International Student & Scholar Services
F-1 Degree-Seeking Students
Welcome! We are happy that you chose Kennesaw State University for your education in the United States. Below you will find resources that you will need during your transition to KSU, while you are here and after you graduate.
J-1 Exchange Students & Scholars
Exchange visitors are students, scholars, or student interns present at KSU on a J-1 visa through the U.S. Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program. Here at KSU, we are committed to promoting cultural and educational exchanges through reciprocal exchange activities with faculty and students. Below you will find pertinent information regarding the Exchange Visitor Program. Clicking on the yellow boxes will also lead you to information specific to your J-1 Exchange Visitor category. We look forward to sharing cultures with you!
Research scholars, professors, and specialists.
Non-degree seeking exchange students here for one or two semesters.
Students completing an internship experience through exchange.
International Visitors to KSU
Kennesaw State University encourages international collaboration and programming to embrace the true power of openness and leverage diverse perspectives, as well as to impact individuals and communities for positive change. The International Student and Scholar Services Office (ISSSO) is equipped to support international students, scholars, and student interns coming to KSU in the F-1 and J-1 visa categories. However, in certain cases other visa categories may be appropriate, so we have included some general information for KSU departments below. Please note that the ISSSO does not advise on visa categories outside of those listed above, and so we encourage hosting departments and visitors to do due diligence in ensuring visitors arrive in the appropriate visa category.
Supporting Your International Visitors
Below are some tips for supporting your future international visitors and making sure they have what they need in order to have a successful visit to KSU.
- Contracts: Any agreements or contracts should be approved by the Contracts office prior to signing. Their website describes the process and lists who is the appropriate signer for the agreement. You may also wish to consult the Division of Legal Affairs regarding the proposed activities and your department's responsibility around being a host.
- Employment: Remember that certain visa categories, including the visitor visa, restrict employment. If the international visitor is being paid, work with KSU's Human Resources and the ISSSO (for J-1 visas) to determine eligibility and the correct visa category. Additionally, ensure that the visitor completes the hiring process before they receive their visa documents and enter the U.S., so that there are no issues if the visitor is deemed is ineligible for hire.
- Registered Visitors: Groups and unpaid affiliates may require access to technology, parking, rooms/buildings, and/or dining during their stay. Additionally, visitors to campus for more than four days should be officially registered with KSU. You may report that you are hosting visitors and request access for the visitors using the Registered Visitor Form in Owl Express. A job aid can be found here.
- Background Checks: Part of the process for on-boarding your visitors might be a background check, which may incur a cost if the department is not state-funded. Please contact Human Resources with questions about background checks.
- Housing: The hosting department is responsible for helping the visitors find housing. We suggest researching local hotels, extended stays, or homestay options for your visitors. KSU does not currently provide on-campus housing to visitors.
- Arrival: Discuss in advance how the visitors will arrive to campus from the airport. If you are driving the visitors, be sure to complete the required KSU driver training.