International Student and Scholar Services

Exchange Visitor Updates

International Student and Scholar Services

Exchange Visitor Updates

Fall 2012

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Office of International EducationOffice 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 ReviewJ Exchange Visitor Program in Review

• Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hayes 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 ProgramExchange 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 relationshipSponsor, OIE and J EV relationship

J Exc

hange

Visito

r Department Sponsor

OIE Responsible Officer

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iStart.gatech.eduiStart.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- ScholarExchange Visitor Categories- Scholar

Short Term Scholar– educators – scientists – research fellows– writers– museum administrators– librarians– similar persons of recognized expertise

• Earned Bachelor’s degree minimum– 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- ScholarExchange Visitor Categories- Scholar

• Research Scholar and Professor– Teaching– Lecturing– observing– consulting at post-secondary accredited educational institutions, museums, libraries, or

similar types of institutions

• Earned Bachelor’s degree minimum– 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 participation24 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- StudentExchange 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 InternJ 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?J Student Intern- WHY CHANGE?

• 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

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J Student Intern FlowJ 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 ReviewJ 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)

• English language proficiency (2nd approver)

2. Export control (2nd approver)

3. Exchange Visitor (J-1 applicant information)

4. Funding (Financial Upload)

5. 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 ReviewJ 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.1. Reports to sponsoring dept. within 15 days of DS-2019 start date OR contacts

sponsoring dept. to request a deferral

2. Completes Affiliate paperwork & obtains username and password needed to access GT systems

3. Completes J-1 Scholar Check-in e-form in iStart <30 days after DS-2019 start date1. Copy of DS-2019, I-94 and visa stamp

2. U.S. address

3. 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 DS-2019 start date & schedules EV for OIE orientation

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Changes in 2011-2012Changes 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 ChangesHealth 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 2013Changes for 2013

• Incidental employment, advisory opinion & dependent e-forms (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 & QuestionsFollow-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?