Types of Visas at Illinois State University

F-1 - Academic Students

The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. You must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students. F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. There are various programs available for F-1 students to seek off-campus employment, after the first academic year. F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment, after they have been studying for one academic year. These three types of employment are:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)

J-1 - Exchange Visitors

The J-1 classification (exchange visitors) is authorized for those who intend to participate in an approved program for the purpose of teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, receiving training, or to receive graduate medical education or training. Illinois State University is an immigration sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program

For more information on inviting exchange scholars, contact International Student and Scholar Services at 438-5276.

H-1B - Specialty Occupations

This visa category applies to people who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation, services of exceptional merit and ability relating to a Department of Defense (DOD) cooperative research and development project, or services as a model of distinguished merit or ability.

General Requirements of the H-1B visa include:

The job must meet one of the following criteria to qualify as a specialty occupation:

• Bachelor’s or higher degree or its equivalent is normally the minimum entry requirement for the position
• The degree requirement for the job is common to the industry or the job is so complex or unique that it can be performed only by an individual with a degree
• The employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position
• The nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that the knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree.*

E-3 - Certain Specialty occupation Professionals from Australia

The E-3 classification applies only to nationals of Australia. You must be coming to the United States solely to perform services in a specialty occupation. The specialty occupation requires theoretical and practical application of a body of knowledge in professional fields and at least the attainment of a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States.

For more information on H-1B or E-3 sponsorship, contact Amy Rooney in Human Resources at 438-2570.

TN - NAFTA Professionals

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada and Mexico. The TN non-immigrant classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities at a professional level.

Among the types of professionals who are eligible to seek admission as TN non-immigrants are accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers.

For more information about TN visa requirements, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/tn-nafta-professionals.

B-1 & B-2 Visitors

B-1 – visitors for business and professional purposes such as:

• participating in scientific or educational conferences and seminars
• undertaking independent research for his or her own benefit or for the benefit of an employer at home
• attending an interview for employment in the U.S.

B-2 – visitors for pleasure and recreational purposes such as tourism, visiting friends or relatives, activities of a social organization, medical treatment, etc.

More information about visitor visas and a sample invitation letter for B-1 visitors is available on the International Studies and Programs website.