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International Student Services

The Exchange Visitor Program (EVP)

As a student in J-1 status, you are a part of the Exchange Visitor Program and funded by one of two generous university scholarships: IWORK or the David O. McKay Presidential Scholarship.

Please adhere to the information on this website to learn more about what it means to be a part of this program.

If you hold a J-1 visa, you are an exchange visitor. As an Exchange Visitor in the College and University Student category, you will discover wonderful opportunities and experiences as you study and maintain status.

What is the Exchange Visitor Program?

The Exchange Visitor Program, also known as BridgeUSA, is a public diplomacy initiative administered by the U.S. Department of State under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays Act). Its mission is to "increase mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries" by promoting educational and cultural exchange. At BYU–Hawaii, most exchange visitors participate under the J-1 Student visa category.

The mission of BYU–Hawaii is to prepare students from Oceania and the Asian Rim to become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in their families, communities, professions, and in building the kingdom of God. The Exchange Visitor Program supports this mission by providing international students with educational opportunities, leadership development, and meaningful intercultural experiences that equip them to make positive contributions in their home countries.

The primary purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to foster mutual understanding through educational and cultural exchange between citizens of the United States and other nations. At BYU–Hawaii, J-1 students are enrolled under the college and university student category, allowing them to pursue a full academic degree while participating in cultural exchange. Other BridgeUSA categories include Student Intern, Research Scholar, Teacher, and Trainee, among others.

As a designated BridgeUSA program sponsor and a SEVP-certified institution, BYU–Hawaii is authorized by the U.S. Department of State to administer the Exchange Visitor Program. In this role, the university is responsible for supporting the health, safety, and welfare of its J-1 students while ensuring compliance with federal immigration regulations, including full-time enrollment requirements.

These responsibilities are carried out by the university's Responsible Officer (RO) and Alternative Responsible Officers (AROs) from the International Student Services (ISS), who provide guidance, monitor student compliance, and serve as the primary points of contact for J-1 exchange visitors throughout their program.

Helpful Links

BridgeUSA

This website contains all the information you need to know as a student on the Exchange Visitor Program.
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Exchange Visitor Visa

For more information regarding applying for and receiving the J-1 visa stamp, please refer to the information on this website.
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Food is a great way to share your culture with the students at BYUH.



Keep reading to learn more about how you can get involved with cultural and educational exchange at the university.
A male student grilling meat.

The following section will discuss Opportunities to join the program at BYUH and how to effectively participate in the Exchange Visitor Program at BYUH.

Funding Programs and Awards

At BYU–Hawaii, there are two scholarship programs for international students. Being a recipient of these scholarship programs will make you an exchange visitor in the United States. Each scholarship program has their own unique requirements and application processes. Please reach out to Financial Aid for further information.

The scholarship programs sponsored by the university include:
  • IWORK Work-Study Program
    This program is sponsored by BYU–Hawaii and helps students to graduate debt free. It enables them to return to their home country to serve and lead in their communities, work-place, the church, and their families. Students on this program are expected to work and contribute a portion of their pay to their educational costs.
  • David O. McKay Presidential Scholarship
    This scholarship is designed for students from church schools across the Pacific region and represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as only two outstanding students are selected. Recipients receive full tuition, room and board, and books for all four years at the university, as well as a travel stipend for one round-trip journey to BYU–Hawaii at the beginning of their studies and back home upon graduation.

Program Activities

This includes a list of programs at BYUH that promotes exchange between international and domestic students at the university.
  • Kumuwaiwai Center for Sustainability
    Although the purpose of this center is to promote sustainability among students at BYUH, it also gives students the opportunity to learn more about Hawaiian practices and to share their culture with others. On their social media pages you can watch videos of students talking about their farming practices at home or even sharing recipes using resources from the farm.
  • Seasider Stories
    Several Exchange Visitor students have shared their experiences through the university's Seasider Stories platform. Explore their stories and those of other BYU–Hawaii students on the Seasider Stories YouTube channel.
Additionally, cultural exchange events and activities are hosted by ISS and other campus departments. Access the myBYUH platform for more campus details.
Cultural goals of the program
1) Be leaders and examples of intercultural peace; 2) Bring together countries and cultures in ways that no other university can; 3) Provide culturally diverse experiences and opportunities with lasting impact on their journeys beyond BYUH.

Components of the program
The unviersity provides a capstone experience for all exchange visitors through the following priorities:
  • Academic (Holokai)
  • Career (internships and professional development opportunties)
  • Cultural exchange and immersion
  • Exchange Visitor Program participation 
Employment 
J-1 students are eligible to receive employment authorization for on-campus student employment positions. Please refer to the Human Resources (HR) website for information and terms and conditions of employment: https://hr.byuh.edu/, as well as information on Workday.

Events

Below are all the events that promote educational and cultural exchange between domestic and international students at BYU–Hawaii.

Culture Night

This is an annual event that gives students the opportunity to showcase their culture through dance. Students also get the chance to perform with clubs outside of their culture.
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Food Fest

This is an annual event held every Fall semester. Various clubs share special dishes from their culture with students and members of the community. The funds raised goes towards their club for future activities.
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Club Activities

At BYU–Hawaii, there are a great number of clubs that students can join. These clubs can be divided into three categories: culture, academics, and special-interest. Students are encouraged to join and participate in many club activities so that they can enhance their experience at the university, and increase their chances of engaging in cultural and educational exchange at the university.
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Students from various countries sitting at the CAC BYUH.

ISS Events

ISS holds various events through out the semester for students to participate in cultural exchange. Students can be updated about the ISS events through student email, ISS Instagram, and ISS myBYUH page.


The office also partners with other departments such as the Service Center and Student Leadership & Service to create meaningful events for the students.