Hosting and Hiring Internationals
We support and encourage academic units, programs, faculty, and students to enhance their international activities with our programs, events, and academic exchanges.
The government’s rules and regulations change frequently, and immigration and hiring processes can be highly complex.
International Programs’ International Student and Scholar Services visa and immigration advisors can help you navigate the requirements to host or hire a scholar from abroad. Just call us at 509-335-4508 or email ip.scholars@wsu.edu as soon as possible.
We will set up a case in our immigration web portal (myPassport), which you and your international candidates can use to submit and review documents.
Visa categories
Foreign nationals coming to the United States to study, visit, or work will need to apply for 1 of these visa types.
International students
- F-1 academic program student
- J-1 exchange student
International scholars and exchange visitors
- B-1/B-2 business visitor
- ESTA visitor
- J-1 scholar/professor
International workers/employees
- H-1B specialty worker
- TN professional worker (Canadian/Mexican citizens only)
- E-3 specialty worker (Australian citizens only)
Only the U.S. Embassy/Consulate can issue a visa stamp. It is strongly recommended a foreign national apply for a U.S. visa in his/her home country. A U.S. Embassy/Consulate may or may not accept a third-country national (TCN) visa application and it usually takes longer to process.
Exchange visitor categories (J-1 visa)
There are 3 principal categories within the Exchange Visitor Program in which WSU sponsors foreign faculty to come to WSU to engage in collaborative projects.
An exchange visitor cannot be a candidate for a tenure track position or permanent employment.
A professor may primarily conduct teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at post-secondary accredited educational institutions and may also conduct research, unless disallowed by the sponsor. Please note that it is appropriate for a professor or research scholar to come to the United States as an exchange visitor only when the underlying purpose of his or her entry is to stimulate international collaborative teaching and research efforts or to promote interchange between research and educational institutions in the United States and other countries.
A research scholar may primarily conduct research, observe, or consult in connection with a research project at post-secondary accredited educational institutions. A scholar may also teach or lecture, unless disallowed by the sponsor.
A professor, research scholar, or person with similar education or accomplishments coming to the United States on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at post-secondary accredited educational institutions may stay from 1 day to a maximum of 6 months. No extensions beyond the 6 months are permitted.
J-1 visa holders must have sufficient financial support for living expenses in the U.S. for the duration of their program at WSU. The funding requirements vary based on WSU location. The monthly amounts are listed below in U.S. dollars.
| Location | Required J-1 Financial Support (USD) |
|---|---|
| Pullman | $2,400 |
| Tri-Cities and Prosser | $2,400 |
| Spokane | $2,400 |
| Wenatchee | $2,400 |
| Vancouver | $3,200 |
| Mt. Vernon | $2,600 |
| Puyallup | $2,800 |
| Everett | $3,400 |
Not sure which visa your visitor will need?
Try the visa wizard on the State Department’s visa website. Answering a few basic questions about your international candidate should lead you to initial visa information you might need. Always contact our office for further determination of which visa category is most appropriate for hosting or hiring foreign nationals.
Comparison of Scholar Visas
| H-1B | J-1 | TN | E-3 | O-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | • Maximum stay 6 years; up to 3 years is maximum petition time • No extension beyond 6 years with exception of pending permanent residency | • Maximum duration 5 years for J-1 Research Scholar/Professor • Maximum duration 6 months for J-1 Short term Scholar | • Up to 3 years maximum petition time • No limitation on extensions | • Up to 2 years maximum petition time • No limitation on extensions | • Up to 3 years maximum petition for the first time • One-year extensions allowed after initial 3 years • No limitation on extensions |
| Timing of Paperwork | • 3-4 months is the processing time IP needs to prepare the case. No expedite option is available • Plus, 7-9 months USCIS regular processing time after petition is filed, OR 15 business days USCIS processing time if using USCIS premium processing option • Prevailing wage issues can delay processing time • Export control issues can delay case • Visa processing time varies greatly and should be added on to the overall processing time expectation | • DS-2019 forms are completed internally by IP-ISSS with review time of 2-3 business days upon submission of a complete J-1 request in myPassport • DS-2019 request forms should be submitted in myPassport system at least 2 months from start date • Export control issues can delay case • Visa processing time varies greatly and should be added on to the overall processing time expectation | • 5-6 months if filed with USCIS • 2 weeks if processing TN by border entry | • 5-6 months if filed with USCIS • 3-4 months if processing E-3 by consular and border entry • Visa processing time varies greatly and should be added on to the overall processing time expectation | • 7-9 months processing time • 5-6 months if last step uses premium processing • Export control issues can delay case • Visa processing time varies greatly and should be added on to the overall processing time expectation |
| Funding type restrictions | • No fellowships or stipends allowed • Must be WSU employee with WSU salary | • May receive wages, fellowships, or stipends from WSU or elsewhere • Personal funds are permitted | • No fellowships or stipends allowed • Must be WSU employee with WSU salary | • No fellowships or stipends allowed • Must be WSU employee with WSU salary | • No fellowships or stipends allowed • Must be WSU employee with WSU salary |
| Minimum qualifications | • Bachelor’s degree in specific specialized field • Position must require at least bachelor’s degree in specific field | • Bachelor’s degree in field of endeavor or • MS or PhD in field of endeavor | • Position must require at least bachelor’s degree in a NAFTA profession or • MS or PhD in field of endeavor | • Position must require at least bachelor’s degree in specific field or • MS or PhD in field of endeavor | • Position must require at least bachelor’s degree in specific field or • MS or PhD in field of endeavor |
