Exchange Visitors

The US Department of State has designated the Colleges of the Fenway consortium to conduct a “BridgeUSA” J-1 Exchange Visitor program under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hayes Act) of 1961.  As such, we are empowered to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges.

Our partnerships involve the exchange of students, specialists, research scholars and professors amongst our five member schools and beyond.   If you are interested in coming to Boston from abroad for visits of two weeks to five years, please review the J-1 Visa Basics below. To get in touch with staff at the GEO Center email geocenter@colleges-fenway.org. Students and faculty interested in an exchange at Wentworth, please contact Sarah Sculley sculleys@wit.edu

Applying

If you are interested in being an Exchange Visitor at one of the 5 consortium institutions that make up Colleges of the Fenway take a look at their websites to learn more:

About | Emmanuel College, Boston Massachusetts

MCPHS | Working to Create a Healthier, More Equitable World

About – Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)

Undergraduate Why Simmons | Simmons University

Wentworth: Technology-focused University in Boston, MA

Ready to Apply? Here are the steps:

  1. Get nominated by home institution (students) or receive an invitation letter from a COF Institution (scholars)
  2. Contact the school which offers the program you are interested in;
    • Confirm the program/concentration aligns best with your academic and professional goals
    • What type of program do you plan to study in? (Once accepted and visa issued, concentration cannot be adjusted.)
  3. Complete the preliminary application.
  4. Upon acceptance you will be required to submit additional documentation for immigration purposes.
  5. The GEO Center will be notified and review of your acceptance and application submissions (including documents) we issue a DS-2019.  Note: if you are applying to Wentworth, your DS-2019 will be issued by Wentworth, not the GEO Center.
    • Check the spelling of your name, date of birth, and other identifying information on this application is the same as it appears on your passport. If anything is not the same, contact the GEO Center immediately.
    • If you have dependents please check the spelling of their name, date of birth, and other identifying information is correct. 

J-1 Visa Basics

The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based Exchange Visitor Programs. The primary difference between the J-1 visa and the F-1 visa is that J-1 Exchange Visitors receive some form of sponsorship from either their own government, the US government, an international organization, their home academic institution or one our Colleges of the Fenway (COF) academic institutions or partners. 
Here are some links to more information about this visa category:

All Exchange Visitors coming to Boston will be hosted by a department at one of our COF academic institutions or partners. These departments screen and select prospective Exchange Visitors based on the criteria set forth in the governing regulations of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, with assistance and support provided by “Responsible Officers” at the COF Global Education Opportunities Center (GEO Center) or in the international office at Wentworth Institute of Technology. These Responsible Officers are tasked with ensuring full compliance with all rules and requirements of the J-1 Student and Exchange Visitor program and ultimately serve as “Program Sponsor,” as defined by the US Department of State.  We keep up to date on changing policies and are here to help provide you with assistance on any questions you have throughout your stay.

Your Rights, Protections, and Resources

Know your rights, protections and resources by visiting this webpage maintained by the US Department of State:

The US Customs and Border Patrol agency has very useful information available online at:
cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors

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