Departmental Responsibilities
High Point University > Global Education > Immigration Matters > Departmental Responsibilities

Hosting J-1 Scholars

Providing clear explanations of the rights, responsibilities, requirements, and available options to our international students and scholars requires a strong partnership between the Office of Global Education and the hosting departments (HR Representatives, Faculty Sponsors and Department Heads). It is therefore critical that hosting departments familiarize themselves with the departmental responsibilities for hosting an exchange visitor before initiating the process of requesting a Form DS-2019 for an exchange visitor and ensure that the following eligibility requirements for the prospective exchange visitor are met.

When selecting an exchange visitor category, be sure that the planned activities of the program are grounded firmly in the regulatory scope of the specific exchange visitor category.

 

Department Supervision

The exchange visitor must have an HPU faculty supervisor during their entire stay and the visitor must hold a full-time HR appointment within the department (minimum 30 hours per week for J-1 Scholar categories).

 

Review EV Qualifications

Departments should ensure that any exchange visitor they propose meets the general qualifications for the sponsorship of a J-1/J-2 exchange visitor visa. These minimum qualifications include:

  • minimum degree requirements
  • ability to fund their time in the U.S.
  • minimum English proficiency

More detailed information about these requirements can be found by reviewing Exchange Visitor Qualifications.

 

Application Process

Departments must initiate an application for short-term scholars, research scholars, and professors by submitting the Sponsorship Request for J-1 Exchange Visitor form. Please consult J-1 Scholar Request Procedures to view the full instructions.

 

Timeline

The time from requesting sponsorship of an EV to their arrival to HPU and beginning their student or scholar program can take considerable time. The Office of Global Education recognizes the urgency that your department and the EV may have in beginning their program, but we also understand that many parts of the sponsorship process are sequential and require completion from various people and organizations. As such, it is important that the Office of Global Education receive the completed, authorized Sponsorship Request for J-1 Exchange Visitor form with supplemental documents at least three months prior to the EV’s visit to provide sufficient time for processing and obtaining visa sticker abroad.

All those involved in the process of hosting an EV should be aware of this timeline and regularly check for emailed or electronic requests for information to minimize any misunderstandings and frustrations with the process.