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International Visitor Guidelines

 

Purpose

Virginia Tech welcomes visitors from around the world to our campus to engage with our students, faculty and staff in a broad range of activities. Virginia Tech values the contributions these visitors make to our community and the unique opportunities and experiences that arise as a result of this engagement. The university desires to facilitate these activities so this valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, culture and experiences will enrich our community for years to come.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide persons interested in inviting foreign national visitors to Virginia Tech, including all its domestic campuses and affiliated research institutes, with a clear understanding of appropriate activities for international visitors whose visa is not directly sponsored by Virginia Tech (including persons in B-1/B-2 status or admitted pursuant to the Visa Waiver Program) and to explain the process for reviewing and requesting letters of invitation for appropriate visitors. Please note that U.S. citizens and those who are permanent residents of the U.S. (i.e. have a green card) are exempt from these procedures. While not all activities are appropriate for any visa status, there is almost always an appropriate visa category available, and this guideline will identify which visa status is appropriate, and what office on campus can assist with preparing the appropriate paperwork.

 

 

Overview of Requirements

All international visitors whose visa is not directly sponsored by Virginia Tech must be reviewed by the Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance (OESRC) before their arrival regardless of whether payment will be made, the proposed visitor needs an invitation letter, or the proposed visitor already has a visa. Furthermore, the visitor’s proposed activities must meet the criteria outlined below. The Vice President for Outreach and International Affairs has the final authority to determine whether a visitor’s proposed activities meet the criteria. All invitation letters for foreign nationals visiting Virginia Tech whose visa is not directly sponsored by Virginia Tech must be issued by the hosting department.  Please note that there are persons and institutions/entities throughout the world that are prohibited from entering the United States and/or visiting certain laboratories, or accessing certain sensitive technologies in the United States. Such laboratories and technologies are present on the Virginia Tech campus. Those seeking to invite visitors to Virginia Tech should be sure that they know who is requesting an invitation. Some of the people/entities prohibited from accessing these sensitive technologies are known to “fish” for invitations from persons/entities that possess the technologies they would like to access.

 

Invitation Letters and OESRC Review Process

To begin the review process, first determine whether the proposed activities and visa for your visitor are appropriate based on the criteria outlined in the International visitor Guidelines. 

 

  1. The Virginia Tech hosting faculty and/or departments (NOT the international visitor) should visit OESRC's website to access the required questionnaire:  https://www.research.vt.edu/oesrc/ExportControlandSanctions/international-visitors.html.  Complete the Non-Immigrant Export Compliance Questionnaire and submit, along with the visitor's CV to the Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance (OESRC).  The email address for OESRC is oesrc@vt.edu.
  2. OESRC will conduct an export review and issue an export review summary document to the host faculty/department in relation to the visit.
  3. Upon this approval from OESRC, the host faculty/department will be authorized to complete the invitation letter, if required.  A template invitation letter can be found here:  Invitation Letter Template
  4. The host faculty/department should notify OESRC if any changes to the visit or proposed activities occur.  If host departments have any questions related to the invitation letter or whether the B-1 or J-1 is more appropriate, departments should contact Belinda Pauley, bpauley@vt.edu; 231-6459.  Colleges may require the request for letters of invitation to also be reviewed and approved through the appropriate contact in the Dean's Office.

 

Observing the Procedure

Visitors found to be on campus who have not adhered to the procedures outlined in these guidelines will not be permitted to participate in any university scholastic programs. The OESRC office will have the authority to deviate from these guidelines, subject to applicable laws, on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

Independent or Collaborative Research

Persons coming to Virginia Tech to engage in independent or collaborative research and who will receive no salary or income from a U.S. source may remain at Virginia Tech in B-1 status or Visa Waiver Business status for 90 days or less.   For those coming to engage in collaborative or other types of research for more than 90 days, the J-1 visa is likely the appropriate status. Please contact our office for further information.

 

 

Lecturer/Speaker, Guest Teacher, Research/Training for 90 days or less

Persons coming to Virginia Tech to deliver a lecture/speech, guest teach, research, or training may do so in B-1 visa status or Waiver Business (WB) status. Such persons may remain at Virginia Tech in such status for up to 90 days or less (unless the visitor will receive an honorarium in which case s/he may only remain at Virginia Tech for 9 calendar days). These visitors may not receive income from a U.S. based source other than travel reimbursement for expenses incidental to their visit. It is permissible for the visitor to receive an honorarium from institutions of higher education, affiliated non-profit entities and non-profit government research institutions. If the visitor will receive an honorarium, the visitor’s activities can last no longer than 9 calendar days at any single institution or organization and the visitor may not have accepted such payment or expenses from more than five institutions or organizations over the last six months. If you will be paying the visitor a travel reimbursement or honorarium, the visitor MUST be in B-1 or WB status and you are advised to contact the university’s International Tax Specialist - Kimberly Myers (kiharve1@vt.edu) . For visitors wishing to engage in these activities more frequently than outlined above, a J-1 visa is likely the appropriate visa. Please contact Belinda Pauley in the Office of International Support Services for further information on the J-1 program.

 

 

Negotiations, Consultations, Conferences

Persons coming to Virginia Tech to negotiate contracts, consult with business associates, or participate in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions conferences or seminars may do so in B-1 status for up to 90 days or less. These visitors may receive no salary or income from a U.S. based company or entity. Visitors wishing to engage in activity resulting in salary or income from U.S. based entities should likely be in H-1B or J-1 visa status. Please contact the International Support Services office for further information.

 

 

Prospective Students

It is preferred that prospective students (a student is an individual enrolled in a high school or university either in the U.S. or another country) visit Virginia Tech in B-2 status. However, students currently in the U.S. in another visa status (e.g., B-1, F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2, H-1B/H-4) may also visit the campus. Regardless of their visa status, all prospective students may not be engaged with the university for a period exceeding 30 calendar days (cumulative). Prospective students may observe classes and laboratories, but may not be involved in any hands on activities in the classrooms or laboratories or engage in any research activity whatsoever.

 

 

Students Fulfilling Internship or Co-op Requirements

Participation in the Student Intern J-1 subcategory is open to foreign students currently pursuing a degree at a postsecondary academic institution outside the United States who wish to participate in opportunities to gain experience in their field, determine if they have an interest in a particular career, create a network of contacts, or gain school credit. This may be paid or unpaid. Please visit this website’s J-1 section for information on the J-1 Student Intern request process.

 

 

Students Enrolled at Virginia Tech’s Language and Culture Institute

Students enrolled at Virginia Tech’s Language and Culture Institute may be in B-1, B-2 or Visa Waiver status. For further information, please contact the Language and Culture Institute at Virginia Tech, lci@vt.edu