⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Faculty, Staff, & Visitors ⇒ Non-Immigrant Visa Overview
Non-Immigrant Visa Overview
Departments and Schools hiring international personnel or hosting international visitors for short or longer-term sojourns will find there are several non-immigrant options for bringing them to Indiana University. See below for a brief outline and comparison of the most common non-immigrant visa types used at IU. Click on the links for more detail on each option, or contact OIS with any questions or for more specifics.
A note on terminology:
A “visa” is a stamp in the passport issued by a US Embassy or Consulate abroad. A visa allows a person to travel to the United States and apply for admission to the US at the Port of Entry. If a visitor is outside the US and will need to apply for a visa in order to travel, allow additional time for visa processing beyond that indicated below.
“Status” refers to the immigration status the person has in the US, which may not match the visa. Status is indicated by the “I-94 Departure Record.”
Short-Term Visitors - B-1/B-2/WB/WT
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Business or Tourist status (B-1/B-2/WB/WT) is usually the easiest and most appropriate category for persons coming for very short-term reasons such as conferences and presentations.
- May be paid an honorarium and/or expenses for an event of 9 days or less. Travel time may be outside the 9-day period.
- May be used for longer stays for self-funded academic research.
- Visa documentation in the form of invitation letter from host department.
Exchange Visitor J-1
J-1 Short-Term Scholar
- J-1 Short-Term Scholar status is appropriate for visitors with a sojourn of 6 months or less.
- May be paid or unpaid (sabbatical, outside funding).
- May not be used for a tenure-track position.
- Cannot be extended beyond a total of 6 months.
- Quick and easy visa documentation. Processing is through OIS, documentation prepared in 1–2 weeks.
- $180 SEVIS fee, usually paid by applicant.
- J-2 dependents eligible to apply for work authorization (due to immigration processing delays, may not be a useful option) and to take classes.
- A home residence requirement may be involved. Waivers of the requirement may be possible.
- May be used in some cases where Professor or Researcher category not possible.
J-1 Researcher or Professor
- J-1 Researcher or Professor status is appropriate for many research or teaching positions
- May be paid or unpaid (sabbatical, outside funding).
- May not be used for a tenure-track position.
- Status can be granted for up to a maximum of 5 years.
- Quick and easy visa documentation. Processing is through OIS, documentation prepared in 1–2 weeks.
- $180 SEVIS fee, usually paid by applicant.
- J-2 dependents eligible to apply for work authorization.
- A home residence requirement may be involved. Waivers of the requirement may be possible.
- Persons who have previously been in J status may not be eligible for Professor or Researcher documentation for a specified time thereafter.
H-1B (Specialty Worker)
- H-1B status is appropriate for professional and academic appointments.
- Available initially for up to 3 years, renewable for up to a total of 6 years.
- The position must require a Bachelor’s or higher degree and beneficiary must have a relevant degree.
- Intent to remain in the US and seek permanent residence not relevant to visa application.
- Salary must meet minimum prevailing wage standard set by Department of Labor.
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Requires processing through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after preparation by the OIS. Average OIS processing of application (including Department of Labor processing), 3 weeks after e-form approved and supporting documents received from the hiring department/employee; USCIS processing, 3 months after application received. Premium processing fee of $1000 guarantees adjudication by USCIS (or a fee refund) within 15 calendar days of receipt. If the employee is already in H-1B status, the employee may begin employment once USCIS returns a receipt notice to the OIS.
- USCIS application fee of $820 for initial application ($320 for extensions) must be paid by department.
- H-4 dependents may not work.
- H-4 dependents qualify for in-state tuition fees at IU after 12 months of consecutive physical presence in Indiana.
E-3 (Australian Speciality Worker)
- Limited to Australian citizens.
- E-3 status is appropriate for professional and academic appointments.
- Status can be granted for up to 2 years, extended in 2-year increments indefinitely.
- Intent to remain in the US and seek permanent residence not relevant to visa application.
- The position must require a Bachelor’s or higher degree and beneficiary must have a relevant degree.
- Salary must meet minimum prevailing wage standard set by Department of Labor.
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Does not require processing through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), unless the employee is in the US and will apply for a change/extension of status. Average OIS processing of application (including Department of Labor processing) is 3 weeks after paper form submitted and supporting documents received from the hiring department/employee. USCIS processing, if required, is 3 months after application received. Premium processing is not available.
- No USCIS application fee, unless employee is in the US and will apply for a change of status to E-3.
- E-3 dependents are eligible to apply for employment authorization.
- E-3 dependents qualify for in-state tuition fees at IU after 12 months of consecutive physical presence in Indiana.
- Useful in cases where an Australian employee is not eligible for H-1B due to a home residence requirement or salary issue, or in cases where an E-3 dependent wishes to work.
O-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability)
- O-1 status may be possible for employees with a home residence requirement who are not eligible for H-1B or for positions where H-1B salary or degree requirements cannot be met.
- Initial status can be granted for 3 years. One year extensions available indefinitely thereafter.
- Intent to remain in the US and seek permanent residence not relevant to visa application.
- Paper-intensive application must establish outstanding qualities of applicant.
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Requires processing through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after preparation by the OIS. Average OIS processing, 2–4 weeks after paper form submitted and supporting documents received from the hiring department/employee; USCIS processing, 3 months after application received. Premium processing fee of $1000 guarantees adjudication by USCIS (or a fee refund) within 15 calendar days of receipt.
- Beneficiary or department may pay application fee of $320.
- No salary minimum.
- O-3 dependents may not work.
- O-3 dependents qualify for in-state tuition fees at IU after 12 months of consecutive physical presence in Indiana.
TN (Trade NAFTA)
- TN status is available to Canadian and Mexican citizens in specified fields, including university teaching and research.
- Initial status can be granted for 3 years. Further extensions of up to 3 years may be granted.
- No salary minimum.
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Does not require processing through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), unless the employee is in the US and will apply for a change/extension of status. Does not require OIS processing, only OIS advising. Average OIS advising time is 3 business days after paper form submitted by the hiring department/employee. USCIS processing, if required, is 3 months after application received. Premium processing fee of $1000 guarantees adjudication by USCIS (or a fee refund) within 15 calendar days of receipt.
- Fee of $50 if applying at border. USCIS fee if applying for change of status or extension in the US.
- TD (dependents) may not work.
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