Immigration Overview & Checklist for Scholars/Employees
There are a variety of immigration classifications that support academic research, teaching and other employment. Once your affiliation is established, the next steps will vary depending on whether you are already in the U.S. and whether you require immigration sponsorship to engage in the BU employment/activity. Below is a summary of some common immigration classifications.
Scholar Sponsorship Overview
J-1 Exchange Visitor
The J-1 supports a wide range of academic teaching and research arrangements from short unpaid visiting researcher appointments to full-time postdoctoral appointments and more.
Note: Tenure-track faculty positions, those that are clinical in nature and involve direct patient care (residents, clinical fellowships), as well as technical and administrative positions, do not qualify for J sponsorship.
Research Scholar & Professor
Eligibility: Must have an academic research or non–tenure-track teaching appointment at BU and have completed (or be completing) the equivalent of a U.S. master’s degree.
Length of stay: Three weeks up to five years
Short-Term Scholar
Eligibility: Must have a research or teaching appointment at BU and have completed (or be completing) the equivalent of a U.S. master’s degree.
Length of stay: Up to six months (no minimum).
Specialist
Eligibility: Must have an academic appointment or departmental invitation from BU and demonstrate expertise relevant to your BU activity (e.g., music, art, athletics, business, language, or other professional skills).
Length of stay: Three weeks to one year.
Student Intern
Eligibility: Must have an academic research appointment at BU and enrollment in an undergraduate program abroad, with certification from both your home institution and the BU sponsor.
Length of stay: Up to 12 months (no minimum).
H-1B Temporary Worker
H-1B is a temporary, employment-based status for employees with specialized training. It requires approvals from the U.S. Department of Labor and USCIS. Most academic research & teaching positions qualify for H-1B sponsorship. H-1B sponsorship for staff positions depends on the details of the job and requires Provost approval. Most staff positions require a graduate degree to qualify.
Eligibility: The job must qualify as a ‘specialty occupation’ and meet H wage requirements (BU must pay at or above the prevailing wage and provide benefits comparable to other employees in the same role).
Length of stay: BU can request up to 3 years in each petition, for a total of six years. Extensions beyond 6 years may be possible in limited circumstances.
Considerations
H-1B sponsorship requires attestations and approvals from the Department of Labor (DOL) as well as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) so the process is complicated & lengthy. H-1B is considered only for long-term, full-time positions when other visas are unsuitable.
H-1B status is specific to salary, job title/description, work location(s), percentage effort, etc. Any substantive changes (employment, pay, location, appointment length, status change, termination) must be discussed with the ISSO in advance and an amended petition may be required. See the H-1B regulations & responsibilities & processing checklist for details.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) & STEM OPT
OPT/STEM OPT are benefits that F-1 students may apply for after graduating from their degree in the U.S.
Eligibility: Speak to the international office at your U.S. university for more details on eligibility and how/when to apply.
Length of stay: Up to 12 months of post-completion OPT; STEM OPT for qualifying individuals & positions allows for an additional 24-month extension.
Considerations
If you are approved for OPT, BU sponsorship will not be needed to start working at BU. New or continuing employees who will apply for or update their STEM OPT based on their BU employment must complete the immigration processing request.
Other Sponsorship Options
Most foreign nationals engaged in teaching, research or other employment at BU are supported in the J-1, OPT/STEM OPT or H classifications In some cases, sponsorship in another status may be appropriate:
TN (Trade NAFTA): Canadian and Mexican nationals in certain professions (usually requiring at least a bachelor’s degree) may qualify for TN sponsorship as many teaching and research roles and some specialized occupations qualify. TN can be approved for up to three years.
O-1 (Extraordinary Ability): O-1 is for individuals with extraordinary ability in fields such as science, education, business, or athletics—typically recognized by sustained national or international acclaim and top-level achievement. O-1 may be approved initially for up to three years, with one-year extensions as needed. O-1 petitions are complex and considered only for long-term, full-time positions when other visas are unsuitable.
Options for Paid or Unpaid BU Positions Without Sponsorship
Independent Work Authorizations
Individuals in the U.S. may be eligible to apply for work authorization based on their status in the U.S. If you have a USCIS-issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD), this authorization may support your research, teaching or other employment at BU. Status specific EAD’s are available for dependents in J-2, H-4, L-2 and E-2 status as well as for individuals with pending immigrant petitions in the U.S. In addition, students in F-1 or J-1 status at a university in the U.S. may obtain work authorization from their program sponsor for work at BU (e.g., F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or J-1 Student Academic Training).
Visitor
Visitor status includes four classifications: B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism), WB (visa waiver—business), and WT (visa waiver—tourism). Individuals from countries eligible for visa waiver may request entry in the WB/WT after obtaining ESTA clearance. Individuals not eligible for visa waiver, apply for a B‑1/B‑2 visa at a U.S. consulate before travel. Visitor status is generally allowed only for unpaid academic appointments, short professional visits, or BU seminars/conferences. B-1/B-2 may be granted entry for up to six months; WB/WT can enter for up to 90 days.
Visitor status does not allow U.S. employment. A limited honorarium may be paid for qualifying academic activities lasting no more than nine days. A visitor classification may be useful for last-minute requests and/or for short term arrangements that do not meet BU sponsorship guidelines.
All scholars, employees and other visitors/affiliates must obtain ISSO clearance upon arrival in the U.S. or prior to starting their employment or activity at BU. See our ISSO Clearance & Onboarding information for more details.
Scholar/Employee Immigration Processing Checklist
Once your BU affiliation and appointment terms are confirmed, ISSO will consult with you and your sponsoring department to determine the most appropriate immigration classification. We consider appointment terms, your qualifications, and your U.S. immigration history. Please review the checklist below and submit all relevant documents to your hosting Boston University department:
Forms DS‑2019, I‑797 approval notices, and/or Forms I‑20
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD cards), if any
Any J‑1/J‑2 two‑year home‑residence waiver documentation (Form I‑612, DoS recommendation/advisory opinion, receipts, etc.)
Additional Documentation for J-1 Sponsorship Requests
Financial documents required under “Financial Support” on Form B (page 2). Follow the minimum funding requirements. All documents must be in English and converted to U.S. dollars.
Proof of English proficiency if required by Form A – Supplement J. J‑1 regulations require evidence you can function in English for the program and daily life. Acceptable proof includes:
Native English speaker declaration
Transcript/diploma showing a 4‑year degree from an institution where instruction was in English
Standardized English test scores (attach copies)
Certification from an English language school
Documented interview (in person, video, or phone) conducted by your host department
Additional Documentation for H-1B, O-1 or TN Sponsorship Requests
Copies of diplomas for all college/university degrees (with English translations if needed).
Official academic transcripts, if required to document coursework or if the diploma doesn’t state the major.
Credential evaluation from a reputable agency if your degree(s) were earned outside the U.S.
Professional licenses or certificates required for the job (e.g., medical or dental license).
Your two most recent pay stubs if you are currently in the U.S. on H‑1B, O‑1, or TN status.
Note: If you submit any non‑English document, also include a full English translation plus a signed translator certification stating they are competent in the language and that the translation is complete and accurate. Include the translator’s printed name, signature, and date. Example wording: “I, (name), certify that I am competent to translate from (language) into English and that this translation is a true and accurate translation of the original.”
If you are already in the U.S., you may be eligible to work with USCIS or sponsor authorization (e.g., F‑1 OPT, J‑2 EAD, pending green card EAD, J‑1 Academic Training, F‑1 CPT). In these cases ISSO does not require the full screening or the BU sponsorship documents listed above.