- Welcome To The J-Buzz Newsletter
- Meet Your Advisors
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OIE Services
- Reminders
- BridgeUSA Updates
- Campus & Community Engagement
- J-1 Spotlight
- J-2 Connections and Resources
- Fulbright Resources
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Welcome to the Office of International Education (OIE) “J-Buzz” monthly newsletter! OIE is thrilled to provide a dedicated space for participants in the BridgeUSA program.
J-1 exchange visitors at Georgia Tech—whether Research Scholars, Short-term Scholars, Student Interns, degree-seeking students, or Fulbright participants—can stay informed with valuable BridgeUSA program updates, connect with advisors, and discover programming events on campus and in the surrounding community.
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Hi there! My name is Kimberly Young, and I’m one of the Associate Directors of International Student and Scholar Services within OIE. I have the pleasure of overseeing the BridgeUSA program. I joined Georgia Tech in 2023 and bring over 20 years of experience in international education. I’m passionate about this field and love supporting scholars in achieving their goals. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, antiquing, line dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
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Hi friends! My name is Sarah Scott. I have worked as an international student and scholar advisor for 8 years with 5 of those years being at Georgia Tech. I have always been drawn to the field of international education and love working with J-1 Exchange Visitors to help them feel welcome and supported during their time in the U.S.. In my free time I enjoy cooking, crafting, seeing live music, and spending time with my dog (Bela) and 2 cats (Muffin & Nathan).
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Office of International Education Services |
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Summer travel is upon us!
As a reminder, before traveling outside the United States, check any travel advisories on the U.S. Department of State website here.
When traveling outside the United States, be sure to request an updated travel signature on your DS-2019. Travel signatures are good for 6 months to 1 year, depending on your J-1 category. Requesting a travel signature is easy; simply log into istart.gatech.edu and submit the travel signature e-form under the appropriate menu for your status and category.
If you are planning to be outside the U.S. for more than 30 days during your J-1 program, ensure you request the out-of-country authorization through the travel signature e-form.
No travel signature is needed when traveling within the United States.
Visit OIE’s Travel website for additional resources on traveling outside the United States.
Visit OIE's updated FAQ here.
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The Department of State mandates that all J-1 visa holders and J-2 dependents maintain health insurance for the duration of their program. Be sure to renew your health insurance before it expires and submit an updated copy of your policy coverage to OIE.
For more information on health insurance requirements, please visit our website here.
As a reminder, if you receive an email from OIE regarding the expiration date of your health insurance. You must update insurance documents via iStart through the J Scholar or J Student Intern Immigration Document Update E-form.
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Do you need additional time to complete your research project? Coordinate with your hosting department’s HR administrator to request an extension of your DS-2019. They will submit the request on your behalf for OIE's review.
Please visit our website for more information about the extension process and eligibility requirements.
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NEW J-1 Pre-Arrival Guide |
OIE has created a J-1 Pre-Arrival Guide with information regarding visa applications, housing, transportation, health insurance, and more! While you may already be here on campus, this guide can still be useful to you for various different resources. Looking for local international grocers? Looking to change your cell phone plan or banking institution? Want to learn more about campus resources? It's all in there!
You can access the J-1 Pre-Arrival Guide here!
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Exchange Visitor Skills List Updated In Federal Register |
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Campus & Community Engagement |
All new J-1 Scholars and Student Interns are required to attend a mandatory orientation session with OIE after their arrival. If you have not attended an orientation session yet, please see our website here for the schedule of orientations and to register for the next one.
The next orientation will be held on June 27th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://gatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UK3sVWeyQfCTx97rrIfCSA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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GTLI offers English language courses to both J-1's and their J-2 spouses. They are a great opportunity to practice your English language skills, meet new people, and make connections. You can learn more about these classes here.
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Looking for activities around Atlanta? Explore Discover Atlanta for year-round family fun!
Visit OIE's webpage here for a list of attractions and restaurants in and around Atlanta.
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In May, Buzz got to attend the NAFSA 2025 National Conference in San Diego, California! Buzz joined OIE advisors, Sarah Scott and Rashika Webb, as they presented on Inclusive Leadership Development Programs to other international educators. At the conference, he attended sessions about updated policies and trends in international education to learn how to better support international students and scholars at Georgia Tech. When not in sessions learning, he visited Coronado Beach, ate delicious food in San Diego's Historic Gaslamp Quarter, and saw the iconic decommissioned aircraft carrier ship, the USS Midway!
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Would you like a spotlight in our newsletter?
Submit yours here!
Talking points and photo ideas include:
Groundbreaking research you've been involved in (please do not include any classified information. Write in layman's terms for all to understand)
Your favorite food from either your home country or that you've had in the U.S.
Your experience in the U.S. as an exchange visitor
Your favorite place you've visited in the U.S.
A fun activity you've engaged in while in the U.S.
What you do in your free time
Tell us about yourself or your family
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J-2 Connections & Resources |
U.S. School System Information |
The Atlanta Metro & Georgia school system offers a wide variety of public, private, and specialty schools. Public schools are free to attend, and you can register your children online anytime. To attend a public school, you will have to be “zoned” for that school. This means that your place of residence will determine which public school your child can attend. Private schools are not free to attend (you must pay tuition every month) and sometimes require a supplemental application to determine whether your child qualifies to attend. You do not have to be “zoned” for a private school. There is oftentimes a bus system for public schools that will pick up and take home your children every day. Private schools often do not provide transportation to and from school.
Follow these links to research the school rankings in the Atlanta Metro area to choose the best option for your child: https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-school-districts/m/atlanta-metro-area/
Follow these links to research our school systems and register your child for school: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/
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Your J-2 spouse can apply for work authorization in the US by filing a Form I-765 with USCIS. When the Form I-765 is approved, USCIS will mail your spouse a plastic work card known as “EAD” or “Employment Authorization Document”. Without this work card, your spouse cannot work in the US and will not be eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN).
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J-2 Educational Opportunities |
J-2 dependent spouses are eligible to enroll in classes at any college or university in the U.S. either part time or full time in a vocational or degree seeking capacity.
GTLI offers English language courses to both J-1's and their J-2 spouses. They are a great opportunity to practice your English language skills, meet new people, and make connections. You can learn more about these classes here.
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Wellness Resources: Our Fill Your Cup landing page provides an overview of holistic wellness resources available at Georgia Tech. For more information, please visit:
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