Sponsoring departments of international employees and exchange visitors are encouraged to follow the guidelines indicated below in order to help the individual's experiences at OSU be successful.  While International Services does not take part in the direct support of international visitors, a variety of online resources and materials are available that sponsoring professors and departments can access and distribute to visitors. 

Pre-Arrival

  1. Complete the appropriate appointment type paperwork (e.g. Employment, Courtesy Faculty Appointment, Postdoctoral Scholar Appointment, etc.) which allows visitor to obtain OSU identification and access campus services upon arrival including office keys, parking permits, library access and borrowing privileges, ONID network account, etc.
  2. Identify office space and computer/technology access
  3. Recommend ways of how visitor can arrive from international airport to OSU location
  4. Assign a department contact to meet with visitor upon arrival 
  5. Coordinate an assistant to assist with securing local housing (see OIS Housing Resources)
  6. Schedule first meeting with visitor

Arrival

  1. Meet visitor upon arrival
  2. Give visitor a tour of the department and office space
  3. Follow department's regular onboarding procedures for assigning office space, keys/access, access to OSU services, access to OSU technology, safety training, assigning a mentor, etc.
  4. Introduce visitor to faculty, staff, and graduate students (personally and via email)
  5. Schedule visitor for a campus tour
  6. Consider assigning an assistant to walk scholar to the key shop & ID center to assist with access 
  7. Direct visitor to international exchange visitor orientation information (most account set-up and access topics are covered in the Canvas orientation) and assist visitor in completing mandatory OIS check-in process (e.g. helping to access campus internet or scan documents for upload)
  8. Identity a way for visitors on a paid appointment to get to Albany to apply for social security card (if scholar is paid through OSU)
  9. Consider holding a departmental welcome with faculty, staff, and students for the visitor. This gives everyone an opportunity to network and meet to learn more about who the visitor is and what type of research they are pursuing