Office of International Programs Homepage

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For International Students and Scholars:
 • For New Students
 • For New Scholars
 • For Current Students and Scholars

Study Abroad:
 • General information
 • Study-Abroad Guide (51-page PDF)
 • Approved Programs
 • Summer Programs
 • Nairobi Exchange Program
 • BMC Study-Abroad Application Form (80K Word document)

Bryn Mawr College appoints several foreign nationals as tenure and non-tenure track faculty, post-doctoral fellows and other professionals each year.  The materials contained here are intended for use only by Bryn Mawr College academic departments, administrative offices, and international scholars as preliminary information.  For more detailed and up-to-date information, please contact Li-Chen Chin , Assistant Dean and Director of International Programs.

There are two categories of visas for those coming to the United States : non-immigrant and immigrant.  Non-immigrant visas are for foreign citizens coming to the U.S. for a particular, temporary purpose (e.g., as tourists, students, or temporary workers).  An immigrant visa (permanent residence or commonly referred to as a "green card") is for those who have a right to reside permanently in the U.S. All immigration applications and petitions must be processed through Li-Chen Chin.  The College does not provide financial assistance for costs related to obtaining visas, with the exception of the H1-B application fee.

A. NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

1.  B Visitor Visa

This visa is often used by short-term visitors; it is not intended for use by a foreign citizen accepting any type of formal academic appointment for a semester term or longer.  A "B" visa holder may receive honoraria   as well as reimbursement for travel, lodging and meals.  However, to receive an honorarium, the individual can only spend up to 9 days at the College and his or her total visit to the U.S. is limited to 6 institutions during a 6-month period.

Note: Canadian citizens are permitted under NAFTA to enter the U.S. without a passport or visa.  If they indicate that they are coming to the U.S. for a brief period, they often receive no document at the port of entry and are considered to be in "B status".

2. Visa Waiver

Citizens of the following countries are eligible to enter the U.S. for a period of 90 days without obtaining a visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate abroad: Andorra, 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, and U.K.

Similar to the B visa, a visitor entering the U.S. under the visa waiver program may receive honoraria as well as reimbursement for travel, lodging and meals.  However, to receive an honorarium, the individual can only spend up to 9 days at the College and his or her total visit to the U.S. is limited to 6 institutions during a 90-day period.   The visitor cannot extend their stay or change their status within the U.S.   If the visitor wishes to obtain another nonimmigrant status, the only option is to exit the U.S. and re-enter with a visa in the category he or she wishes to be in.

3. J-1 Exchange Visitor

This classification provides foreign nationals the opportunity to engage in research, teaching, lecturing, or consulting at the College for a maximum of three years.  It cannot be used for tenure-track position.  The appointment must be temporary.

Individuals must obtain a Form IAP-66 (Certification of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status) to apply for the J-1 visa.  To request the IAP-66 Form, the hosting department or unit should complete the Notice of Appointment Form and send a copy of the appointment letter to Li-Chen Chin.  Any accompanying spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age may apply for J-2 visas.

Individuals holding the J-1 status must:

• Engage in the category and subject or field of activity listed on Form IAP-66.  Compensation for such activities may be accepted only when permitted by the regulations.
• Have health insurance for themselves and accompanying dependents

                - medical benefits of at least $50,000 per illness
                - repatriation of remains (in case of death) in the amount of $7,500
                - payment for medical evacuation to home country in the amount of $10,000
                - a deductible not to exceed $500 per illness or accident
                - coverage of pre-existing conditions after a reasonable waiting period
                - payment by insurance of at least 75% of the costs of medical care.

• In certain cases, return to home country for at least two years after completing their educational or cultural program before they can change or adjust to other non-immigrant or immigrant statuses.
• Be released by the first sponsor, as required by the regulations, before transferring to another sponsor.

3. H-1B Temporary Worker in a Specialty Occupation

The H-1B classification is available for individuals accepting positions that require theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty or its equivalent as a minimum entry into the occupation in U.S.   The College uses this classification for faculty members, researchers, or professional staff.  It normally takes about two months to obtain the approval of an H-1B petition.  However, delays in processing by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Immigration and Naturalization Service can increase the waiting period.  Academic departments or administrative offices interested in obtaining H-1B visa for a foreign citizen should contact Li-Chen Chin immediately.

4. T/ N NAFTA Professional Status

This classification became available on January 1994 as part of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  Only Canadian or Mexican citizens in certain occupations are eligible for T/N status.  Getting a T/N status for Mexican citizens is quite complex.  Please contact Li-Chen Chin for more information.

 For Canadian citizens to obtain a T/N status, at the port-of-entry they must present the following documents to the INS inspector:

• proof of Canadian citizenship
• evidence of appropriate credentials
• an offer letter from the College, emphasizing that the position is temporary in nature and containing the detailed term of the employment
• a fee of U.S. $50

The T/N status for Canadians can be granted within one to two hours and is marked on Form I-94.  It is valid for a period of up to one year and may be extended one year at a time.

B. IMMIGRANT (PERMANENT RESIDENT) VISA

A permanent resident's visa is documented by Form I-551, the Alien Registration Receipt Card.  Although no longer green, it is commonly known as the "green card".  Individuals holding permanent resident status are eligible for any and all types of employment at the College.

One way of obtaining permanent residence is on the basis of employment.  The College may support applications for permanent residence for tenure track faculty members and for administrative/professional staff who have been employed in a full-time, permanent position for at least two consecutive years, for which qualified U.S. workers are not available.

Bryn Mawr will not support applications for permanent residence for those in temporary positions such as postdoctoral fellows, or for those in positions that do not require a baccalaureate degree.