SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Receipted travel and local expense reimbursement and/or honoraria for "usual academic activity" can be paid on a B-1 or B-2 visa, a WB (Waiver Business) and a WT (Waiver Tourist) if the visitor is at UC Berkeley nine days or less and has not received payments from more than four other institutions in the U.S. within the last six months.

Short term visitors receiving local/travel expenses or honoraria, will need to obtain a B-1, business visa at the nearest U.S. Consulate (unless you are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program described below.) This is usually issued as a combined B-1/B-2, business/tourist visa. You may request the designation, "multiple entry, good indefinitely," in order to avoid such trips to the Consulate for up to ten years. The B-1 or Waiver-Business (W-B) classification allows for reimbursement of expenses (and/or honorarium if special conditions above are met. The B-2 or Waiver-Tourist (W-T) is strictly a tourist classification and only allows for expense reimbursement (and/or honorarium) under the special conditions above.

At the port of entry, the Immigration official will write either the B-1 or the B-2 classification on the I-94 card (small white card you filled out on the airplane) which will be stapled into your passport. If you are to receive expense reimbursement other than under the special conditions above, it is crucial that you receive the B-1 classification. In the inspection area you must speak up and ask the inspector for the B-1 designation. Check the card for the B-1 mark before leaving the inspection area.

An I-94 is not required to enter the USA and receive reimbursement if your stay in the United States is less than nine days. If you are to receive expenses and stay longer than nine days you must ask for an I-94 card marked with a B-1 (business classification) at the land border or port of entry. Otherwise you are assumed to have the B-2, tourist classification and we are prohibited from issuing expenses.

Visitors from Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Uruguay, with stays of 90 days or less may be eligible to enter the U.S. on the visa waiver program. This means it is not necessary to obtain a visa stamp from an American Consulate.

At the American port of entry (or land border, e.g. Canada, Mexico) you will be required to show a passport (valid for six months beyond the intended visit) and a round trip ticket. The I-94 card (arrival/departure record, green colored for waiver program), which is usually issued onboard the airplane and stapled into your passport by the INS official at the inspection point, will bear the designation WT (waiver tourist) or WB (waiver business). If you are to receive local and/or travel expenses outside of the special conditions above, it is again critical that you inform the official and obtain the WB designation on your I-94 card. Check the card before leaving the area.

Eligibility Criteria

• total visit may not exceed 90 days
• must have a valid passport
• must have a return trip ticket (to any foreign destination other than a territory bordering the U.S., unless you are a resident there).

Limitations

• absolutely no extensions or changes of visa status permitted
• no payment or honorarium permitted if special conditions above are not met; reimbursement for local expenses and travel allowed if WB notation appears on I-94 card;
• waive right to review or appeal a decision about your admissibility; waive right to challenge decision if admission is denied

Back to Forms for Faculty Use