B-1/W-B Visas

B-1 Visitor for Business is a visa classification that can be used by foreign scholars making a short visit to UCD.  B-1 visitors are not eligible for employment in the United States and are not eligible to apply for a Social Security number.

Prospective international visitors may apply for a B-1 visa stamp at a U.S. consulate abroad, and, upon entry to the U.S., are assigned a B-1, Visitor for Business status.  The B-1 Visitor for Business status may be appropriate for someone who is coming to the U.S. for a short period for business, but who is being paid from his/her home country.  Examples of appropriate uses for the B-1 visa include:

• An individual coming for a conference or seminar;

• An individual coming for an interview;

• A professor who will spend his/her leave at UCD conducting independent research, and will receive no payment from UCD. 

The initial maximum period for a B-1 visa holder can be up to one year, although often the individual is only admitted to the United States for six months or less.  The period of time for which a visitor may be admitted is at the discretion of the immigration officer at the US port-of-entry.  Extensions of B-1 status may be granted in increments of up to six months or less through application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).   

Payments To Visitors

B-1s may not receive a salary from UCD.  However, they may be allowed to receive reimbursement in some cases.  Individuals admitted under a B-1 visa are allowed to receive reimbursement for travel and per diem expenses, up to a reasonable amount, for the period of time they are in the U.S. as a B-1 Visitor for Business.

Additionally, the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 contains a provision that allows payment of honoraria and associated incidental expenses to B-1 visa holders for "usual academic activity," provided that the services do not exceed nine days at a single institution.  The payment must be offered by an institution of higher education, a nonprofit organization affiliated with an institution of higher education, or a nonprofit or a governmental research organization.  These visa holders cannot accept honoraria and/or incidental expenses from more than five such institutions or organizations in a six-month period. 

See "Honorarium Payments to B-1/B-2 Visa Holders" at the UCOP web site.

Visa Waiver Program

Visitors from countries participating in the visa waiver program (see below) are eligible for the W-B (Business) category.  In general, the same rules apply to the W-B as apply to the B-1.  However, a significant difference is that individuals entering without visas in W-B status can only stay in the U.S. for a maximum of 90 days and cannot extend their stay or change their status inside the U.S.  This means that an individual can not come to the U.S. on a visa waiver to interview for a position and then change his or her status with in the U.S. to accept that position.  He or she would be required to travel outside of the United States, apply for a new visa classification abroad and re-enter the United States.

Citizens of the following countries are eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and The United Kingdom.

Procedure For Inviting B Visitors

If you believe an international visitor invited to your department may qualify as a B-1 visitor or a visa waiver visitor, please follow the following procedures:

1. Contact SISS to discuss the situation, and determine if a B-1/W-B is indeed the most appropriate choice for the international visitor;

2. The department issues an invitation letter. 

3. The visiting scholar will need to take the letter and apply for a B-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate and Embassy responsible for his or her location.  The visitor will need to fill out Consular Forms DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158, which can be obtained directly from the consulate or found at http://travel.state.gov/visaforms.html.  A visa application fee will also be required at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.