The International Students and Scholars Office provided a recent update on international visitors and visiting scholar requests:

The SVPP provided our office with a copy of their correspondence to Deans, Associate Deans, and Department Chairs, announcing the implementation of their new Visiting Scholar Policy.  In its simplest form a Visiting Scholar is an individual affiliated with another university, institution, or business coming to ISU to observe or conduct collaborative research, extension/outreach, instruction, or administration who does not receive financial support from ISU beyond travel and/or expense reimbursement.  Student Interns and individuals compensated via the ISU Payroll are not Visiting Scholars.  As this new policy relates to ISSO services, we noted the following information from the Guidelines/FAQ posted on the SVPP website. https://www.provost.iastate.edu/faculty-success/faculty-hiring/appointm…;

“FAQ #31. Is there anything else I need to do for a proposed international Visiting Scholar who requires a J-1 visa? Yes. Upon approval of the request to host, the Individual Host and/or their designee must contact the International Students and Scholars Office to determine if the international visiting scholar will require immigration support and/or a J-1 visa sponsored by the University. The Individual Host and/or their designee must also initiate the J-1 Scholar Application process in CyStart. Also, the ISSO requires that all international visiting scholars check-in with ISSO upon arrival. Thus, upon arrival, the Individual Host should refer the visiting scholar to the ISSO immediately.”

Form DS-2019 Request for Future Visiting Scholars:  The first step is to obtain approval to host a Visiting Scholar through the process outlined by SVPP on their website.  This step is required for all Visiting Scholars, including those for whom ISSO issued Form DS-2019 prior to the implementation of the policy, who have not yet arrived or who wish to apply for extensions.  To match the Visiting Scholar policy and process, ISSO created a new J-1 Visiting Scholar Form DS-2019 Request in Cystart.  If your department was mid-way through a request using the now defunct J-1 Scholar Application, please contact issoscholar@iastate.edu for instructions on how to proceed.

Newly arrived Visiting Scholars can schedule a time to check in with the ISSO via our Website here:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4baaa729a5fa7-scholar 

The status quo:  COVID-19-related Presidential Proclamations 9984, 9992, and 10143, which suspend entry into the United States of foreign nationals who have been physically present in the following countries in the 14-day period before seeking entry into the U.S., remain in effect until terminated by the President of the United States:

• China
• Iran
• Schengen Area of Europe
• United Kingdom
• Republic of Ireland
• Brazil
• South Africa
• India

Visa appointments at U.S. Embassies and Consulates in these countries, especially in India, remain extremely limited.  Visa applicants should contact or consult the website of the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the most updated information regarding visa issuance.