International Student and Scholar Services Exchange Visitor Updates

1. International Student and Scholar ServicesExchange Visitor Updates Fall 2012

2. 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 • JeevanDevassy, SEVIS Coordinator, DSO/ARO • BrittnyMalbrue, International Coordinator, DSO/ARO • 4500+ students and 600+ scholars annually

3. J 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

4. 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

5. Sponsor, OIE and J EV relationship J Exchange Visitor Department Sponsor OIE Responsible Officer

6. 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.

7. Exchange 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

8. Exchange 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. J Student Intern Starting January 2013, GT will issue DS-2019s for Student Intern to a Foreign Student who: • is good standing and currently enrolled and pursuing a degree at a postsecondary academic institution outside the United States • demonstrate the U.S. internship will "fulfill the educational objectives for a current degree program at the home institution“. • will participate in activity that furthers interchange, mutual enrichment, and linkages between GT and research and educational institutions of other countries • demonstrate the established financial support, either from GT or other sources, to live in Atlanta ($1500 month) • will maintain health insurance coverage that is required by federal regulations throughout the duration of the applicable J program • 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. J Exchange Visitor Process Review • Foreign national identifies a GT sponsor eligible to supervise their exchange program at GT • Sponsoring dept. submits iStart request with detail about: • J-1 program request (program activities) • English language proficiency (2nd approver) • Export control (2nd approver) • Exchange Visitor (J-1 applicant information) • Funding (Financial Upload) • Departmental certification • OIE reviews materials & issues DS-2019 within 5 days of complete submission • Sponsoring dept. issues invitation letter, picks up and mails DS-2019 to scholar

15. J Exchange Visitor Process Review • Scholar uses DS-2019, invitation letter, financial docs., etc… to apply for the J visa stamp • Scholar uses J visa & DS-2019 to enter the U.S. • 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 • 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 • OIE validates the DS-2019 within 30 days of DS-2019 start date & schedules EV for OIE orientation

16. 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

17. 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

18. Changes 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

19. 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?