Foreign Person Reviews
The Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance (OESRC) uses the Summit system to manage the Foreign Person Review (FPR) workflow.
Summit provides many advantages to OESRC, Global Strategic Services (GSS) and Virginia Tech departments through user groups and role assignments for processing these requests. There is a dashboard view with review statuses and approval workflow as well as record retention for ease of access to historical approvals.
OESRC will conduct the review and provide any necessary or relevant guidance to the host faculty, department and GSS. Global Strategic Services will have access to the OESRC review results and will verify the review approval before advancing the pertinent visa processes.
The Summit - Export Control User Guide is available as a training tool, help reference, and FAQ list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Virginia Tech is required by federal regulations to establish procedures to monitor assignments to its facilities of foreign persons to ensure that the disclosure of, and access to, export-controlled articles and related information are limited to those that are approved by an export authorization. Additionally, Virginia Tech must certify whether or not an H-1B/H-1B1/L-1/O-1A applicant requires an export license in accordance with part 6 of the I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.
Virginia Tech is also a registered exporter with the Department of State and Virginia Tech has an obligation to comply with U.S. export and sanctions regulations (22 CFR 120-130, 15 CFR 300-799, 31 CFR 500-599). In order to maintain compliance with these requirements, International Affairs and OESRC have established procedures that require an OESRC review of all foreign persons who are not degree seeking students enrolled at Virginia Tech.
The resume/curriculum vitae is necessary to verify the background of the foreign person and confirm there is no affiliation with denied and restricted parties.
OESRC does not advise departments on the appropriate visa category. For more information, please refer to the following webpage from GSS or contact Global Strategic Services at vtgss@vt.edu.
Invitation letters are the responsibility of the Virginia Tech host department following the completion of the OESRC review. Letters must be issued according to the GSS guidance for the invitation letter template for B-1/VWB or invitation letter guidance for J-1.
The OESRC review should be completed prior to issuing the Terms of Faculty Offer. The results of the OESRC review may be that an export license or other government authorization is required (and may not be granted). This review should be completed in advance of issuing the offer so that the TOFO can be conditioned with employment terms contingent on obtaining appropriate export authorizations.
OESRC is one part of the overall application approval process in Slate, which is managed by the Graduate School. OESRC's decision will be documented within the graduate school application system and will be visible by both the graduate school and departments.