California State University, Fullerton, welcomes Visiting Scholars for stays of varying duration in order to conduct research and consult with faculty members at the University. Such visits are in keeping with the University's Mission and Goals, which express its aspiration "to combine the best qualities of teaching and research universities" and its commitment to "promote collaborative and innovative exchanges with other educational institutions." Visiting Scholars from abroad may especially contribute to the internationalizing of a campus that sees itself as "a regional university with a global outlook."
Visiting Foreign Scholars and Faculty are participants in the "Exchange Visitor Program" regulated and operated by the US. Department of State.
CSUF is authorized by the State Department to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program. A host of complex regulations limit the conditions and circumstances under which we can invite an Exchange Visitor and severely restrict the activities of the Exchange Visitor and dependents while in the United States.
The process of facilitating an Exchange Visitor's time with CSUF involves four steps, at a minimum. Upon receipt of appropriate information (see below), Cal State Fullerton issues a DS-2019 form, which the Visiting Scholar uses to apply for an Exchange Visitor "J-1" visa. Please note that visiting scholars applying for J visas with DS-2019 forms with an issue date of September 1, 2004 or after must pay a $100.00 SEVIS fee before applying for their visas. DHS has established several options applicants may use to pay the fee. Accompanying dependents apply for "J-2" visa status, however, they are not subject to the SEVIS fee. Among the requirements imposed by the State Department is that the Exchange Visitor and all dependents must have health insurance which meets State Department specifications. Information on plans which meet State Department requirements is available in the Academic Programs Office or the Office of International Education and Exchange. Health insurance is a significant cost for participants: as of Fall 2001 the price was $552 per year for a single individual and additional $1300 per year for a spouse and $800 per year for one child. Please check with Academic Programs or with International Education & Exchange for the latest and best information on plans and costs.
In light of these DS-2019, visa, health insurance, and other complex regulations, the Associate Vice President, Academic Programs, issues all invitations to visiting scholars on behalf of the University and authorizes all applications for a United States visa by visiting scholars from abroad.
• Please don't invite visiting scholars yourself. Academic Programs will issue an invitation only upon request of a college dean. Chairs or others who wish to invite a visiting scholar must have the approval of their dean. Prior to such an invitation, a college dean and department chair must agree to serve as hosts for the Visiting Scholar.
• Such agreement includes a commitment to provide an office, a computer, clerical support and other services normally provided to faculty members, and whatever assistance may be necessary in becoming established in the community for the length of the visit. Academic Programs does not meet airplanes, does not find apartment, etc. In a word, those who invite need to see to these basics.
1. Requests that the university host a Visiting Scholar should be submitted to the Associate Vice President, Academic Programs, MH-111E. Requests should include:
• Approval of the proposed visit by the appropriate department chair and college dean;
• The Visiting Scholar's vita, the time period of the proposed visit, and a description of the goals of the Scholar's visit and how the visit will benefit the department, college, and university;
• A commitment by the college and department to provide the Visiting Scholar with an office, a computer, and the clerical support and services normally provided to faculty members;
• An expression of willingness to offer whatever assistance may be necessary to help the Visiting Scholar to become established in the community for the length f the visit, e.g., 1) pick-up at the airport; 2) help in finding a place to live; 3) help in buying a car; 40 orientation to life in the U.S./California; 50 help with financial matters such as banking, etc.
2. The Associate Vice president, Academic Programs, will issue a letter of invitation to the Visiting Scholar. Colleges, departments, and individual faculty members may not extend such invitations on behalf of the University.
3. In a letter of acceptance, Visiting Scholars from abroad will provide the following, all of which is required prior to University authorization of a United States visa application: 1) duration of stay; 2) proof of financial support; 3) proof of health insurance; 4) identification of spouse and children who will accompany the Visiting Scholar to the U.S.; 5) a completed DS-2019 Request Form.
4. After receiving the letter of acceptance and the requested information, the Associate Vice President, Academic Programs, will send the Visiting Scholar from abroad the DS-2019 document to be used in applying for a J-1 (visiting Scholar) visa.
5. The actual J-1 visa for the Exchange Visitor is issued by a U.S. Consulate or Embassy overseas. Depending on individual circumstances and the country of origin, the Visiting Scholar may or may not encounter difficulties in obtaining the visa.
6. In the case of a Visiting Scholar who is currently in the U.S. under the sponsorship of another institution's Exchange Visitor program, the conditions for program transfer are severely restricted (duration of exchange and type of activity authorized). For exchange Visitors who are already in the U.S., it is suggested that her sponsoring department provide a photocopy of the Visiting Scholar's current DS-2019. This will enable us to determine if program transfer is possible under State Department regulations.
See U.S. State Department regulations.
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