The Office of the Vice President for International Affairs (OVPIA) at Indiana University coordinates several exchange programs for faculty and graduate students with partner institutions around the world.
We extend our congratulations to faculty and graduate students nominated by their home institutions to participate in these programs as visiting exchange scholars. The sections that follow explain the steps you will need to follow to prepare for your visit. We ask that you review the steps carefully, complete the required forms as accurately as possible, and provide all required supporting documentation.
Step 1: Complete the scholar information form
For non-U.S. citizens and residents
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.
The 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.
For U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders)
Be prepared to provide these items on the form:
Exact arrival and departure dates
Information about dependents who will accompany you
A statement (letter or email, saved as a PDF that you can upload) from an IU faculty member indicating that they will serve as your host for the duration of your visit.
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.
