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.

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.

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).

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.

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. 

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. 

You will need to bring the following documents (originals and copies) to apply for your SSN:

1. You must complete J Scholar or Student Intern Check In and get confirmation that it has been approved by our office before you can apply for an SSN. Your SEVIS record must be active when applying and is not active until we process your check in e-form.

2. If you have been in the US before and were issued an SSN, that is still your SSN. It is a permanent lifetime use number.

3. If you are employed or paid by Georgia Tech, you are required to get an SSN. If you are not employed or paid by Georgia Tech, you are not required to apply for one but you are still eligible to do so.

REVIEW OUR SSN WEBPAGE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

At the end of your Exchange Program?

Don’t forget to complete the following:

Exchange Visitor End of Program Evaluation
Your input is valuable in helping OIE strengthen the BridgeUSA program 

J Scholar or J Student Intern Intent to Depart the U.S./End DS-2019 Status e-form in iStart

GTPD Phone: (404) 894-2500
GTPD Email: crimeprevention@police.gatech.edu
OIE Scam Information: https://isss.oie.gatech.edu/content/scams-101

All nonimmigrant visa applicants should schedule their interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of residence or nationality.

Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate that processes visas in your country of nationality or residence.

Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere. Please see the list of Designated Nonimmigrant Visa Locations and Designated Immigrant Visa Locations for visa processing.

For more information, please visit this webpage.

The OIE J-1 Pre-Arrival Guide has 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! 

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.

Next Orientation Session: February 27th 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://gatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KRl-adu0ReqLxVM6nn45pA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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. 

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.

March in Atlanta

March brings a burst of energy to Atlanta with big sports matchups, cultural celebrations, and festive spring fun. Cheer on the Atlanta Braves as baseball season begins, along with home‑court and home‑field action from the Atlanta Vibe, LOVB Volleyball, Atlanta United, USMNT, and the Atlanta Hawks.

The city also honors Women’s History Month with events and programs celebrating women’s contributions across arts, culture, and community.

Science lovers unite for the Atlanta Science Festival March 7 - 21! Georgia Tech will kickoff off the 13th annual Atlanta Science Festival by welcoming the community to our campus to Celebrate STEAM. For a full list of events, visit the Atlanta Science Festival official webpage.

Whether you’re a sports fanatic, arts enthusiast, science lover, or simply excited for spring, March in Atlanta offers the perfect reason to get out, explore, and enjoy the city.

The Office of International Education is looking for our next photo of the month to feature in the J-Buzz Newsletter!

This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight our Exchange Visitor's experience in the U.S. 

You will provide us with your name, your campus department/school, description of the photo/photos, and up to 3 photos.

Ideas: photos from a place you've visited in the US, photos of you and friends you've made, photos at a GT event (bonus if Buzz is featured), etc.

Submit your Photo of the Month here!

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/

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).

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. 

Have Questions Related to your Sponsorship and/or GT?

We understand that your Fulbright advisors will manage your J-1 immigration status, but as your local International Office, we would like to complement their support.

You can find information and/or get in contact with us in the following ways:

Visit our Sponsored Student website

Submit any questions or concerns to jscholars@oie.gatech.edu

Come to Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours or book an appointment with the GT J-1 Advisor

New Student Resources: https://isss.oie.gatech.edu/ISSS_New

Fulbright Online: Foreign.FulbrightOnline.org

IIE Student Portal: Portal.iie.org

Wellness Resources: Our Fill Your Cup landing page provides an overview of holistic wellness resources available at Georgia Tech. For more information, please visit: https://isss.oie.gatech.edu/isss/fillyourcup