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International Services

International Visitors

90 Days or Fewer

If you are a foreign national visiting UALR for 90 days or fewer, you may qualify for a Visa Waiver(WB) or travel with a B-1 business visa.

  • WB – You are eligible for the Visa Waiver program if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. More information can be found at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html.

    Under the WB program, you must fill out an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/. You do not need to visit a US consulate or embassy before your trip. All visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (WB), MUST present machine-readable passports. OIS and your prospective hosting departments will provide additional documents to assist you at the U.S. border.

  • B-1– If you are not a citizen of one of the countries listed above, you will need to make an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain a visa. Each country’s wait time for obtaining a visa is different and we recommend you start the process at least two months in advance of your trip. For a list of countries and their expected wait-times in obtaining a visa, visit this website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html. Please contact OIS to request supporting documents. More information can be found at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1265.html.
  • Canadian citizens–Canadian citizens may request entry into the U.S. as a visitor for business without going to an embassy or consulate office. A Canadian citizen can just present a letter of invitation from the your prospective hosting department (Please contact OIS or your prospective department for this letter) and a valid Passport at the U.S. border.

More than 90 Days

  • J1 Visa – If you come for more than 90 days, you may need a J1 visa. Please contact OIS.

    If you have entered the US in the J Professor or Research Scholar category within 24 months of your upcoming visit, you will not be able to reenter in this category. Please see: http://ualr.edu/international/index.php/home/j-1-research-scholars-and-visiting-faculty-requirements/. You will find passport and entry visa information, Health Care & Insurance requirements for J1 visa holders, Travel & Re-Entry with J-1 visa, J1 Scholar application form and the J1 Scholar handbook. if you think you may need a J1 visa.

Check-in

All international visitors must check in within a day or two upon arrival at OIS located at Education Building Room 101. We need to check your paperwork and record your arrival.

Please note, when the J1 visa holders did not validated their entrance info at OIS within 30 days of the “program begin date” on their DS-2019s, the visa status will be automatically inactivated and are extremely difficult to reactive.

It can take 5 weeks to process a DS-2019 for the J1 visa.

It can take 6-8 weeks to process a DS-2019 for Chinese scholars.

Important: If you will be traveling away and expect to receive expenses from another Institution or Company, you will need to obtain a letter from OIS and it will need to be approved by your prospective department. A two-week notice is recommended.

If you come on a J1 visa you are also responsible for purchasing a health and emergency exit insurance. J1 visitors are required to have health insurance for themselves and their family members who accompany them, within 25 days of their arrival. The insurance requirements are outlined in the J application material as well as the welcome letter that is sent by OIS along with the J1 visa forms. It is recommended that visitors purchase UALR International Health Insurance. To purchase your health insurance, please inform OIS upon check-in. See http://ualr.edu/international/index.php/home/current-student/insurance/. This web site provides the most current cost, coverage, and other insurance details. Medical Evacuation & Repatriation Benefits are included in this insurance coverage. The estimates change is $100 per month for the principle.

Updated 10.20.2011