A non-immigrant visa is issued to a person with permanent residence outside the U.S. who wishes to enter the U.S. temporarily, such as for tourism, business, temporary work, or study. While this list is not comprehensive, you can learn about the most common visa types below.
B-1/VWP
Business (B-1) visas and the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allow academic foreign nationals to enter the U.S. for a brief period for business activities and to be paid an honorarium, if applicable. The scope is very limited and includes: business meetings, attendance at conferences, and short-term (less than 9 days) academic lectures and consultations. Employment is strictly forbidden on this visa type.
F-1 Student
F-1 Student visa is for a non-immigrant pursuing a "full course of study" to achieve a specific educational or professional objective, at an academic institution in the United States designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to offer courses to such students, and who has been enrolled in SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System).
J-1 Exchange Visitor
J-1 Exchange Visitor visa was developed to implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hays Act) of 1961, "to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges." The J visa is co-administered and co-authorized by the Department of State (DoS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Rice is authorized to use various categories within the J-1 visa, including Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, Degree-seeking Students, and Non-degree Students.
H-1B
H-1B Temporary Worker visa is for a "specialty occupation" that requires "(A) theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and (B) attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States." The H-1B must also meet criteria set forth by the Department of Labor and is governed by both statutes and regulations. Rice has specific guidelines for when the H-1B visa may be used, with strict protocol that must be followed involving both OISS and HR (http://oiss.rice.edu/H1B).
O-1
An O-1 visa is for the employment of individuals who have achieved and sustained national or international acclaim for extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. This category permits an employer to petition the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an individual to enter the United States temporarily to continue working in his or her area of extraordinary ability or achievement. It is used on a limited basis at Rice but is occasionally recommended by OISS when it is determined to be the best fit for the program, and all other visa options have been excluded.
TN
NAFTA Professional (or “TN”) facilitates the entry of Canadian and Mexican citizens to the United States to engage in professional business activities on a temporary basis. Only occupations specified in Appendix 1603.D.1 of the NAFTA treaty can serve as the basis for TN employment. Appendix 1603.D.1 also stipulates the minimum qualifications for entry into the U.S. in each occupation.
Permanent Residency
Permanent Residency is a legal status that does not require a visa. It may be obtained in various ways, such as through family sponsorship, political asylum, the diversity lottery, or employment-based sponsorship.
PERM
PERM Processing for Permanent Residency – PERM stands for Program Electronic Review Management and refers to the processing of one type of permanent residency based on employer sponsorship. PERM requires a Labor Certification process as part of an employer-based petition for permanent residency. HR is your point of contact for PERM questions and considerations (see https://oiss.rice.edu/perm for more information).