A Guide to Hosting International Visiting Scholars

Individuals who visit campus for short periods of time, and who do not need letters of invitation or visa assistance, are typically referred to as Visitors. In contrast, Visiting Scholars are defined as scientists, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and others affiliated with institutions other than Purdue University who wish to spend an extended period of time conducting research on campus, at the invitation of a Purdue host. Visiting Scholars are those who are not otherwise classified as employees, undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff or postdoctoral researchers by Purdue University.

Historically, host departments have had responsibility for helping Visiting Scholars acclimate to life at Purdue. In the Covid-19 era, this responsibility now carries additional importance. Visitors are not likely to know anyone when they arrive, and will require considerable support after arriving. Before any invitation letter is written or submitted for approval, a general plan should be developed that indicates (i) how the visitor will obtain and furnish an apartment; (ii) how they will obtain food and supplies; and (iii) how the host will manage any health or other emergency situations. Although exact details may not be fully worked out at the time the invitation letter is issued (since this will likely precede the visitor’s arrival by many months), a reasonable plan for managing the day-to-day details should be developed. Often, in the excitement to invite a visitor to engage in collaborative research, details regarding daily life are overlooked and, once the visitor arrives, can undermine research goals. Securing housing far in advance, in particular, can be a challenge. In addition, for all foreign visitors the host department should have a plan for managing any logistical or financial risks associated with the visit or changes in plans. The goal is to anticipate possible complications and to develop reasonable contingencies so as to avoid potential headaches and disappointments.

The College of Agriculture continues to operate under university guidelines regarding Covid-19 risks. Guidance and approval for specific visitors will depend on the campus research enterprise in question, activities taking place in that lab or physical space, and overall conditions on campus. The goal in the College of Agriculture is to facilitate invitations to Visiting Scholars and support research operations, while safeguarding the health of those in the Purdue community. Campus response to Covid-19 risks will continue to evolve. Those who intend to invite Visiting Scholars should understand and communicate to the invitee that plans are subject to change. Once invited, a Visiting Scholar may be barred or delayed from entering the U.S., and cancellation of an invitation or postponement of research activities may occur at any time prior to or after arrival. This may have financial implications for the visitor or host, as well as implications for the visitor’s ability to conduct planned research.

The process of initiating an invitation, securing approvals and visas, and making logistical arrangements generates a lot of work for numerous individuals. Before initiating an invitation for a visiting scholar, it is essential to think carefully about the motivation for bringing a visitor to campus and whether the benefit of bringing a visitor to campus outweighs the visible (and hidden) costs. Key questions to answer before inviting a visiting scholar to campus include the following:

1. Who is the visitor? What is purpose of the visit? Will the individual add value to Purdue activities? What will the visitor gain from the visit? 
   • Have clear expectations.
   • Set goals and discuss and agree upon expected outcomes in advance.
   • If you do not know the visitor personally, be sure to seek endorsements or recommendations from trusted colleagues. Vetting is important!
2. Does the visitor pose a potential risk to the university?
   • Recent FBI investigations indicate economic espionage and trade secret theft against US universities and research facilities for a range of information concerning plant genome, new variety development, breeding programs and advanced manufacturing processes.
   • Before sponsoring a potential visitor’s visa and issuing a letter of invitation, IPIA can work with ISS to screen applicants. In most cases, before a letter of invitation can be issued, a visitor’s name and institution will be checked against a State Department database listing high-risk individuals or institutions of concern or those with U.S. Treasury department sanctions.
   • Red flags for visitor invitations include: whether the host conducts controlled research; whether the host is involved in federally-funded STEM research; whether the host is or may be participating in a foreign talent recruitment program; whether the visitor or their home institution is a US-restricted entity (indicated via Restricted Party Screening); and whether the visitor comes from a US Treasury-sanctioned or State Department Arms Embargoed Country (as of June 2022 the list of countries includes Afghanistan, Belarus, Burma, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe). Note that these “red flag” conditions do not necessarily preclude a visit, but the screening process could result in a visa being denied).
3. Does a support system for the visitor exist in the department, lab, and community?
   • Identify someone to guide and mentor the visitor.
   • Develop a clearly-defined written plan for hosting the visitor.
   • Address housing arrangements well in advance of the visit.
4. Does the visitor have the financial resources necessary for the entire stay?
   • Reach agreement on what expenses will be covered by the visitor and what expenses will be covered by the host.
   • Visitors must demonstrate proof of financial resources (in advance) of approximately $1885/month/visitor in order to issue a visa request.
   • For short-term visitors, it may be possible to pay per diems, but restrictions apply. Check with ISS.
   • If other family members are accompanying the visitor, additional resources will be needed and other considerations will apply. ISS or IPIA can provide guidance.
   • Depending on the type of visa on which a visitor comes to campus, they may or may not be required to demonstrate health insurance coverage. In most cases, it may nevertheless be advisable to purchase insurance for an individual’s stay.
   • Keep in mind that there could be a 1–2-week delay in issuing a first check, if the department is supporting the visitor. Please ensure that the visitor arrives with sufficient financial resources to support themselves during this processing period.
5. Will there be any intellectual property or co-authorship concerns?
   • Country- or institution-specific restrictions may be placed on the nature of work to be completed, intellectual property, patents and copyright protection.
   • Review and share in advance the Purdue policy on authorship and ownership of research or training outcome with the potential visitor.
   • Discussing these matters in advance will avoid confusion and conflict.
6. What type of visa will be required?
   • Most Visiting Scholars come to the U.S. on a J-1 visa.
   • Note that the university will not issue a DS-2019 (the certificate of eligibility to participate in a J-1 exchange visitor program) for a period that is different from that indicated in the appointment letter (or invitation) issued by the host to the prospective visitor. For postdoctoral researchers, as an example, the duration of appointment is stated in the offer letter and must comply with Purdue policy (see https://www.purdue.edu/provost/policies/fellows.html). Once the DS-2019 is issued, an extension to the original period of stay requires that the department officially extend the offer, after which the department ISS liaison may request an extension to the DS-2019 that matches the extended offer.
   • Visitors sometimes arrive on a business or tourist visa for meetings, conferences or other purposes. Given the heightened security concerns discussed above, it is important to ensure these visitors are properly screened and vetted and that their access to university facilities is supervised.

