Exchange Visitors are individuals coming to the University of Puget Sound for the temporary purpose of studying, teaching, conducting research, consulting or otherwise sharing special skills.

Available Categories

Our U.S. State Department designation allows the University of Puget Sound to host Exchange Visitors in the following categories:

Professor

Exchange visitor’s primary purpose is teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at post-secondary accredited academic institutions, museums, libraries, or similar types of institutions (22 C.F.R. 62.4(e)). A professor may also conduct research. This category may not be used for an individual filling a tenure track position.

  • Minimum Program Duration: 3 weeks
  • Maximum Program Duration: 5 years
  • Subject to 12 and 24 month bars

Research Scholar

Exchange visitor’s primary purpose is conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited academic institutions, or similar types of institutions (22 C.F.R. 62.4(f)). This category may not be used for an individual filling a tenure track position.

  • Minimum Program Duration: 3 weeks
  • Maximum Program Duration: 5 years
  • Subject to 12 and 24 month bars

Short Term Scholar

A professor, research scholar, or person with similar education or accomplishments who enters the United States for a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited academic institutions, or similar types of institutions (22 C.F.R. 62.4(b)).

  • Minimum Program Duration: None
  • Maximum Program Duration: 6 months (no extensions possible)
  • Not Subject to 12 and 24-month bar

Student

At the University of Puget Sound we sponsor students for J-1 visas who fit this definition: A foreign national who is studying in the United States and engaged full-time in a prescribed course of study of up to 24 months (non-degree) (22 C.F.R. 62.4(a)).

  • Minimum Program Duration: 3 weeks
  • Maximum Program Duration: 24 months (students admitted to pursue a full degree at Puget Sound are sponsored for F-1 visas
  • Not Subject to 12 and 24-month bar

Eligibility

In order to invite an individual to be a J-1 Exchange Visitor at Puget Sound, the university must establish all of the following:

  • The program is suitable to the exchange visitor’s background, needs, and experience (22 CFR 62.4 (a)(1))
  • The Exchange Visitor possesses sufficient proficiency in the English language, as determined by an objective measurement of English language proficiency, successfully to participate in his or her program and to function on a day-to-day basis (22 CFR 62.4 (a)(2))
  • The Exchange Visitor possesses adequate financial resources to participate in and complete his or her exchange visitor program; and (22 C.F.R. 62.12(b)(1)(ii))
  • The Exchange Visitor possesses adequate financial resources to support an accompanying spouse and dependents, if any. (22 C.F.R. 62.12(b)(1)((iii)

For invitations to individuals in the Student category the university must also establish:

  • A sponsor must secure sufficient background information on the students to ensure that they have the academic credentials required for its program. (22 C.F.R. 62.23(c))
  • An individual is eligible to participate in the J-1 student category only "if at any time during his or her educational program in the United States" he or she meets at least one of the following criteria. (22 C.F.R. 62.23(c)):
    1. The student or his or her program is financed directly or indirectly by: the U.S. Government; the government of the student's home country; or an international organization of which the U.S. is a member;
    2. The program is carried out pursuant to an agreement between the United States Government and a foreign government;
    3. The program is carried out pursuant to written agreement between: American and foreign academic institutions; An American academic institution and a foreign government; or A state or local government in the United States and a foreign government;
    4. The student is supported substantially by funding from any source other than personal or family funds