Prospective Scholars

Thank you for your interest in visiting San Diego State University. SDSU supports J-1 visas for exchange visitors who have received an invitation from an SDSU faculty member and who meet all program requirements, including English language proficiency, health insurance, and proof of financial support.

The best way to secure an invitation to campus is by collaborating with an SDSU faculty member on shared research, creative, or scholarly projects. Please note that SDSU does not offer a placement service for visiting scholars.

To participate in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, international scholars must be sponsored by an SDSU department. Once departmental sponsorship is confirmed, please contact the immigration representative for next steps and access to the application materials.

SDSU offers sponsorship in the following J-1 visa categories:

• Research Scholar
• Professor
• Short-Term Scholar
• Student Intern

If you are currently in the U.S. on a J-1 visa sponsored by another institution, you may be eligible to transfer to SDSU. In that case, you must first complete the J-1 application provided by the immigration representative. After receiving an invitation from an SDSU department, you will need to submit a J-1 Transfer-In Request Form.

For more information about the SDSU J-1 process, please reach out to the appropriate immigration representative.