Export Control Menu
ORP Menu
International Visitor Reviews
Export violations can occur by sharing information, technology, or software, and/or providing access to controlled equipment, materials, or research to a foreign person in the U.S. at University facilities. To mitigate this risk, all visiting scholars and international visitors require approval from the Office of Export Compliance (OEC) prior to their arrival.
Visiting Scholar Request Process
To streamline the process and prevent downstream delays, export compliance reviews must occur before an invitation is extended to a visiting scholar and before visa processing begins.
- Who this applies to: All visiting scholars, regardless of country of origin or length of stay, including those seeking J-1 or H-1B Visa sponsorship by the University.
- Why it is required: To make sure that any compliance concerns are addressed up front. This ensures that units and visiting scholars do not invest time in invitation letters and visa steps only to encounter issues later in the process.
How to Request a Review
- Submit the Form: The Penn State faculty or administrative host must complete and submit the International Scholar & Employee Export Compliance Review form. Please note: This form must be completed by the Penn State host, not by the visitor.
- Wait for a Decision: Do not extend an offer or begin visa processing until you officially receive approval from the Office of Export Compliance.
- Proceed with Invitation: Once approved, you may proceed with the standard DocFinity invitation and visa processing steps.
General International Visitors (Non-Scholars)
For incoming international visitors who do not fall under the Visiting Scholar designation, a review should be obtained from the University Office of Export Compliance at least 10 days prior to the visitor’s arrival.
Please use the form above to indicate the duration of the visit. OEC will review the visit details and provide a decision.
Group Visits
For multiple international visitors arriving for the same Penn State event (e.g., workshops, seminars), you may submit all visitors using a single online request form.
- For events involving 10+ visitors: Please prepare a spreadsheet listing the full names, institutions/companies, current country of residence, and citizenship of each visitor.
- This document can be uploaded as an attachment to the online request form.
- For questions about large group visits, please contact the Export Control office directly.
Additional Resources
All visiting scholars must be processed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs in accordance with University Policy AC01. Additional information on the visiting scholars process is located on the Penn State Visiting Scholars website.
Office for Research Protections
Address
200 Innovation Blvd.
Suite 110
University Park, PA 16802
The Office for Research Protections (ORP) ensures that research at the University is conducted in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines that protect human participants, animals, students, and personnel involved with research.