The U.S. Department of State recognizes that ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of exchange visitors on J-1 visas is of paramount importance. Therefore, they work with Exchange Visitor Program sponsors including CU Boulder to respond to incidents that may adversely affect an exchange.聽The Department of State聽聽a 鈥渟erious incident or controversy鈥 as 鈥渁ny situation that have or could endanger the health, safety, or welfare of an exchange visitor or otherwise could be expected to bring the Department of State, the Exchange Visitor Program, or the sponsor鈥檚 [CU Boulder] exchange visitor program into notoriety or disrepute.鈥

Examples of qualifying incidents include, but are not limited to:聽

  • The death, disappearance, or serious injury or illness of the exchange visitor聽
  • Incidents involving the criminal justice system聽
  • Sexually-related incidents or abuse聽
  • Negative press involving the sponsor鈥檚 exchange visitor program聽
  • Incidents where a foreign government has become involved聽
  • Lost or stolen immigration documents聽
  • Theft of intellectual property聽
  • Violation of export controls (that is, export of sensitive technology or information)聽
  • Other situations impacting exchange visitor safety聽

Please review this handout for further information on . Notify your ISSS J-1 advisor if you have experienced any of the incidents or know of any that may have impacted an exchange visitor.