Determining the Right Visa Type

"We're inviting someone to lecture and we'd like to pay an honorarium and/or reimburse expenses…"

	Visa type	Allows
Recommended	J-1 Short-term Scholar	Any type of payment Application for SSN
Alternate	B-1/B-2 or Visa Waiver	Honorarium; stay is limited and individual must have an SSN /ITIN

 

"We're hiring an international student who is graduating from an American institution…"

	Visa type	Allows
Recommended	F-1 Optional Practical Training *	Up to one year employment in field of study
Alternate	J-1 Academic Training*	Up to 18 mo. Employment in field of study or up to 36 mo. as postdoctoral researcher

*Student should apply for authorization through the International Office of the institution from which he/she has recently graduated.

 

"We're hiring an international person for non-tenured teaching/research position…"

	Visa type	Allows
Recommended	J-1 Short-term TN (Canadian) J-1 Scholar/Researcher	6 month maximum 1 year increments 3 years maximum
Alternate	H-1B	6 years maximum

 

"We're hiring an international person for a tenure-track or tenured position…"

	Visa type	Allows
Recommended	H-1B	6 years maximum
Alternate	O-1* TN (Canadian)	*If H-1B isn't available *If H-1B isn't available

* Individuals subject to the two year home

For information on the ISSS Foreign Services Fee, please see the ISSS Foreign Scholar Services Fee webpage.