VI. Visiting Scholars

The Office of the Provost maintains template letters to be used to extend offers to Visiting Scholars. See . Template letters incorporate space for different options and situations to be included. Business offices and Hiring Units should not attempt to edit templates to include more or other language beyond the options built into the templates.
International Visiting Scholar Appointments and Citizenship Status
1. A Visiting Scholar Appointee may have any citizenship, and any citizenship status.
  1. Group 1: (See Section #3 below) Purdue-Sponsored International Visiting Scholars typically hold J-1 status through Purdue’s J-1 exchange program designation. They might also hold O-1 status.
  2. Group 2: (See Section #4 below) Non-Purdue-Sponsored International Visiting Scholars include non-US Persons who are
    1. Sponsored by other US J Programs
    2. Sponsored by other US Employers
    3. Holding self-sponsored or other work permissions, or
    4. Visiting the USA
2. The International Visiting Scholar’s proposed activities must be permissible for the class of admission, status or authorizations held by the Scholar on arrival at the University.
3. Host Units must follow all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to Appointments for Personnel Not on Payroll (VI.B.3), and the policies and procedures of the Export Control Office and Global Support Office.
Group 1: Purdue-Sponsored International Visiting Scholars
1. Many (but not all) International Visiting Scholars are sponsored by Purdue University for J-1 Exchange Visitor status.
  1. J-1 Exchange Visitor status authorizes scholarly activities, including research, instruction, teaching and lectures, observation, consultation, collaboration, and demonstration.
  2. J-1 Exchange Visitors also may include Student Interns engaging in experience-based learning activities at Purdue that fulfill educational requirements within their home country degree programs.
Group 2: International Visiting Scholars who are NOT Sponsored by Purdue
1. International Visiting Scholars within Group 2 must be submitted to the Export Controls Office for screening before either a visiting scholar appointment or personal consulting services agreement is finalized. See https://www.purdue.edu/research/oevprp/regulatory-affairs/export-controls/international-visitors.php
2. Scholars Sponsored by US Government Agencies and Placed at Purdue
  1. Fulbright-sponsored J-1 scholars often are placed at the University. International Scholar Services supports those placements by providing limited support to Fulbright. J-1 Scholars sponsored by Fulbright must seek guidance from Fulbright in connection with US immigration matters.
3. Scholars Sponsored by US Organizations that are Collaborating or Providing Services to Purdue
  1. International Visiting Scholars may be employees of other US organizations, such as but not limited to US research institutions, universities, corporations or other entities, that are collaborating with, or providing services to, Purdue.
  2. Nonimmigrant workers in these situations might hold visa status such as J-1, E-3, L-1, H-1B, O-1, or TN. While these are the same classes of visa status utilized by Purdue, the difference is that these scholars’ immigration paperwork will list a petitioner or applicant that is not Purdue.
  3. If a Host Unit issues a Visiting Scholar appointment to a non-Purdue H-1B employee, the Host Units must agree to post the H-1B worker’s LCA from the non-Purdue employer at the office or laboratory where the H-1B worker is engaged in activities.
4. Self-Sponsored International Visiting Scholars
  1. International Visiting Scholars may hold their own independent visa status which can authorize scholarly activities. Examples include:
    1. F-1 graduates of US educational institutions who have received approval for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
    2. J-1 graduates of US educational institutions who have received approval for Academic Training
    3. Certain J-2, E-3, or H-4 spouses holding valid and unexpired Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) through their dependent visa status
    4. Certain other non-US Persons holding valid and unexpired EADs by filing Form I-485 Applications for Adjustment to Lawful Permanent Residence status with USCIS
    5. Other individuals who hold Form I-766 Employment Authorization Documents.
  2. Obligation to Verify Authorization for the Activities
    1. Self-Sponsored International Visiting Scholars must demonstrate to the Host Unit that their immigration status authorizes the scholarly activities: The Host Unit must advise the individual to consult with a qualified immigration attorney; the Host Unit may issue a Proper Recommendation only if the individual confirms that they did so and received guidance indicating that the scholarly activities are authorized.