| Current costs to WSU departments (new cases and extensions) | •USCIS fee: $460 •USCIS anti-fraud fee: $500 (only initial H) •IRI $2,388 •IRI H-1B expedite fee for requests made less than 3 months in advance $1,000 •USCIS premium processing fee (optional): $2,805 (Response within 15 business days) | •IRI $762 •IRI J-1 expedite fee for requests made less than 3 months in advance $350 | •USCIS fee: $1,015 •IRI $950 if petition filed with USCIS •IRI $526 if TN is obtained through border entry | •USCIS fee: $1,015 •IRI $1,006 if petition filed with USCIS or obtained through border entry | •USCIS fee: $1,055 •IRI $3,284 •IRI O-1 expedite fee for requests made less than 3 months $1,000 •USCIS premium processing fee (optional): $2,805 (Response within 15 days) |
| Length of stay in the U.S. | • No legal grace period, 10 days is generally accepted but not regulatory | • 30 days | • No legal grace period | • No legal grace period | • No legal grace period |
| Work location and pay | • Must be paid WSU employee & work location must be on petition; WSU can be only employer | • Site of activity and off-campus incidental employment must be pre-approved and added to SEVIS | • Must be paid WSU employee & work location must be approved TN; WSU can be only employer | • Must be paid WSU employee & work location must be on LCA; WSU can be only employer | • Must be paid WSU employee & work location must be on petition; WSU can be only employer |
| University obligations | • Pay prevailing wage or actual wage & no change in work hours • Export Control form • Return airfare if terminated early • No benching | • Export Control Form • Immigration check-in • Health insurance required • J-1 briefing • Cross cultural experience | • No change in work hours • Export Control form • No benching | • Pay prevailing wage or actual wage & no change in work hours • Export Control form • No benching | • No change in work hours • Export Control form • No benching |
| Disadvantages | • Costly • Employees in only those positions that require at least bachelor’s degree in specialty field or higher • Challenging to obtain for IT and other admin positions | • May be subject to 2-year home residence requirement • Limited to researchers & professors • Not possible for permanent positions | • Limited to positions within NAFTA (USMCA) profession list • Available only to Canadian and Mexican citizens • Not possible for permanent positions | • Available only to Australian citizens | • Costly • Challenging to obtain approval since the outstanding criteria are subjective |
| Advantages | • No 2-year home residency requirement • Dual intent | • Ability to transfer between institutions • Funding flexibility • No USCIS adjudication (except if change of status) | • No 2-year home residency requirement • Easy to obtain at border • No limit on extensions | • No 2-year home residency requirement • Easy to obtain at U.S. Embassy/ Consulate • No limit on extensions | • No 2-year home residency requirement • Dual intent |
| Dependent work eligibility | • Dependents of H-1B visa holder (H-4 visa holders) are not authorized to work in the U.S. (few exceptions with pending permanent residency) | • Dependents of J-1 visa holders (J-2 visa holders) can work in the U.S. if they apply and are granted employment authorization by USCIS | • Dependents of TN visa holder (TD visa holders) are not authorized to work in the U.S. | • Dependents of E-3 visa holder (Dependent E-3 visa holders) can work in the U.S. if they apply and are granted employment authorization by USCIS | • Dependents of O-1 visa holder (O-3 visa holders) are not authorized to work in the U.S. |
| Effects on dependents | • H-4s can apply for change of status to other visa categories (H-1B, O-1, J-1, TN, etc.) for employment reasons if they qualify • H-4s may study | • J-2 dependents’ salary cannot fund J-1 • J-2s s may study | • TDs can apply for change of status to other visa categories (H-1B, O-1, J-1, TN, etc.) for employment reasons if they qualify • TDs may study | • Dependent E-3s can apply for change of status to other visas for employment reasons, if they qualify • E-3s may study | • O-3s can apply for change of status to other visa categories (H-1, O-1, J-1, TN, etc.) for employment reasons if they qualify • O-3s may study |
The Office of International Programs – International Student & Scholar Services (IP-ISSS)
Bryan Hall 206
Phone: 509-335-4508
Email: ip.scholars@wsu.edu
Visa resources
U.S. Department of State visa information
You may find these parts of the State Department site particularly helpful:
- What is a U.S. visa?
- Find a U.S. Embassy
- Questions about visas
- Temporary visitors to the United States
- Visa wait times
- Visa denial
- What the visa expiration date means
- Administrative processing
- TCN applying for a U.S. visa in Canada or Mexico
- Automatic visa revalidation
- Visa applicants from countries that sponsor terrorism
- U.S. visa requirements for Canadian citizens
U.S. government agencies
- U.S. Department of State – Administers the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and U.S. visa issuance
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Ensures U.S. safety and security, protects against terrorism and other potential threats
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – Adjudicates immigration benefits, such as applications of change of status, status extension, H-1B, Green Card application, etc.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Administers the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) program, for F, J, and M visas
- Customs and Border Protection – Admits foreign nationals into the U.S. at a port of entry
- U.S. Department of Labor – Adjudicates Labor Condition Applications for H-1B, E-3, H-1B1, and Labor Certification Applications for Green Card application
U.S. immigration resources
- Green Card. Note that WSU-sponsored Permanent Residency applications are limited to full-time faculty tenure/tenure track or career tracks with teaching and research duties.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services online tools for customers
- Handbook for Employers, M-274 (pdf) – Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form)
- E-Verify
- Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens (pdf)
Housing & transportation
International Programs does not provide direct housing services. Scholars and/or their host departments arrange for housing.
Living on campus
The university welcomes international scholars in its on-campus housing. A variety of apartment living options are available to accommodate both single students and families. Please check our housing link below for more information.
Living off campus
For assistance in locating other off-campus housing options, contact your WSU host department or see this apartment sources website.