About TIEC J Visa Services

About TIEC J Visa Services
Sponsoring Exchange Visitors since 1990

TIEC’s J Visa Services

TIEC provides sponsorship for J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents to eligible Texas higher education institutions.

Since 1990, the Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC) has sponsored Exchange Visitors and their dependents on J visas for study, work, and research at higher-education host institutions throughout Texas and beyond.

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is an excellent way for institutions to invite international scholars to come to Texas to teach, conduct research or study.  The overall purpose and the objective of the Exchange Visitor classification is “to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of education and cultural exchanges.”  

With nearly 30 years experience sponsoring Exchange Visitors, we understand the purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program, the regulatory requirements, and have procedures in place to ensure the entire process runs smoothly and efficiently.

Sponsoring visitors on J-1 visas is a serious responsibility. TIEC’s President, Ms. Robin Lerner, previously served as deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. As a sponsor, TIEC will take care of every administrative function of the visa application process, and we stick with our hosts and our visitors throughout their programs. As a sponsor for many hosting institutions, we have the capacity to provide professional resources for our hosts and our exchange visitors and to keep everyone on track and in compliance.

  • Bring more international research scholars, faculty, and high-level visitors to your campus to further enrich your students’ international experience.

  • No host site designation fees.

  • Free up international student services staff to concentrate on building relationships and improving retention, rather than paperwork.

  • Quick and easy processing of paperwork and applications.

  • Increase capacity to promote cultural exchange on your campus.

  • Bring international visitors to your campus without bearing additional compliance and reporting requirements.

  • Issuing immigration documents for exchange visitors and their dependents
  • Maintaining the Exchange Visitors’ SEVIS records
  • Amending program information
  • Amending program information
  • Authorizing employment
  • Extending their program within the regulations
  • Transferring, requesting reinstatement
  • Conducting any other procedures necessary
  • Support and advising for prospective Exchange Visitors during the application process and throughout their program

TIEC has authorization to issue a DS-2019 – Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status for visitors for the following categories:

  • Professor
  • Research Scholar
  • Short-term Scholar (Maximum: 6 months)
  • Student Associate
  • Student Bachelors
  • Student Doctorate
  • Student Intern
  • Student Masters
  • Student Non-Degree

Beginning July 1, 2022, TIEC is instituting new service fees to meet the demands of maintaining the J visa sponsorship program.

  • $545 for new applications, including transfer-in exchange visitors, plus $100 per additional dependent
  • $250 maintenance fee for each year beyond initial 15 months
  • $150 expedited processing fees, including new / transfer-in applications sent within 45 days of the program start date, arrival verification or request to push back start date sent 15+ days after program start date on current DS-2019
  • $60 of expedited shipping (via FedEx)
  • Cost of Special Circumstances fees and charges, including extensions beyond maximum duration, change of category, reinstatement

The application and annual maintenance fee covers any requests for program extension; transfer to a new program sponsor; travel outside the U.S.; replacement of lost/damaged DS-2019s; new employment; other program amendments.

The maintenance fee also covers processing reports for any breach of program compliance, including failure to maintain health insurance coverage for any period; early end of the program; permanent departure of J-2 dependent; the death, disappearance, or serious injury or illness of the exchange visitor;a significant change in funding; changes in biographic information (name, gender, country of citizenship, etc.); changes in residential address, phone number, email address, etc.; lost or damaged DS-2019 form; other program changes.

  • Angelo State University
  • Austin Community College
  • Dallas International University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • LeTourneau University
  • McLennan University
  • McMurry University
  • Prairie View A&M University
  • Sam Houston State University
  • Sul Ross State University
  • Texas A&M International University
  • Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
  • Texas A&M University–San Antonio
  • Texas A&M University–Texarkana
  • Texas Southern University
  • Texas State University
  • Texas Woman’s University
  • The University of Texas Permian Basin
  • Trinity University
  • West Texas A&M University

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