Congratulations on your selection to participate in the exchange program administered by the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs (OVPIA) at Indiana University.
There are several steps that you will need to complete to prepare for your arrival. It is imperative that you complete the forms as accurately as possible and provide all required supporting documentation.
International exchange scholars who are not citizens or residents of the U.S. will need to obtain a J-1 Scholar Visa. In order for our office to initiate the process for your J-1 visa, you must complete and submit the information form for visiting exchange scholars. Before starting the form, you should confirm that you have all of the required items:
Do not begin the form until you have determined the exact dates of your intended visit.
After the dates of your visit are set, we will initiate your J-1 scholar visa application and send you a link by email to complete the applicant information section in Atlas. After that section is completed, the Office of International Services at IU will issue the Form DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. The form allows you to seek an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in order to obtain a J visa to enter the United States. The Office of the Vice President for International Affairs will send the DS-2019, along with a copy of your official invitation letter, to you by express mail.
Save the cover letter that accompanies the DS-2019. It includes your IU identification number, required to create your IU email account and complete the check-in process upon arrival at IU.
If a child, spouse, or other dependent will accompany you, you must provide each individual’s name, date of birth, and relationship to you on the form. You will also be asked to upload a scanned copy of the passport photo page for each dependent in Atlas.
Most scholars submit signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school confirming their English language proficiency level. Your home institution may be able to provide this documentation for you. A letter (printed on official letterhead) from a qualified faculty or staff member indicating your proficiency will be sufficient. Ask the international office at your home university if they can help you.
If you choose to provide scores from an examination or copy of a language program certificate, such documentation must be less than one year old.
A degree or certificate completed in an English-speaking country, multiple publications in English, or recent conference presentations in English will not meet U.S. Department of State requirements for language proficiency.
Indiana University will not initiate your visa application until you have submitted proof of English proficiency.
Learn more about the language proficiency requirementThe acceptance email from the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs will let you know if any financial documentation is required for your visa. If documentation is required, you must upload current financial documentation that lists the sources and amounts of financial support you have secured for your program, totaling at least $1,200 per month for the duration of your invitation. You may upload a letter from your home institution (on official letterhead) that states the financial support provided or a copy of a recent bank statement (preferably with the currency converted to U.S. dollars). No other documents will be accepted.
If you are bringing your spouse, unmarried children under the age of 21, or both, you must show access to $500 per month for the first dependent and $300 per month for each additional dependent.
You are required to get a statement (letter or email) from a current IU faculty member who agrees to serve as your host. You should save the letter or email as a PDF and upload it on the form. Emeritus faculty members cannot serve as hosts.
After you submit the form, you will receive instructions by email to upload and submit a scanned copy of your passport photo page. The scanned copy must be clear enough for staff to read all text on the page. Please check the expiration date of your passport to ensure it is valid for a minimum of six months after your intended date of departure from the United States.
Start the form for non-U.S. citizens/residents
Be prepared to provide these items on the form:
After you submit the form, you will receive instructions by email to upload and submit a scanned copy of the photo page from your passport and/or green card.
Complete the pre-arrival form after you have booked your flight. On the form, you will be asked to provide your flight itinerary, anticipated date of arrival on the IU campus, anticipated date of departure from the IU campus, and housing information. Your completion of the form allows our office to confirm that all necessary preparations for your stay have been completed.
All scholars must create an IU Exchange email account in order to access the university’s services and resources, including wireless internet, on-campus computers, and university library resources. Our staff will notify you when it is possibe for you to set up an email account, typically one month prior to your program start date. Follow the instructions carefully. You will need your IU identificaton number. It is listed on the cover page that you received with your DS-2019 form.
After you have set up your IU email account, we recommend that you forward all messages from that account to the primary email account you use (for example, your home university account). Instructions to set up email forwarding can be found in IU’s Knowledge Base: https://kb.iu.edu/d/adjp.
Why forward email? Some scholars send scanned materials or other electronic research materials to their IU email account. After your exchange program ends, you immediately lose access to your IU email account. As a result, you might lose any materials that you sent to that account.
If you will live in guest housing through IU's Residential Programs and Services (RPS), your IU email account is required to complete the check-in process.
Review Indiana University’s policies on the ethical use of information technology and the university’s network. Violations are taken seriously and may result in the disabling of your access to all resources and services through the university network. Serious violations may also jeopardize your ability to remain at Indiana University and return in the future.
We have compiled a few resources about getting to the campus where you will be staying, housing options, and health insurance coverage.
After you have booked your flight and know your arrival time at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), you should arrange ground transportation to either the Bloomington campus or your accommodations in Indianapolis.
The city of Bloomington is approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the airport. You should reserve a seat on a shuttle or book a car service prior to your arrival.
Getting to Bloomington by bus
There are a few shuttle services that go to Bloomington from the airport. They depart from Ground Transportation Zone 1 at the airport. You should make a reservation for the shuttle service you plan to use before you travel.
Getting to Bloomington by limousine
Classic Touch Limo offers door-to-door service from the airport to your destination in Bloomington. It is more expensive than taking an airport shuttle.
Getting to Bloomington by taxi
Taxi service is available at the curb just outside the baggage claim area. It may cost approximately $100 to get to Bloomington by taxi. Be sure ot ask your driver about the cost before choosing to take a taxi. Also, it is a custom in the United States to tip your taxi driver.
Transportation within Indianapolis
Ground transportation information is available on the airport website. Contact the IUPUI Office of International Affairs with any questions.
All visitors to the IU Bloomington and IUPUI campuses may ride the campus buses free of charge with a CrimsonCard, which you can get when you arrive on campus.
Visiting exchange scholars on the IU Bloomington campus can ride any City of Bloomington bus free of charge with their CrimsonCard. Any accompanying dependents (spouses or children) must pay to ride a City of Bloomington bus.
If you are from one of the following partner universities, you will be provided with a reasonable per diem to cover the cost of on-campus or off-campus accommodations.
If you are visiting from a partner university not listed above, you should secure your own accommodations.
IU's Residential Programs and Services offers a limited number of options for short-term on-campus guest housing.
Learn about on-campus guest housing
The Office of International Services maintains a list of resources for off-campus accommodations.
If you are not receiving health insurance from IU, you will need to purchase health insurance through Indiana University or be prepared to file a waiver if your current health insurance meets the minimum requirement. IU’s Office of International Services (OIS) has helpful online resources about the health insurance coverage offered through Indiana University (International Plan with Anthem).
Scholars who receive health insurance from IU will be enrolled in the IU International Plan with Anthem. OIS has more information about the plan.
Learn more about health insurance at IU
