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International Office

Visa Options at a Glance

An international scholar is usually defined as a non-immigrant alien temporarily engaged in a scholarly activity, i.e. teaching, conducting research, observing, etc. Significant factors in determining the most appropriate visa/status include:

  • Whether the scholar will receive any type of compensation from Scripps Research 
  • The length of stay at Scripps
  • Future plans of both the scholar and the PI/Lab

Eligibility for a particular visa classification is determined by federal regulations. No person(s) at Scripps Research is legally authorized to promise, offer, or sign for a visa of any type except the International Office staff.

The following information is a guide to the various visa options available to Scripps international scholars.

B-1 Visitor for Business (pdf)

B-1 visa status can be used by visitors who will receive no Scripps salary or payment other than reimbursement for expenses and will be in the U.S. for a short time-less than 6 months. (If certain conditions are met, B-1 visitors can receive an honorarium.) The visa must be obtained from a U.S. consulate abroad supported by a letter of invitation from the PI/Lab. Please refer to sample invitation letters. The scholar must show strong ties to their home country or place of permanent residence in order to obtain a B-1 visa.

Visa Waiver Program - WB (pdf)

This program allows citizens of 37 countries (listed below) to enter the U.S. without a visa. Visitors must receive WB status at the U.S. port of entry, not stay in the U.S. longer than 90 days or change to any other status, and not engage in employment or receive a U.S. salary. WB visitors can receive reimbursement of expenses and, if certain conditions are met, receive an honorarium. Prospective WB visitors must have an invitation letter from a Scripps Research PI/Lab. Please note the special passport requirements below:

  • Nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, and Slovakia require passports with an integrated chip containing the information from the data page.
  • Nationals of other VWP countries:
    • Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06: Passports must also have integrated chips with information from the data page.
    • Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06: passports must have digital photographs printed on the data page or integrated chips with information from the data page.
    • Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05: no further requirements.

New Effective September 8, 2010 there are two fees, required by the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, that must be paid in order to complete an electronic travel authorization (ESTA). The FAQ regarding the two fees (a processing charge and an authorization charge) can be found here.

New Effective January 12, 2009, citizens or nationals from ALL Visa Waiver Program countries will be required to obtain an approved travel authorization via ESTA in order to be eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. In order to apply for an ESTA, travelers must go to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/, follow the instructions to answer all of the required questions, and submit an application for travel authorization. Travelers will not be able to submit ESTA applications at a U.S. port of entry or a U.S. embassy or consulate.

F-1 Practical Training or J-1 Academic Training

These options are available only to current students or recent graduates of U.S. universities. They may obtain permission to accept employment in their area of study. F-1 students can receive up to 12 months of practical training. J-1 students can receive 18 months of academic training and extend for an additional 18 months for postdoctoral research. Authorization is granted either by USCIS or by the student's sponsoring educational institution, depending on the type of employment and visa status. When this status expires and Scripps wants to continue employment, the scholar must change to a different status. Labs should request a new visa classification six months before F-1 OPT or J-1 academic training expires.

MARCH 2012 UPDATE FOR SCHOLARS ON F-1 OPT

J-1 Exchange Visitor

J-1 visa status is the most frequently used and the most appropriate status for international postdoctoral scholars, visiting professors/researchers, and Ph.D. student interns. Lengths of stay vary by category.

  • J-1 Research Scholar (maximum 5 years)
  • J-1 Short-term Scholar (maximum 6 months)
  • J-1 Ph.D. Student Intern (maximum 12 months)

Documentation and processing time for prospective J-1s are usually minimal. J-2 spouses may apply to the USCIS for work authorization, which takes 90 days or longer to obtain. Funding sources for J-1 visa holders can come from Scripps or an outside source (except personal funds). Some J-1 researchers may be subject to the two-year home residency requirement (212e). To host an international scholar in your lab, please contact the International Office for guidance and instructions for application.

H-1B Temporary Worker in "Specialty Occupation" (pdf)

H-1B visa status is a temporary employment status for professionals in specialty occupations. H-1B status is obtained by The Scripps Research Institute on behalf of the international visitor. This status is employer and position specific and may be granted initially for up to 3 years with the possibility to extend for up to an additional 3 years. This status is available to full-time TSRI faculty and staff research positions and requires the hiring department to pay the worker the prevailing wage as determined by the State Employment Development Department of the Department of Labor. H-1B petitions involve a great deal of paperwork; once a completed application is received from the lab, the International Office requires 4 weeks to prepare the petition before it can be filed with the USCIS (immigration). Processing times with USCIS are then averaging 3 months or longer for a standard filed petition. H-4 spouses may not apply for or engage in U.S. employment. Labs should complete the forms on VIVA to hire or extend the stay of an H-1B scholar.

TN (Trade NAFTA)

Citizens of Canada or Mexico who would otherwise obtain J-1 or H-1B status may obtain TN status to be employed at Scripps. Paperwork and processing time for TN status is considerably less than other visa options. This status can be obtained at a class "A" border crossing or international airport. TN status applies only to certain professions. Effective October 16, 2008, TN visas may be granted in increments of up to 3 years. Extensions of stay are also granted in increments up to 3 years. The hiring PI should complete the Department Request Form for TN Status.

*Visa Waiver Countries:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom (citizens with the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man). Updated December 2012.