The application
The application should be accompanied by the following: a curriculum vitae; a list of publications; a one-page description of the intended research project; and two letters of recommendation. The deadline for fall semester and academic year is April 1. The deadline for the spring semester is September 1. If you have difficulty downloading the application, you may request one from Annie Sheng, Program Coordinator, International Programs, Columbia Law School 435 West 116th Street, Mail Code 4036, New York, NY 10027 USA, Fax: 212-851-7691, E-mail: asheng@law.columbia.edu.
Whenever possible, applications should be submitted electronically. Completed applications will be distributed to Columbia faculty members who have a shared academic interest with the applicant. If a faculty member is willing to serve as a sponsor, the application will be passed on to the Law School's International Committee for final approval. Faculty sponsorship includes providing guidance to the scholar on his or her research and facilitating introductions to other faculty members who may share a common interest with the visitor. Decisions will be made and applicants notified within six to eight weeks of the application deadline. Please note that due to heavy volume this year, decisions may be sent out later than the stated time frame.
Program Fees
The fee for the Visiting Scholar Program at Columbia Law School is $6,000 per academic year (from September - May) or $3000 per semester.
Once accepted into the program, the Law School will send Visiting Scholars and Visiting Research Fellows the necessary forms to obtain a J-1 visa. These forms should be returned to Annie Sheng, who then forwards them to the University's International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) where the DS-2019 (formerly known as the IAP-66 form) is issued. ISSO charges $250.00 for the processing of visa eligibility forms (DS-2019). ISSO also requires all foreign visitors to provide documentation of their ability to support themselves financially while in the U.S. Current regulations call for at least $2000 per month per scholar, plus an additional $800 per month for an accompanying spouse and $450 per month for an accompanying child.
Further information about immigration requirements can be obtained from the ISSO: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/.
