Requirement
The U.S. Department of State requires all [J-1] Exchange Visitors to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the English language, as determined by an objective measurement of English language proficiency, to successfully participate in his or her program activity and to function on a day-to-day basis. To understand the reason this requirement is now being more closely monitored by the Department of State, it is important to review the purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program. 22 C.F.R. § 62.20(b)
Purpose
"Purpose. The purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program, in part, is to foster the exchange of ideas between Americans and foreign nationals and to stimulate international collaborative teaching, lecturing and research efforts. The exchange of professors and research scholars promotes the exchange of ideas, research, mutual enrichment, and linkages between research and educational institutions in the United States and foreign countries. It does so by providing foreign professors and research scholars the opportunity to engage in research, teaching, and lecturing with their American colleagues, to participate actively in cross-cultural activities with Americans, and ultimately to share with their countrymen their experiences and increased knowledge of the United States and their substantive fields."
Documentation
Following Department of State guidelines, ISSO offers several options to demonstrate required English language proficiency:
- Standardized English Test: TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English Assessment
- Iowa State University requires a minimum score of 40 for the TOEFL iBT (internet-based test), 5.0 for the IELTS, 70 for the Duolingo English Test, 38 for the PTE Academic, and 154 for the Cambridge English Assessment. Scores should be no older than 2 years.
- English3 Interview
- The interview is conducted online and is scored by English3. Iowa State University requires a minimum score of 3.0, and the score should be no older than 2 years. Please see English3 for more information.
- Earned degree above the high school level from a school where the language of instruction was English
- The applicant must provide a copy of the diploma and documentation that the language of instruction for his/her degree program was English.
- Citizen of a country in which English is the ONLY OFFICIAL language (See list here)
- This country list is the same used by ISU Admissions when determining which students must provide a TOEFL score as part of the admissions process.