholar Services
Exchange Visitor Updates
Fall 2012
Office of International Education
• OIE includes ISSS, EA and IP
• ISSS supports F students & J Exchange Visitors
– Marisa Atencio, Director, RO/DSO
– Gwen Fernandes, Assistant Director, PDSO/ARO
– Katie Tudini, Senior International Advisor, DSO/ARO
– Meg Popick, International Advisor, DSO/ARO
– Charlie Hammons, International Advisor, DSO/ARO
– Jeevan Devassy, SEVIS Coordinator, DSO/ARO
– Brittny Malbrue, International Coordinator, DSO/ARO
• 4500+ students and 600+ scholars annually
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J Exchange Visitor Program in Review
• Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (FulbrightHayes Act) of 1961
• Objective of the Exchange Visitor category:
"to increase mutual understanding between the people of the
United States and the people of other countries by means of
educational and cultural exchanges.“
• DS-2019 form issued by the OIE allows individual to apply
for a J-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad
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Exchange Visitor Program
• Visa “alphabet soup”
• J visa is a foreign policy visa NOT a work visa
• Apx. 20 J Exchange Visitor categories
– J students (non-degree, bachelors, masters, doctorate &
student intern)
– J scholars (short term, research scholar & professor)
• EV can accept payment for services from the J sponsor
• High flexibility comes with high standards from Dept. of State
• Department of State audits of J program sponsors increasing
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Sponsor, OIE and J EV relationship
OIE Responsible Officer
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iStart.gatech.edu
• Allows paperless processing and record keeping
• Ensures OIE can report records to SEVIS via batch
for DHS compliance
• Foreign national makes electronic requests, views
DHS status, and views status of requests any time
• More effective reporting and communication tool
• Automated alerts sent to scholar, OIE or
supervisor/P.I.
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Exchange Visitor Categories- Scholar
Short Term Scholar
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educators
scientists
research fellows
writers
museum administrators
librarians
similar persons of recognized expertise
• Earned Bachelor’s degree minimum
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lecture
observe
consult
participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, study tours, professional meetings
or similar types of educational and professional activities
• 3 weeks to 6 months
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Exchange Visitor Categories- Scholar
• Research Scholar and Professor
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Teaching
Lecturing
observing
consulting at post-secondary accredited educational institutions, museums, libraries, or
similar types of institutions
• Earned Bachelor’s degree minimum
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lecture
observe
consult
participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, study tours, professional meetings, or
similar types of educational and professional activities
• 3 weeks to 5 years
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24 month bar on repeat participation
• Research Scholars & Professors
– Prevents repeated participation until a minimum of 24
months has passed since last J research
scholar/professor program ended
• Eligible to return U.S. in a different J category OR
different visa type
– GT must avoid circumventing the 24 month bar
– Min. 60 days between J programs & identify that a
“new program” exists
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Exchange Visitor Categories- Student
• University Students:
– Admitted to pursue a "full course of study" in a degree
program or be engaged full time in a non-degree
"prescribed course of study."
• Degree seeking students (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate):
– GTL, GT Shanghai, gov’t funded students
– DS-2019 period based on average degree completion
• Non-degree seeking students:
– Exchange students
– DS-2019 issued for 24 months max.
• J Student Intern- Jan 2013
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J Student Intern
Starting January 2013, GT will issue DS-2019s for Student
Intern to a Foreign Student who:
1. is good standing and currently enrolled and pursuing a degree at a
postsecondary academic institution outside the United States
2. demonstrate the U.S. internship will "fulfill the educational objectives for a current
degree program at the home institution“.
3. will participate in activity that furthers interchange, mutual enrichment, and
linkages between GT and research and educational institutions of other countries
4. demonstrate the established financial support, either from GT or other sources, to
live in Atlanta ($1500 month)
5. will maintain health insurance coverage that is required by federal regulations
throughout the duration of the applicable J program
6. will engage in a paid or unpaid internship not involve unskilled or casual labor,
child care or elder care, aviation or in clinical positions, does not involve more
than 20% clerical work and does not displace full or part-time temporary or
permanent American workers or serve to fill a labor need.
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J Student Intern- WHY CHANGE?
