Nonimmigrant Visa Statuses

UVA boasts numerous international faculty residing temporarily in the U.S. in a nonimmigrant visa classification. Scholars visiting the U.S. in J-1 status should visit the J-1 status homepage for information about the J-1 classification. Information on certain foreign nationals visiting UVA for a very short period of time is available here.

For information on UVA-sponsored employment immigratoin, please visit the Human Resources Compliance and Immigration Services website.

A foreign national wishing to obtain an employment visa status, in general, must have a degree (or the equivalent thereof) in the field in which he or she will be employed and his or her future position must require that degree.

If the situation meets the above criteria, there are three immigration classifications that may be available:

H-1B status

TN status (for nationals of Canada and Mexico only)

E-3 status (for nationals of Australia only)

Foreign nationals who have demonstrated extraordinary ablity may qualify for O-1 status.

In some instances, a visa classification not mentioned may also be available to work in the U.S. These classifications include, but are not necessarily limited to E-1 and E-2 (treaty visas), G (international organization), L (multinational manager or executive or specialized knowledge transferree), I (international journalist), NATO, P (athletes and performers), R (religious workers), and B-1 in lieu of H-1B (for some foreign nationals who might otherwise qualify for H-1B status but will be paid by an affiliate, parent or subsidiary of the U.S. company abroad). Each of the above options should be carefully examined by an experienced immigration attorney before being pursued.

Almost all nonimmigrants must apply for a visa stamp abroad before coming to the U.S. or change status in the U.S. Employment-based petitions (including all listed above) allow an employer to request that a foreign national's status be changed as part of the petition. Most nonimmigrants traveling abroad and returning to the U.S. must have the appropriate valid visa stamp in their passport as described in the visa stamp section.

All information contained on this page is subject to change without notice.  Any information contained is provided as a courtesy to UVA students and scholars and is meant to serve only as an informational summary of existing U.S. government laws, regulations and/or guidance. Nothing on this page should be taken as legal advice.
Last updated 12/4/2007