To initiate an invitation, follow established procedure in your department.

1. Begin with a conversation with your department head that covers the issues listed above.
2. Invitation letters are initiated by the department and follow an approval process (using DocuSign) that starts with the department business office and the department’s ISS liaison.
   • Make sure your expectations, time frame, and assistance (both logistical and financial) are clearly outlined in the letter of invitation.
   • Routing for approval takes time, so plan well in advance. The process should be based on your needs and reasonable expectations for the university, not on the demands of the potential visitor.
   • To ensure proper routing, use DocuSign. Instructions on using DocuSign are available here.
3. The invitation letter will be signed and issued by your department head and you (or your representative).
4. The signed invitation letter will be forwarded by your business office to the College of Agriculture business office for review.
5. Following Business Office approval, final approval will be issued by the Dean’s representative, typically the Associate Dean and Director of International Programs in Agriculture (IPIA).
6. Approval will be forwarded to ISS for visa processing.

Insufficient advanced planning can ruin a visit and create headaches for everyone involved. Note the following.

1. In advance of the arrival date provide or seek for assistance for the visitor’s housing.
   • Finding convenient and affordable housing can be a challenge. This is a recurring problem, particularly for visitors who will be on campus short-term (less than one semester) and those with families.
   • Providing advance information on housing and guiding the visitor to make arrangements can reduce stress and increase productivity.
   • Consider housing availability when arranging for the visit. Housing during the regular semesters, particularly for short-term visitors can be difficult. It is somewhat easier to find short-term housing during the summer months.
   • IPIA and the campus Office of Global Engagement may be able to provide current information on housing availability on and off campus.
2. Arrange transportation upon arrival.
   • If possible, meet the visitor yourself upon arrival at the airport.
   • If meeting the visitor is not possible, arrange transport and communicate a clear back-up plan.
   • Visitors arriving from overseas are likely to be tired and disoriented upon arrival. Signage and instructions may be unfamiliar. Make it as easy and comfortable for them as possible.
3. Arrange local hospitality upon arrival.
   • Consider providing non-perishable food and snacks for the first 24 or 48 hours.
   • Provide a local map, written instructions for local transportation and essential businesses, and several phone numbers in case of emergency.
   • If your visitor is arriving in winter, especially from a tropical country, they may not be fully equipped to deal with inclement weather. Consider providing essential items such as a warm hat, gloves, etc.
4. Plan to guide or lead them to visit the ISS office to document their immigration and visa status.
   • The visitor must visit ISS in person early upon arrival to be officially checked-in and entered into the immigration system.
   • This may be the responsibility of the department ISS representative.
5. Accompany the visitor to the department business office to take care of Purdue formalities.

Providing a good start to the visit is essential to achieving the goals for the visit.

1. Early-on, review objectives and expectations related to the visit.
2. Assist the visitor in getting settled on campus.
   • Provide guidance for email accounts, bench space, office space, campus ids, etc.
   • Visit common facilities.
   • Introduce the visitor to the department head and colleagues.
   • Assigning a temporary mentor/guide can be very helpful if you are busy.
3. Review the policy regarding visitors taking classes on campus. This is often a point of confusion. Even auditing a course is not allowed on campus.
4. Mentoring and coaching is crucial for the successful outcome and the professional and personal development of the visitor. Take time to develop a plan that is reasonable based on the timeline for their stay on campus.
5. Create opportunities for visitors to share their personal and professional experiences (e.g. seminars; lunchtime talks; cultural exchanges; guiding or interacting with students and colleagues; etc.).
6. Get in touch with IPIA to explore opportunities to highlight or showcase the visitor and their work and to engage with others in the college.
7. Encourage visitors to present their work on campus and at national meetings (if funds are available).
8. Utilize the opportunity to build and develop a long-term professional relationship with visiting scientists coming to Purdue. Think about the process of hosting as an investment in both of your futures.

Your work doesn’t end when the visitor leaves. 

1. Follow university rules and communicate with ISS on departure of visitors according to immigration guidelines.
2. If an extension of the visitor’s stay is needed, be sure to make the request in advance. Be aware that, in the case of visitors who are funded by their home countries, there are no guarantees that the federal agency, funding agency, or home institution will approve the request.
3. Report the timely departure of the visitor to your business office and ISS as needed (this may vary but it is a good policy to inform business office).
4. Plan for a follow up and a long-term engagement strategy with the visitor and their institution.
5. Maintain regular communication with the visitor after departure.
6. Consider opportunities to visit the visitor’s institution if possible.