Hosting an International Visitor

The Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program, the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries. The program’s primary support is provided by the United States Congress through the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). CIES, a division of the Institute of International Education (IIE) administers the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program.

Host a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at DU


Steps:

  1. Invite a scholar to campus (this can be before the scholar applies for a Fulbright award, during the process, or once they have been accepted into the Fulbright Program).
     
  2. Work with your unit/department to obtain the necessary approvals for a visitor so that they will have access to the necessary facilities, a DU ID card, and a DU email address.
     
  3. Ideally, the Fulbright Visiting Scholar will be provided with a workspace. This does not need to be a private office.
     
  4. Unlike other international visitors, you do not need to work with ISSS to obtain the DS-2019 or other immigration paperwork. The Fulbright Program provides the immigration sponsorship (usually through IIE). However, please alert ISSS that the visitor will arrive along with the planned dates so we can include the visitor in our weekly newsletter and programming initiatives.
     
  5. NOTE: Some Fulbright Scholars will need to have DU sign an Institutional Reply Form, or IRF, before they are issued their final grant documents and their DS-2019. Typically an IRF is required for those Fulbright Scholars who come from a country that doesn’t have a Binational Fulbright Commission. The hosting department can complete and sign this form.

Role of Institutional Host

Institutions are essential for the Fulbright Visiting Scholar program, as they become the formal host communities (professional and personal) for the visitors. Host institutions are typically Universities, but other types of organizations can also host Fulbrighters.

Immigration & Tax Questions

IIE determines the J-1 category of the Fulbright scholar, it may be Research Scholar or Professor. If the scholar has questions about their visa and/or US tax regulations, they should be directed to contact their IIE advisor.

Fulbright Visiting Scholar Award

All Fulbright Visiting Scholars receive round-trip international travel and health coverage for accidents and sickness provided by the US Department of State. Most scholars also receive a monthly stipend and additional allowances as benefits of their grants. Some scholars may be partially funded by their home institutions through sabbatical pay. Fulbright Grantees enter the United States under the sponsorship of the US Department of State's J-1 Exchange Visitor Program for Fulbright Scholars.

Institutional Costs

Apart from the in-kind contributions detailed below, US host institutions are not responsible for providing financial assistance to the scholar. Your institution should not provide the Form DS-2019 as it will be issued by the Fulbright Program. Nor is your institution responsible for health insurance for scholars or their dependents, as coverage compliant with J visa regulations is provided to Fulbright scholars, and they as individuals must arrange separately for sufficient insurance for their dependents.

Host Institution In-Kind Contributions

Determine whether visiting scholar privileges (i.e., use of library and research facilities, office or work space, computer facilities, auditing of classes and consultation with faculty) may be granted without the payment of fees. Please note that most host institutions do not require Fulbright Scholars to pay additional campus service fees. However, if your institution has a fee policy in place for visiting scholars and is unable to waive the fees, you will need to provide the exact cost of fees on the Institutional Reply Form (IRF) or in an accompanying letter.

Scholar Arrival

Please determine an appropriate starting date for the scholar, as the date proposed by the scholar may not be convenient under the university calendar. Keep in mind that the visiting scholar may be weighing their home country university’s academic calendar as well. Please note that it is important for the host department to be available to assist the scholar upon arrival. The scholar will be advised to correspond directly with the host department.

Housing

The scholar is responsible for locating housing but may seek institutional assistance and advice in identifying suitable accommodations. Be prepared to give the scholar information on housing options on or off DU’s campus by referring them to HRE resources.