In most cases, academic departments that wish to host a visiting scholar or professor will work with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to obtain the appropriate visa documentation (J-1 visa). Learn about the different categories of J-1 visas and general eligibility requirements.

Host departments will initiate this process by submitting a J-1 scholar request through ISSS at least 3 months prior to the intended arrival date. Please visit this page for more details about the request process.  ISSS will then communicate with the host department and the visiting scholar on next steps. Additional information is available at https://isss.gsu.edu/j-1-scholars/.

If your department is receiving a visiting Fulbright scholar, you will work with OII. The U.S. Department of State issues the visa documentation to Fulbright visiting scholars; for this reason, they are not handled by GSU’s ISSS. Please contact Ahu Kostak-Bulat ([email protected]) in OII for more information.

Specifically for visiting Fulbright scholars, OII will provide the following services:

• Completing the Institutional Reply Form (IRF) for the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program and serving as an administrative point of contact.
• Orientation materials and guide to local/campus resources
• Sending housing resources
• Setting the scholar up with HR and helping the scholar obtain a GSU ID card
• Setting the scholar up with GSU email / access technology
• Requesting library access and arranging a library orientation with the subject librarian.
• Campus tour
• Assisting with opening a bank account
• Assisting with getting a local US number
• Assisting with W-8, SSN and notification of arrival forms
• Assisting with the verification check-in form on the iStart portal
• Notifying ISSS of the arrival of the scholar
• Including them on the Visiting Scholars newsletter and invitations to OII events

The host department should:

• Pay the $25 fee for the ID card
• Provide work space, computer, access to labs
• Agree to engage the scholar in departmental meetings
• Remind the scholar to complete a check-in with GSU’s International Student and Scholar Services upon their arrival to the U.S.
• Inform OII and GSU’s International Student and Scholar Services office if any incidents occur involving the scholar.
• Serve as an emergency contact

OII offers optional faculty programs to host visiting scholars ranging from a month long to a year-round duration. OII also offers international faculty programs during the summer that include housing. These professional development programs are designed to engage scholars in customized, field-specific and cross-cultural activities. Visiting scholars are paired with Georgia State faculty (Mentors) to engage in academic activities, including: research, teaching in a U.S. classroom, class observations, syllabi development and enhancement, course evaluation and language training. Unlike the regular scholar exchange, these programs compensate Georgia State host faculty for serving as a mentor.

All administrative aspects of the program – including invitation letters, English proficiency interviews, orientations, visa paperwork processing and airport pickup – language enhancement and cultural programming are handled by Georgia State’s Office of International Initiatives in coordination with International Student and Scholar Services and Host Department. For more information, please visit  OII Faculty Programs or contact OII at [email protected]