Export Control Review and Screening

Effective October 2023, the International Center and the Export Controls Office, under the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR), are introducing enhanced review and screening of department requests for J-1 exchange visitors (research scholars, professors, and short-term scholars) as well as H-1B temporary workers. These measures include the following:

1. Export Controls Office review of both J-1 and H-1B visa requests will be undertaken for all visa requests submitted to the International Center. The review will be coordinated by the International Center directly with the Export Controls Office and will not require departments to take any additional steps. However, if the review identifies any potential issues with the visa request, the Export Controls Office will notify the International Center and the sponsoring department for further action as needed or appropriate.
2. For H-1B requests only, an enhanced Form I-129 Export Controls Questionnaire is now a required supplement for any request for an H-1B temporary worker (including initial requests and extension requests). Departments seeking to sponsor an H-1B temporary worker for employment at Tufts must arrange to have the questionnaire answered, completed, and signed by the employee's supervisor, PI, or other person familiar with the person's job duties and responsibilities. The International Center must receive a completed questionnaire in order to finalize an H-1B petition for submission to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

These steps have been developed in collaboration with the Office of Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) and are intended to improve Tufts University's compliance with US federal regulations in the general area of research security. Relevant regulations include restrictions imposed by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), as well as sanctions managed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control under the Department of the Treasury. Both the International Center and the Office of Vice Provost for Research appreciate your cooperation and understanding in helping to implement these important compliance measures. If you have any questions about Export Controls, please send an email to exportcontrol@tufts.edu. If you have a question about visa processing, please contact internationalcenter@tufts.edu.