Keys:

DHS = U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Overarching U.S. government agency under which USCIS falls

DOL = U.S. Department of Labor, determines prevailing wage, certifies labor certification applications

USCIS = U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Adjudicates immigration applications such as H-1B and F-1 OPT

Nonimmigrant Category

B-1 Business Visitor

VWP Visa Waiver Program for Business (WB)

J-1 Exchange Visitor

Eligibility
  • Lecturer, speaker, independent researcher, short-term training, attend a scientific, educational, professional or business convention or conference
  • No benefit to ISU for research
  • No employer/employee relationship
  • Enrolled in ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)
  • Lecturer, speaker, independent researcher, training
  • No benefit to ISU for research
  • No employer/employee relationship
  • Sufficient English language proficiency
  • No tenure-track, no clinical patient care
  • Paid or unpaid position

Maximum Length of Stay
  • 6 months
  • Extension possible through USCIS
  • 90 days
  • No extension possible
  • No change of status possible
  • 6 months for short-term scholar
  • 12 months for specialist (3 week minimum)

Estimated Time for Processing
  • 4-6 weeks to obtain visa (Canadians and Bermudians do not need visas)
  • 10 working days for Participation Agreement and Export Control Worksheet
  • 10 working days for DS-2019
  • Additional 4-6 weeks if need J-1 visa

Costs to Department
  • $0
  • $0
  • $100 ISSO Scholar Fee

Departmental Request
  • No request made
  • Cystart Form: Add New Person (if not a former ISU student, scholar or employee)
  • Cystart Form: Other Visiting Scholar/Employee
  • Other Forms: Export Control Worksheet
  • Other Forms: Participation Agreement (for ISSO only)
  • No request made
  • Cystart Form: Add New Person (if not a former ISU student, scholar or employee)
  • Cystart Form: Other Visiting Scholar/Employee
  • Other Forms: Export Control Worksheet
  • Other Forms: Participation Agreement (for ISSO only)
  • Request made through Cystart
  • Cystart Form: Add New Person (if not a former ISU student, scholar or employee)
  • Cystart Form: Exchange Visitor Application
  • Other Forms: Export Control Worksheet
  • Other Forms: Participation Agreement (for unpaid scholars)

Who is Involved?
  • Host department
  • U.S. Embassy if currently abroad
  • Host department
  • Host department
  • ISSO
  • U.S. Embassy if currently abroad

Special Departmental Requirements
  • Report to ISSO when visit begins
  • Report to ISSO when visit ends as early departure may reduce health insurance costs
  • Report to ISSO when visit begins
  • Report to ISSO when visit ends as early departure may reduce health insurance costs
  • Report to ISSO when visit begins and ends
  • Monitor program activity, safety and well-being of the Exchange Visitor
  • Offer or make available cross-cultural activities and experiences

Notes
  • No salary or income permitted
  • May reimburse expenses incidental to visit
  • B-1 honorarium limited to 9-5-6 rule, contact ISSO Scholar Unit
  • No costs for department
  • No salary or income permitted
  • May reimburse expenses incidental to visit
  • WB honorarium limited to 9-5-6 rule, contact ISSO Scholar Unit
  • May be paid or self-funded
  • If subject to 212(e), cannot become H-1B
  • Specialist category very limited in use
  • Specialist category has 12-month bar to return as Exchange Visitor or Professor if stay over 6 months
  • $100 cost for each extension

Dependents (child under age 21, spouse)
  • Dependents apply for separate B-2 visitor visa
  • Dependents may not work
  • Dependents may not study
  • Dependents enter U.S. on WT (visa wavier for tourism status)
  • May not work
  • May not study
  • Dependents enter U.S. on J-2 visas
  • May apply for work authorization from USCIS
  • May study part time or full time