Iowa Department of Education

Reminder about Non-immigrant Students and Athletics

The FAQs about foreign exchange students and other non-immigrant students have been updated and can be found at https://www.edinfo.state.ia.us/web/faqs.asp?f=fes . 

Note that one major change affects foreign exchange students (J-1 visa holders) and their eligibility to immediately participate in varsity interscholastic sports. Effective July 1, 2006, such students have immediate eligibility (assuming they meet academic and physical examination requirements) UNLESS the student is in the United States primarily for purposes of participating in athletics. An amendment to Iowa Code section 256.46 states that a foreign exchange student who attends school "for primarily athletic purposes" is also subject to the 90 school days of ineligibility to participate at the varsity level.

Because of this new legislation, it is now mandatory that a high school principal file a notification form with the IHSAA or IGHSAU for each foreign exchange student who desires to participate in interscholastic athletics. The forms are available from IGHSAU at http://www.ighsau.org/ (click on the pdf form on the right-hand side of the home page) and from IHSAA at http://www.iahsaa.org/forms.htm (click on Foreign Exchange Application). They may also be obtained by calling either organization; Lisa Brinkmeyer has responsibilities for foreign exchange students for the IGHSAU, contact 515/288-9741 or lisa@ighsau.org; and Alan Beste fulfills those responsibilities for the IHSAA, contact 515/432-2011 or abeste@iahsaa.org.