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Compliance with Dept. of State regulations
More appropriate categorization for students who conduct research/internship at
GT to fulfill educational objectives for a their degree
Student Intern timing considerations
– Start J program on the 1st of the month
– Minimum 2 month Internship
– 12 month maximum
OIE will lead coordination and use iStart submission information to create
DS-7002 which replaces the GT Template Placement Agreement
Student Intern Placement Fee ensures OIE has resources to manage compliance
and can provide J Student Interns support not in place for scholar categories
– Orientation specific for J Student Interns
– Involvement in campus activities and events
– Monitor evaluations required by DOS
– $50 GTL & GTShanghai
– $325 for all others
J Student Intern Flow
• Foreign student identifies an academic sponsor
• HR administrator submits iStart J Student Intern Program
request
– Identifies 2nd approver to complete English Language proficiency
• HR administrator submits Export Control e-form
– Identifies 2nd approver to complete export control questions
• J Intern completes J Student Intern Applicant information via
iStart
– Academic Certification sent via iStart to home university advisor/dean
• Department Compliance Certification
• OIE reviews and processes DS-2019 and DS-7002 within 5
business days of complete submission
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J Exchange Visitor Process Review
1. Foreign national identifies a GT sponsor eligible to
supervise their exchange program at GT
2. Sponsoring dept. submits iStart request with detail about:
1.
J-1 program request (program activities)
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English language proficiency (2nd approver)
Export control (2nd approver)
Exchange Visitor (J-1 applicant information)
Funding (Financial Upload)
Departmental certification
3. OIE reviews materials & issues DS-2019 within 5 days of
complete submission
4. Sponsoring dept. issues invitation letter, picks up and mails
DS-2019 to scholar
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J Exchange Visitor Process Review
1. Scholar uses DS-2019, invitation letter, financial
docs., etc… to apply for the J visa stamp
2. Scholar uses J visa & DS-2019 to enter the U.S.
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2.
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Reports to sponsoring dept. within 15 days of DS-2019 start date OR contacts
sponsoring dept. to request a deferral
Completes Affiliate paperwork & obtains username and password needed to access
GT systems
Completes J-1 Scholar Check-in e-form in iStart <30 days after DS-2019 start date
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2.
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Copy of DS-2019, I-94 and visa stamp
U.S. address
Evidence of health insurance or OIE will send a link to enroll in GT Student Blue plan
3. OIE validates the DS-2019 within 30 days of DS2019 start date & schedules EV for OIE orientation
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Changes in 2011-2012
• Use iStart to complete OIE check-in allowing OIE to activate
DS-2019 & confirm new J scholar orientation date
• Export control; P.I. 2nd approver in J program e-form
• Scholar e-mailed pre-arrival, initial reporting required &
extension alerts from info@oie.gatech.edu
• If not in the U.S. within 15 days of DS-2019 start date notify
OIE to defer
• Evidence of continuous health insurance for extensions,
travel validation, out of country & transfer
• E-form for DS-2019 signature prior to travel outside U.S.
• Out of Country e-form for travel >30 days if J Research
Scholar/Professor program will continue upon return to GT
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Health Insurance Changes
• J scholars can enroll in the GT BCBS Student Blue plan
– Rate banded by age
– Monthly payment (2 months min. with bank draft)
• Ensures scholars have:
– reputable insurance
– access to an affordable group rate
– BCBS & Stamps Health Center support (claims, understanding insurance, etc…)
• J scholars NOT eligible to receive health care services from
Stamps Health Center
• GT benefits eligible J scholars MUST purchase a Medical
Evac. & Repatriation plan prior to completing OIE check-in
• Pre-arrival & orientation materials provide insurance info.
• J-1 applicant e-form asks scholar about insurance coverage
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Changes for 2013
• Incidental employment, advisory opinion & dependent eforms (Jan 2013)
• Additional detail requested regarding GT program activities,
EV English language proficiency and educational and
cultural activities being offered by sponsor (Feb 2013)
• Export Control is it’s own e-form
• J Student Intern category (Jan 2013)
• Sunapsis 3.0 with new functionalities for ISSS (late spring
2013)
• Ongoing training of ISSS advisors on scholar issues
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Follow-up, Feedback & Questions
• Follow up:
– ISSS will send out:
• this presentation
• a flow chart for J Student Intern
• Feedback?
– What are your thoughts and concerns?
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