Robin Catmur-Smith

Managing Director of the International Student Resource Center

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Robin Catmur-Smith is Managing Director of the International Student Resource Center at the Talent Mobility Fund, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting international students and scholars in the U.S. She brings over 30 years of experience in academic immigration services, most recently as Director of Immigration Services at the University of Georgia, where she led a team of nine and oversaw visa advising and sponsorship for thousands of international students, scholars, and faculty. Prior to UGA, she served as Director of the Office of Visa and Immigration Services at Dartmouth College. A recognized leader in the field, Robin has received NAFSA’s National Award of Excellence, has presented, trained, and chaired sessions at national and regional conferences for decades, and has served as a mentor to many colleagues in the field. She has contributed to NAFSA and AILA publications and served on the SHRM Advisory Board for the Council for Global Immigration. She holds an M.A. in Liberal Studies with a focus on Globalization Studies from Dartmouth College and a B.S. in International Development from UC Davis.
Robin Catmur-Smith

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  • J-1 Academic Categories: Eligibility & Requirements

    Your J-1 category is chosen by your sponsor based on your qualifications, role, activities, and length of stay. Here’s how the academic and research categories compare.

  • The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program

    The J-1 program is the U.S. Department of State’s framework for international educational and cultural exchange. This overview explains what it is and how it’s run, then links to the details.

  • Maintaining J-1 Status & Program Changes

    Keeping J-1 status means meeting reporting obligations to your sponsor and handling program changes the right way. Learn about the landscape for scholars in this overview for maintaining J-1 Status and program…

  • The Two-Year Home Residency Requirement & Bars to Re-Entry

    Three separate J-1 rules are often confused: the 212(e) two-year home-country residency requirement, the 24-month bar, and the 12-month bar. This guide explains each and how they differ.

  • Pre-Arrival, Orientation, English & Health Insurance

    Before and just after you arrive, your sponsor must give you certain orientation and arrival information and confirm that you meet a few requirements. Learn what to expect in this overview for…

  • Postdoctoral Positions: Special Considerations

    Postdocs face choices that other scholars don’t — especially J-1 vs H-1B and how those choices might affect a future green card. Here’s what to weigh.

  • Applying for a J-1 Visa

    Once your sponsor issues your DS-2019, you can apply for your J-1 visa. The core process matches the student J-1 process, with a few scholar-specific funding points.

  • Employment, Teaching & Study on J-1 Status

    While holding J-1 visa status in the U.S., your activities must center on your program objectives, and most work opportunities will need your RO/ARO’s prior written approval. Here’s the framework, with real…

  • Graduation & Beyond: Student Options

    When you complete your academic program you have a short window to act on several possible next steps. Here are the options, with links to the details.

  • Avoiding Scams

    International students are frequent targets because scammers assume you’re still learning U.S. systems. The good news: most scams share predictable patterns. Here’s how to protect yourself.