    2. Two consequences may occur if Non-US Person engage in scholarly activities or employment at Purdue without authorization from the US federal government:
      1. The University risks being found in legal violation because of the presence of an unauthorized non-US person on our campus.
      2. The non-US Person risks invalidating their legal status in the USA.
Classes of Status or Admission that do not Support Visiting Scholar Appointments
1. Certain classes of visa status or admission does not permit scholarly activities at the University. Examples include:
  1. Visitors holding B-1 business visitor status / admission
  2. Visitors holding B-2 tourist status / admission
  3. Visitors holding B-1/B-2 admission
  4. Visitors whose entry to the US was facilitated through the Visa Waiver Program / ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)
  5. Individuals awaiting a change of status from the US government that will move them from one visa class to another
2. Such visitors
  1. May access public areas of Purdue, engage in meetings or discussions with Purdue faculty, staff, administration or others, participate in workshops or conferences, or attend public events.
  2. May not access secured areas of Purdue, obtain Purdue privileges, utilize a “purdue.edu” email, acquire or be issued a Purdue identification number or Purdue ID card.
Visiting Scholars versus Volunteers
1. HR Policy VI.B.3 addresses non-payroll appointments, while HR Policy VI.B.2 addresses activities by volunteers.
2. Individuals may not volunteer to engage in scholarly activities at the University. Qualified non-US Persons wanting to engage in scholarly activities at Purdue must receive an Invitation for Visiting Scholar Appointment, following Proper Recommendation, and in accordance with all applicable policies.
Movement from Paid to Visiting Appointments
1. The movement of an individual from any appointment or employment where the individual is provided wages, to visiting (non-wage) appointment, is discouraged, but not prohibited.
2. Visiting Scholar appointments may not cause (directly or indirectly), or facilitate, the displacement of regularly employed workers, which may include the individual themselves. For example, the movement of a J-1 Exchange Visitor from a paid employment position into an unpaid Visiting Scholar appointment raises concerns that the Host Unit and/or Host is displacing the individual from their employment in order to use the individual for the same services and expertise without compensation.
3. International Scholar Services may not approve changes in Sponsored appointments if it determines there is a strong appearance that the change constitutes functional displacement.
4. If a Host Unit wants to move a Sponsored International Staff Member into a Visiting Scholar appointment, they must submit a request to International Scholar Services explaining the purpose of the change. International Scholar Services understands that situations and motivations can be complex and will discuss the situation collaboratively with the Host and International Staff Member in question.
5. Movement of an International Scholar/Staff Member to an (unpaid) visiting scholar appointment during a temporary interruption in employment authorization is not normally permissible. If the individual is normally University-sponsored, the Host Unit must ask International Scholar Services before attempting to temporarily move the International Scholar/Staff Member to an unpaid visiting scholar appointment during such a temporary interruption in employment authorization.
Recommended Absences for Visting Scholars
1. One of the goals of all J-1 Exchanve Visitor programs is for the scholar to experience US culture during their presence in the USA. With that in mind, and with the goal of treating our visiting scholars equivalently as compared to the other professionals and researchers at Purdue, we encourage hosts of visiting scholars to permit absences in a way that is not less generous that the guidelines below. Hosts may be more generous in the absences listed below, but unless the program objectives demand the visiting scholar's focused attention, we would recommend that hosts are not less generous. HOWEVER, this is provided that the quantity of absences by the scholar does not become so frequent or extended that it impacts their progression with their J-1 program objectives, as listed in the eforms and other materials supplied to ISS as part of the invitation process
  - The same federal holidays granted to Purdue employees and all other periods when Purdue is administratively shut down, such as winter recess
  - Vacation “off time” – accrues 1 business day per month; note that one of the goals of the J program is to experience the USA cultural experience
  - Sick leave –
    - 1 business day per month without a doctor’s leave; OR
    - whatever period of time recommended by the doctor, when a doctor’s note is provided, up to a maximum of five working days. If the scholar is ill (or expected to be ill) for longer than five business days then the scholar / host should contact ISS to evaluate whether the scholar is best served by returning home and/or whether the program objectives are continuing