Interested in Hosting or Hiring A Foreign Scholar?

Hosting A Visiting Scholar for An Exchange Program (J-1 Visa)

If you are interested in inviting a foreign scholar to teach or conduct research with you as an exchange visitor, your first step is to contact Stephanie Gonzalez, the main Immigration advisor for Exchange Visitors in the International Studies Office. To get things started, Stephanie will invite you to meet so she may explain the process, provide written information, and answer your questions. Please contact her at 438-5112 or sgonzal@ilstu.edu to make an appointment.

To learn more about inviting an Exchange Visitor before meeting with Stephanie, please visit the links below:

Overview, Request Form, Categories Chart and Considerations for the Hosting Department
Exchange Visitor Brochure from the U.S. Department of State
Sample Letter of Invitation

Hiring A Temporary Worker in Specialty Occupation (H-1B Visa)

Employees in H-1B classification are "temporary workers in a speciality occupation." This means that they are in the United States to perform professional services for Illinois State University. If you are interested in hiring a foreign faculty member as an Illinois State employee, please contact Michael Schmelzle in the International Studies Office. Barbara is the primary Immigration advisor for H-1B visa holders. She will be glad to explain the process and help you get started. You may reach her at 438-7901.

A Brief Overview of the Paperwork Process
Special Issues involving H-1s
Complete the H-1B Request Form

Other Visa Types and Immigration Classifications

ISU departments sometimes wish to invite tourists or guests in other visa classifications. For information, please contact an Immigration advisor at 438-5276.

Tourists

Tourists and ISU departments who invite them should be aware of the following information regarding honoraria and travel expenses. Non-resident aliens who enter the United States with one of the following visa statuses are eligible to receive payments of honoraria and travel reimbursements:

B-1 Visitor for business
B-2 Visitor for tourism
WB Business visitor visa waiver
WT Tourist visitor visa waiver

However, these payments may be made only in the following circumstances:

Non-resident aliens with any of the above visa statuses may accept an honorarium payment and associated incidental expenses(this includes food and housing) for usual academic activities, which last no longer than nine (9) days at any one US educational or research institution. The non-resident alien also must not have accepted honoraria and/or travel expenses from more than five (5) such US institutions within the previous six months.
Non-resident aliens may also accept reimbursement of travel expenses if the same criteria in the previous paragraph are met.

Please be aware that international guests and visitors who receive honorarium payments, associated incidental expenses and/or travel expenses are subject to taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Should you or the individual have any questions about taxation, please contact Brenda Banwart in the Payroll Office at 438-3106 or bybanwa@ilstu.edu.