If you are a faculty member who will host an Exchange Visitor on a J-1 visa between now and August 2020, kindly read the following:
Temporary Pause of Exchange Visitor Program for 60 Days
The U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor program issued guidance on Friday, March 13, 2020 in light of the State Department Global Level 3 Travel Advisory. There is a temporary pause of the Exchange Visitor Program for 60 days effective March 12, 2020. Therefore, the earliest that an Exchange Visitor entering the U.S. on a J-1 visa can arrive, assuming the pause is not extended, is May 11, 2020. If you are hosting an Exchange Visitor who is expected to arrive before May 11, 2020, ISSS will be in touch with you and the Exchange Visitor to postpone his/her arrival date and discuss a potential new arrival date.
Campus Response to COVID-19 & U.S. Entry Restrictions
In addition to the State Department’s temporary pause of the Exchange Visitor program, with the many changes taking place on campus and the various restrictions for foreign nationals from certain countries on entering into the U.S. due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there are several items to consider regarding future Exchange Visitors, even those arriving after May 11, 2020:
- ISSS is emailing all Exchange Visitors who currently plan to arrive before or in August 2020. Our communications explain the current travel restrictions, note that they will remain in effect until further notice, and make it clear that additional restrictions are possible. You will be copied on that email message. The Exchange Visitor will be informed to contact ISSS and you, as the host department, if the travel restrictions will prevent their entrance into the US on the originally planned date. If a change to the start date is required, please work with ISSS to decide on a new date. ISSS can then perform the necessary changes required to amend a start date.
- It may not be possible for an international visitor to enter the U.S. on the originally planned date or the new date, if at all. As noted above, ISSS is contacting Exchange Visitors individually, but as the host department, it is also your responsibility to maintain open communications with the visitor. When ISSS receives a communication from the visitor regarding their ability to start or need for an amended start date, ISSS will loop you in on the conversation if you haven’t already been included.
- If the remote work situation continues, it will be necessary for each hosting department to determine if Exchange Visitors will be able to perform the work that was originally planned for them. As a sponsor of the Exchange Visitor program, CU Boulder wants to ensure the visitor has a productive, enjoyable visit that enables them and CU Boulder to meet the goals of the Exchange Visitor program. These goals are to allow participants the opportunity to engage broadly with Americans and to promote the exchange of ideas, research, and linkages between research and academic institutions in the U.S. and foreign countries. If the current situation will make it impossible to meet the goals of the Exchange Visitor program, please take that into consideration when deciding to continue with the visitor’s appointment.
- Regarding #3 above, if there will be a change to the originally planned research or duties that were reported to ISSS on the initial visa request, please notify ISSS. This includes changes in scope of research, teaching, or other duties and change of work location.
ISSS is happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding the upcoming stay of an international visitor. Please reach out to your ISSS contact directly with any questions. You can also contact isss@colorado.edu. Due to a high volume of email messages concerning this situation, please expect a reply within 2-3 business days.