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Bringing Exchange Visitors to Wichita State

 

STEP 1

The prospective Exchange Visitor should make initial contact with an academic department at WSU.

STEP 2

If the department is interested in potentially hosting the visitor, the department should request the prospective Exchange Visitor to complete an Exchange Visitor Application. For more information about the different categories of exchange visitors that WSU is approved to host, please visit www.wichita.edu/J-1categories.

STEP 3

The prospective visitor should complete the Exchange Visitor Application and return it to the department with the following documents:

  • Dependent Information for Exchange Visitors Form (if bringing dependents)
  • Passport copies for exchange visitor and any dependents
  • Sponsorship documentation (if being sponsored by a university, government, or organization)
  • Copy of diploma or any English test scores from Part D of the Exchange Visitor Application
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé

STEP 4

The department reviews the application and supporting documents to determine if they would like to host the visitor.

STEP 5

If the WSU department decides to host the visitor, the DS-2019 Request Form must be completed. After Parts A-E have been completed, the department chair will need to initial by each number in Part F (numbers 9-20 are only required for the student intern category) and sign in Part G. In order to complete the form, the department must determine if it will financially sponsor the visitor and, if so, the amount of sponsorship. In addition, the department must obtain evidence that the Exchange Visitor has sufficient English to participate in the exchange program. The department will need to conduct an interview with the exchange visitor and complete the J-1 English Proficiency Evaluation if the visitor does not have other acceptable evidence of English proficiency. See the DS-2019 Request Form for more details.

As part of the DS-2019 Request Form, the department will also need to draft the department invitation letter. A link to a sample invitation letter can be found on the DS-2019 Request Form. The invitation letter should not be shared with the exchange visitor until the given department has been granted approval to do so (Step 8).

The university offers instructions for Adobe Digital Signatures here.

STEP 6

The department should print all documents and send them to the college dean for approval. The documents should include:

STEP 7

The college dean will review all documentation. If approved, the dean will sign the DS-2019 Request Form and forward the documentation on for the next approval signature according to the instructions in Part G of the DS-2019 Request Form. Ultimately, the documents will be reviewed and approved by the Office of Export Controls and Compliance, the Office of General Counsel, and the Office of Academic Affairs before finally being sent to Carrie Henderson at the Office of International Education.

STEP 8

Carrie Henderson will email the department to notify them that the exchange visitor request has been approved and that the department can share the invitation letter with the exchange visitor.

STEP 9 (Student Intern category only)

If the visitor will be coming under the Student Intern category, the department must also complete the Form DS-7002, Training/Internship Placement Plan. See the Guide to Form DS-7002 for details on how to complete the form. The department should send the completed Form DS-7002, Training/Internship Placement Plan to the visitor to sign. The exchange visitor should provide a copy of this document to his/her home institution and request that the institution complete the Home Institution Certification Form. The exchange visitor should send the signed DS-7002 and the completed Home Institution Certification Form to Carrie Henderson in the Office of International Education at carrie.henderson@wichita.edu.

STEP 10

Carrie Henderson will email the exchange visitor (and copy the department) the following:

  • A Certification of Financial Support for the exchange visitor to sign and return with, if applicable, evidence of financial support.
  • Information about purchasing WSU medical insurance.

STEP 11

Once Carrie Henderson receives the completed Certification of Financial Support and funds for the WSU medical insurance, she will prepare the Form DS-2019 and send it to the department or directly to the exchange visitor as indicated on DS-2019 Request Form. For visitors coming under the Student Intern category, the Office of International Education will also send the final DS-7002 signed by the Responsible Officer.

STEP 12

The exchange visitor pays the I-901 SEVIS fee and applies for a J-1 visa. After obtaining a visa, the visitor should make arrangements to come to WSU.