Stanford Classifications and Appropriate Visa Categories

Visitors to Stanford who have speaking engagements or coming to campus to attend a conference should enter the US as B-1 (Visitor for Business) or with the “ESTA” WB (Visa Waiver for Business).

Visiting Scholars

The Visiting Scholar category only applies to senior established scholars who are using university facilities at the invitation of a Stanford faculty member.

Visiting Scholars meeting eligibility guidelines as defined in the Research Policy Handbook at section 10.5 must enter the US using the J-1 program.

Postdoctoral Scholars

Postdocs are considered advanced students who are conducting research under the supervision of a Stanford faculty member. For more information, please see section 10.3 of the Research Policy Handbook. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs determines the Visa categories for Postdoctoral Scholars.

Visiting Student Researchers

There are a limited number of instances when it would be to the benefit of Stanford faculty to permit graduate students who have not yet attained the PhD to engage in research on the Stanford campus using Stanford research facilities. These arrangements are defined in section 10.7 of the Research Policy Handbook. Such students must come to Stanford in J-1 status.

Staff

Staff refers to non-faculty, non-postdoc, non-academic staff positions. This includes the Life Science Research Professional series as well as programmers, the bargaining unit and a few specialized administrative positions.

In general, in order to be eligible for an H-1B, these positions must be exempt, qualify as a Specialty Occupation, and, furthermore, require at least a Bachelor's degree or higher as defined by Human Resources.

Faculty

Visiting Faculty

Faculty who are hired to teach courses in the university’s curriculum are considered employees, and will be in H-1B status. Visiting Scholars with the title of “Visiting Professor” whose activities do not include a teaching appointment will be in J-1 status.

Other Faculty and Teaching Titles

Tenure line faculty, lecturers and others with teaching appointments are considered employees and will use H-1B status.

Clinical Faculty and Clinician Educators

Faculty with patient care responsibilities must use H-1B or O-1 status, and must hold a California medical license or exemption at the time the petition is submitted.

Visa Types

J-1 is a visa facilitating Stanford’s designation under the U.S. State Department’s Exchange Visitor Program.
H-1B is an employment visa for professional occupations, subject to U.S. Department of Homeland Security adjudication.
O-1 is an employment visa for persons of extraordinary ability, subject to U.S. Department of Homeland Security adjudication.
TN is an employment visa for Mexican or Canadians in professional occupations, subject to the U.S. State Department adjudication or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection adjudication, as applicable to the passport country.
E-3 is an employment visa for Australians in professional occupations, subject to the U.S. State Department adjudication.
H-1B1 is an employment visa for Singaporeans and Chileans in professional occupations, subject to the U.S. State Department adjudication.

Practical Training

Recent graduates in F-1 status may receive authorization from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for a period of employment authorization as training. Employing departments are responsible for application materials and periodic progress reports.

Academic Training

Recent graduates in J-1 status may receive authorization from their sponsor for a period of employment authorization as training.