Educational Exchange

International Visitor Program

What is the International Visitor (IV) Program?

The State Department offers the IV Program each year as an opportunity to allow approximately 5 of Qatar's most promising citizens to visit the United States. The purpose of the program is to introduce present and future leaders of Qatar to American society, to broaden their horizons, to put professionals in contact with their counterparts in the U.S., and to initiate a sustained relationship with them. The IV program is not a "training program" -it is a vehicle for changing attitudes, refuting misinformation, and forging ties with people. 

The programs offered each year cover the American political and economic systems, the role of NGOs, environmental protection, and the U.S. justice system, the role of women in social and political affairs, intellectual freedom and civic education. Programs are conducted in both English and Arabic whereand all expenses are paid by the USG. We can design Gulf or Qatar-specific programs tailor-made for individuals or small groups provided all expenses are paid by the participants. 

Who is eligible?

U.S. citizens and green card holders are ineligible for an IV grant. Applicant must be available for the full three- to four-week program. The schedule is intensive and the pace of the visit can be physically demanding at times. Participants are expected to attend all sessions for the duration of the program. Grantees are not allowed to travel with family members. Experience has shown that when a spouse or other family member accompanies the grantees, they frequently become distracted and begin to miss appointments.

All International Visitors travel to the Unites States on "J-l" (exchange) visas and are subject to the two-year physical presence in home country requirement. This means that an International Visitor cannot take up permanent residence in the U.S. for two years after the end of the program for which he received the "J-l " visa.

Economy class travel and the official USG per diem rate is provided. Unfortunately, we cannot provide VIP accommodations for our grantees.

What kinds of individuals make good International Visitors?

The ideal nominee is relatively young (30-40 years old), has never or rarely traveled to the United States. The goal of the program is not to enhance the career of an individual, nor to reward past favors. Rather, it is to increase the grantee's understanding of the United States in a certain field or area.

What kinds of programs are there?

IV programs cover numerous topics and themes. There are five different types of programs:

1. Individual Grants: Programs designed to meet the professional needs of individual grantees and the nominating officer. English or Arabic, depending on the language abilities of the individual. Individual programs are the most expensive, so we use them sparingly.

2. Single-Country Projects (SCPs): Programs tailor-made for Qatari groups. English or Arabic -generally have 3-5 participants.

3. Single Regional Projects (SRPs): A few programs are offered each year to Arabic- speaking posts only. Visitors travel with a group of people from other Arab countries and are escorted by a professional interpreter. Non-English speakers are preferred.

4. Multi-Regional Projects (MRPs): These projects bring together ten to twenty people from different countries, all interested in the same topic. English fluency is required for MRPs. The dates for these projects are fixed in advance.

5. Voluntary Visitors: Many Qataris travel on their own to the U.S. and it may be possible for us to arrange appointments and perdiem for these individuals for up to seven days. We can also arrange an interpreter if the visitor is of high priority. Planning a week-long Voluntary Visitor program normally requires two-months advance notice.