The Puerto Rico Department of State is acertified Sponsor by the United States Department of State to administer the Exchange Visitor Program in the categories of University Student and Professor. In Puerto Rico, it is the only institution authorized to work with the exchange of international students.
The Exchange Visitor Program promotes cultural and academic exchanges with foreign countries under the authority provided by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. This federal program is a tool that has allowed Puerto Rico to promote itself as acenter for higher education by fostering the exchange of foreign students in our universities.
The following universities have participated in and benefited from the Exchange Visitor Program: University of Puerto Rico, Caribbean Primate Research Center; Interamerican University, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico; Sacred Heart University; Universities of the Ana G. Méndez System, Pontifical Catholic University of Ponce. The following organizations, among others, have also participated in the Program: Alliance Française, Museo del Mar, Teen Challenge, Table Tennis Club, Mandarin Institute, The Future, Center for Micro-enterprises and Sustainable Agricultural Technology, Inc., Coda 21, Minor Capuchin Friars Order.
Other companies in Puerto Rico identified as prepared to export by the Puerto Rico Trade and Export Company which have taken advantage of the Exchange Visitor Program include, among several: INDULAC, Air Green Corp., Caribbean Office Chairs Mfgts, Inc., Ci2i Media , Inc., Danosa Caribbean, Inc., Fusionworks, Inc., Gascó Industrial, Glasstra Manufacturing, Inc., Ignition and Fuel Systems, Corp., Jero Management Group Inc., Marey Heater Corp., Nazareno Enterprises & Services, Inc. ,Organic Health Labs, OPTI Manufacturing Corp., Pharma Bio Serv PR, Inc., Rosarion Software Development, Inc., Square Knot Corp. DBA California Closets, Universal Solar Products, Wovenware, Inc.
You can refer to the Guide for Foreign Visitors for information on the Program, as well as for information to foreign citizens who wish to enter Puerto Rico under another type of non-immigrant visa.
This category provides the international student with the opportunity to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program to study at an accredited academic institution that grants post-secondary degrees, or to train in an internship at the university or at any other institution, organization, or company, that supports and reinforces the student's academic studies. Studies may be non-degree or towards granting a degree such as associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate.
This category provides professors with the opportunity to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program with the purpose of stimulating international collaborative efforts in teaching, lecturing and conferences, and in research. The Program allows for exchange at an accredited post-secondary educational institution, research institution, corporate research facility, museum, library, or similar institution in the United States.
Professors may hold occasional conferences and brief or short-term consultations with the authorization of the responsible official as long as they are directly related to the objectives of the exchange program, are incidental to the main activities of the exchange, and do not delay the date of completion of the program. If the visiting professor receives salaries or other remuneration for such activities, he mustact as an independent contractor.
At the discretion and approval of the responsible officer, professors may engage in research and freely change their type of activity, if it is compatible and consistent with teaching and educating. A professor may be authorized to participate in an exchange for the time necessary to complete his or her program, provided that such time does not exceed five years. Professors are not eligible to participate as professors again for a period of two years after the end date of their exchange program.