Instructions for Sponsoring Faculty

Nearly all visiting faculty and scholars come to the United States on a J-1 visa specially designed for international educational and cultural exchange visitors. The visa is granted by U.S. consulates on the basis of a sponsoring agency like Wright State University.

• If you would like to bring a visiting international scholar to Wright State University, you need to begin the paperwork at least four months prior to the scholar's anticipated arrival date.
• The university does not have any housing specifically set aside for visiting international scholars, nor does Wright State have anyone who locates housing for scholars. On campus housing is available (See housing tab). UCIE can give suggestions about where to begin a search, but finding housing is ultimately left up to the scholar. Language barriers, coupled with the shortage of short-term lease apartments, can make it difficult for a foreign scholar to find housing, so any assistance you can offer would be essential. Many scholars stay in a hotel for a few days while they locate housing.
• It is also up to you to determine how your scholar gets to campus from the airport. Many scholars think that they can just take a taxi, not realizing just how far the airport is from Wright State University. If you choose not to pick your scholar up from the airport, you will need to let them know how to catch a shuttle (and you may need to make a reservation).
• As a faculty contact/host, you act as a mentor for a visiting international scholar. Some scholars truly wish to come to campus and be very self-sufficient. However, if a scholar is hoping to make meaningful connections while at Wright State, as a host you are the starting point and can really set the tone for the experience.

If you have any questions about how to bring a visiting international scholar to campus, please contact the University Center for International Education at (937) 775-5745.

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The following steps are intended to be used as a checklist, broken down into paperwork that needs to be completed by the resident WSU faculty member.

1. Official Invitation Letter
2. Official Appointment
3. Fill out initial DS-2019 request form (For scholars and faculty)
4. Certificate on English Proficiency Form
5. Health Insurance
6. Computer Account Application & UID
7. WSU Identification Card

Official Invitation Letter

The first step in bringing a visiting scholar to WSU is writing him/her an official letter of invitation. This letter should detail the nature of the research the scholar will conduct, and specifically what the department will be able to offer to the scholar. It should explain whether or not the department will be able to offer office space, staff assistance, departmental facilities, salary and or stipend, and the agreed length of stay/dates scholar will be on campus. Who should sign the invitation letter varies with the college that is, you may need the college Dean's signature if the dept. Chair's signature is not sufficient to meet the college requirements.

Official Appointment

All visiting scholars, regardless of the immigration arrangements that are made for them, must have an official University appointment indicating they have an academic relationship to WSU. For those scholars who will not be paid by the University, the appropriate appointment is generally "WSU Affiliate – Visiting Scholar – Non-Employee." Any scholar who will be on the University payroll should be appointed according to the specifications of their contract with the specific department.

Fill out initial DS-2019 request form (For scholars and faculty)

Departments and divisions which will be employing a visiting international scholar must have an official appointment from the university before WSU can process any immigration documents. To bring a scholar on a J-1 visa, a faculty member will need to make what is called an "Initial Request for a DS-2019" from UCIE (in the past form was called an IAP-66). This form has many specific questions on it pertaining to the scholar's personal bio data. The faculty sponsor may need to email (or FAX) the prospective scholar specific questions in order to fill out this form.

To fill out the request, the faculty member will need to know the following for the primary applicant and/or dependents: 

1. Last Name (as spelled in passport) First Name (as spelled in passport)
2. Date of Birth
3. Country of Birth
4. Country of Citizenship Relationship to Primary Applicant
5. City of Birth
6. Gender
7. Nationality
8. Country of Legal Permanent Residence
9. Position in Country of Residence
10. Middle Name, if available
11. U.S. Address, if available

Also, UCIE must be able to verify financial arrangements (if sponsored by a program, then a letter of sponsorship; if using personal funds, it is often in form of bank account statement). After completing this form, please submit request to WSU – UCIE Office, Room 334, Student Union.

Certificate on English Proficiency Form

This form is intended to document the individual's level of English Proficiency for the J-1 visa application process. This form should be signed by the host faculty. The department should forward this completed form and supporting documentation to the UCIE office.

PDF English Proficiency Form

Health Insurance

The faculty sponsor or other person within the division in the graduate department (requesting the DS-2019 document) is responsible for informing visiting scholars about this requirement, since it involves the scholar's financial arrangements. UCIE has information on health insurance policies for international visitors.

www.wright.edu/ucie/student/scholar-insurance.html

Computer Account Application & UID

The scholar’s host department head must complete the Computer Account Application Form to access the Wright State University Account and University Identification Number. This form can be obtained by contacting the Computing and Telecommunications Services (CaTS) , located in 025 Library Annex. Telephone: (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.or accessing the provided link : https://www.wright.edu/cats/forms/pdf/accountform.pdf

The University Identification Number (UID) will enable scholars to access Wings Express features online and facilitate the Wright State University Identification Card (WSU-ID) application.

Wright State University Identification Card

If someone is affiliated with your department/organization and needs to have a Wright1 Card issued for any reason, please fill out the Affiliate Card Authorization Form (pdf). Have your affiliate bring the form to the Wright1 Card Center, Student Union, when they are ready to have their card printed. The cost of each card is $5 that can be charged to either the affiliate or department.