I am a professor and I would like to invite a student who is currently enrolled at an institution outside of the U.S. to work in my lab over the summer.... what is the appropriate visa category?
Choice #1: Have them come as a non-degree student. This is the first choice (and the best choice) whether they are an undergraduate or a graduate student abroad.
Pros and Cons:
- MUST register
- Graduate Students: free tuition in summer (must pay for student insurance for the summer), no course requirements
- Undergraduate students: must register for at least 6 credits, must pay tuition (may be able to get new "Vice Provost for International Affairs tuition waiver" — ask your Dean’s office)
- Undergraduates must pay for their own accident and medical insurance
- CAN work on campus up to 20 hours per week (paid or unpaid)
- CAN be reimbursed for expenses (travel, food, lodging)
Choice #2: Give them an academic appointment and have them come as J-1 Research Scholars. This is ONLY a choice for graduate students who will be given an academic appointment. Most academic appointments require PhDs and your college's dean may need to waive that requirement for a non-PhD holder to be given an academic appointment. [Please Note: CALS has recently changed their policy to have all such visitors come as students and will NOT waive the PhD requirement.]
Pros and Cons:
- MUST have an academic appointment
- CAN work on campus up to 40 hours per week (paid or unpaid)
- CAN be reimbursed for expenses (travel, food, lodging)
- If not benefit eligible (unpaid or paid for temporary or less than 20 hours), then need to have own accident and medical insurance
Choice #3: Have them come on a B1 / B2 visitor’s visa or the visa waiver program (if from visa waiver country). This is a risky CHOICE.
Pros and Cons:
- CAN NOT register (it is clearly against the regulations for a B1/B2 or visa waiver status holder to register for classes)
- CAN NOT be paid to work on campus at all (except for B1s only at Cornell for 9 days or less)
- CAN be reimbursed for expenses (travel, food, lodging) but be careful about recording exactly what is being reimbursed
- MIGHT not meet university requirements for volunteers ( please read university policy on volunteers). Generally, if a person is not allowed to work in the U.S. due to the visa restriction, then they are also prohibited from working as a University volunteer.
- Needs own accident and medical insurance and does not qualify for University programs as visitor.
- MIGHT have trouble at U.S. consulate obtaining B1 / B2 visa stamp to come to Cornell to do research
- MIGHT have trouble at U.S. port of entry gaining entry as B1 / B2 or visa waiver visitor to come to Cornell to do research