Inviting Visiting Scholars

Inviting Visiting Scholars to Participate in the Exchange Visitor Program

Cal Poly Pomona International Center has authorization from the Department of State to invite research scholars and professors to come to the U.S. as temporary visitors in the J-1 visa category for specific program objectives on our campus.

“A primary purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to foster the exchange of ideas between Americans and foreign nationals and to stimulate international collaborative teaching and research efforts. The exchange of professors and research scholars promotes interchange, mutual enrichment, and linkages between research and educational institutions in the United States and foreign countries.  It does so by providing foreign professors and research scholars the opportunity to engage in research, teaching, and lecturing with their American colleagues, to participate actively in cross-cultural activities with Americans, and ultimately to share with their fellow citizens their experiences and increased knowledge about the United States and substantive fields.”  [Code of Federal Regulations 22.514.20(b)].

Under Federal regulations, colleges and university departments may invite visiting research scholars and visiting professors to the campus to collaborate on research projects, give lectures or seminars, or even teach a class for a quarter. A visiting foreign scholar or professor must have a specific objective stated on his or her immigration documents, and that objective may not change, even if he or she changes from one institution to another.  International visitors may be invited to come in one of the following categories:

  • Short-term Scholar, 6 months or less
  • Research Scholar, 6 months to 3 years
  • Visiting Professor, 6 months to 3 years

Short-term Scholars may lecture, observe, consult, and participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, study tours, professional meetings, or similar types of educational and professional activities. Short-term scholars may not extend their stay in the US.

Visiting research scholars and professors may participate in all of the above type of activities and may stay in the U.S up to a total of 3 years.  They may not change their objective in the U.S.  J-1 visiting professors may only be in a visiting faculty position – they may not be a candidate for tenure. The visitor may take the place temporarily of someone who is a candidate for tenure, such as someone who may be on sabbatical, but the J-1 may not be in a tenure-track faculty position.

Taking academic classes may not be the main objective or the main activity of the international exchange visitor.  Regulations do not prohibit visiting scholars and professors from auditing or enrolling in academic courses through the Open University as long as this is incidental to their stated objective.  

Colleges and departments should consult with the Coordinator, International Student & Scholar Services in the International Center regarding immigration issues, responsibilities, and constraints involved with hosting an international visitor.

Under Department of State regulations, the University is responsible to verify that the international visitor will have adequate financial resources for travel, living and miscellaneous expenses.  A minimum of $1200 per month for non-academic expenses (housing, transportation, insurance, etc.) is recommended.  Additionally, $450 for spouse and $250 for each dependent should be allowed per month.  The college or department must provide documentation regarding the amount of financial support the scholar will receive from the campus or from another source.

Exchange visitors (and their dependents) are also required by the Department of State to either submit proof of medical insurance (written in English).  The insurance must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • $50,000 per accident or illness
  • $10,000 in medical evacuation coverage
  • $7,500 in repatriation coverage
  • Maximum deductible of $500 per accident or illness

A medical insurance policy can be purchased at the International Center upon arrival.  The monthly premiums are $80.00 for the scholar, $320.00 for the spouse and $120.00 for each child.  Scholars are required to show proof of insurance or purchase insurance for their (and their dependent’s) entire stay up to one year at a time.

Departmental Responsibilities to Consider When Hosting J-1 Exchange Visitors

  • How the scholar’s intended research relates to departmental or faculty interest
  • How the scholar could be involved on-campus while at CPP and contribute by teaching or collaborating with CPP faculty
  • Whether or not temporary office space is available for the scholar to use while at CPP
  • Arrival assistance
  • Assisting the scholar to find off-campus housing and getting settled

The Process

  1. The faculty member writes an invitation letter to the perspective visiting scholar. Link to sample letter below.
  2. When the perspective visiting scholar has accepted the invitation, the CPP faculty member completes the first page of the J-1 Request Form.
  3. The perspective visiting scholar completes the second page of the J-1 Request Form.
  4. Both pages of the J-1 Request Form is submitted to the International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator along with:
    • The resume or CV of the visiting scholar
    • A copy of the visiting scholar’s passport picture page (their spouse and child’s passport picture page, if applicable)
    • Proof of Financial Support for the duration of the visit for all members
  5. Once the Coordinator for International Student & Scholar Services receives the required documents, the Coordinator will be able to issue a DS2019, which is the document needed to obtain a J-1 Visa and enter the USA. When the visiting scholar arrives on campus, they are required to report to the Coordinator within 10 days.  
  6. The CPP faculty member will be notified when the document is ready to be mailed to the visiting scholar.

The International Center is here to help facilitate bringing international scholars to Cal Poly Pomona.  If you need any additional information please contact Kelly McCullen, Coordinator for International Student & Scholar Services at (909) 869-2036 or by e-mail at klmccullen@csupomona.edu.

Please note that in recent years, housing and transportation have become increasingly difficult to provide for individuals who do not choose or cannot afford to stay at Kellogg West. While the International Center can advise you on options, you should be prepared to think creatively about how to provide housing for your guest.

Forms and Other Information


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