POLICY FOR FOREIGN VISITORS TO UF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
SHORT-TERM SCHOLARS, GUEST LECTURERS
B-1 or W-B Visitor for Business Visa Class:
These visa classes allow short-term visitors to come to the U.S. to conduct business, present a lecture, and attend conferences, seminars and other business meetings. These visa classes DO NOT allow employment. They DO, however, allow honoraria and per diem payments to be made, provided that the visitor's stay at the university is not longer than 9 days and the visitor has not accepted reimbursements from more than five other institutions in the U.S. during the preceding 6-month period. Reimbursements to persons in these visa classifications may be subject to substantial tax withholding and you may wish to contact the Payroll Office for further information on taxation. NOTE: Canadian citizens who enter the U.S. without any documentation are considered to be admitted in joint B-1 (Visitor for Business)/B-2 (Visitor for Tourism) visa classification.
The maximum period of time for non-paid visits to UFCOM in these classes would be 3 weeks.
- All visitors to UFCOM will need to complete HIPPA training
- Requests for any patient observation will need to be approved through the Office of the Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. For information and forms: http://privacy.health.ufl.edu (Click on: SHADOWING)
Please Note: Effective April, 2002, the College of Medicine no longer allows volunteer service from any person not already authorized to work in the United States. (Some examples of visas holders not eligible for volunteer are; H-4, O-3, L-2, M-2, R-2, TN, TD, B-1/2 {for any longer than 9 days}, etc.)
J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa Class, Short-Term Scholar Category:
This visa program was created to promote academic, cultural, and scientific exchange between the visitor and the host country. The short-term scholar category is used to bring someone to the U.S. to observe, lecture, consult, or participate in conferences or meetings. This visa DOES ALLOW reimbursements, honoraria, or per diem payments received as a guest lecturer, etc. The minimum time one can be in the U.S. in this visa category is 3 weeks and the maximum time is 6 months. No extension of stay beyond the 6-month period is allowed.
Dependents of J-1s may be admitted in J-2 status and may apply to the INS for permission to work. This is general work authorization for any job for which the alien qualifies.
NAFTA's TN Visa Class:
The TN visa permits only the activities normally associated with the title or appointment as stated in the appointment letter. It is available only to Canadian or Mexican citizens, (not to legal residents of these countries). Only professions listed in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) qualify. Examples of such professions are: faculty, research associates and certain allied health professions.
NOTE: There are special requirements for the issuance of a TN for a Mexican citizen. Reimbursements, honoraria, or per diem payments for guest lectures, etc. may be allowed on this visa if stated in the original appointment letter used to obtain the visa.
Dependents of TNs may be admitted in TD status. They are not permitted to work, no exceptions.
Note: Physicians may not perform clinical activities in this category of the J-1 visa
PROFESSORS, RESEARCHERS, SPECIALISTS, TECHNICIANS
J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa Class, Professor/Researcher Category:
This visa program was created to promote academic, cultural and scientific exchange between the visitor and the host country. It should be used to bring someone to the U.S. on a temporary basis to perform a specific research or teaching activity. This visa should not be used as a means of general employment. The regulations require that the appointment be temporary and the individual not be a candidate for a tenure track position. A professor or research scholar may be authorized to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program for the length of time necessary to complete his or her program, provided such time does not exceed five (5) years. The five-year period of permitted program participation is continuous and begins with the initial program begin date documented in SEVIS or the date such status was acquired via a petition submitted and approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as documented in SEVIS and ends five years from such date. Generally, employment not connected with the appointment is not permitted. Reimbursements, honoraria, or per diem payments received as a guest lecturer or collaborative researcher, etc. may be undertaken only with prior written approval from the Responsible Officer of the scholar's exchange program. Generally, persons on other institutions' J exchange visitor programs must transfer to the University of Florida's exchange visitor program before beginning employment at UF.
Note: Physicians may not perform clinical activities in this category of the J visa.
Dependents of J-1s may be admitted in J-2 status and may apply to the INS for permission to work. This is general work authorization for any job for which the alien qualifies.
