Visa Options for International Faculty and Researchers

Yale international scholars generally hold J-1 or H-1B status, with the vast majority using the J-1 research scholar/professor status. For a smaller number of scholars, there will be several other options, such as E-3, F-1 OPT, O-1 or TN. Listed below (by Yale position) are the visa categories most often used by Yale international scholars. The first visa category listed under the position is the one that is primarily used, with additional options listed below.

This is a general guide with suggestions about the best visa status for particular titles. The final decision about which visa status to use often comes after a discussion between the hiring unit, OISS and the scholar. If you have questions about the most appropriate status, contact your OISS adviser. If you are not familiar with sponsoring international scholars, please review Appointment Dates and Funding.    

Note: All sponsorship-required positions must be full-time (100% FTE) on-campus or at Yale-affiliated business premises in Connecticut. Remote work outside CT is only permitted depending on the specific visa type and for substantial business purposes where the assignments cannot be completed on campus. If the specific visa category allows entirely remote work, approval by an appropriate university authority would still be required.

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Tenure-Track Faculty

Other Academic Positions

Other Positions

Assistant Professor

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

Duration: 

6-year maximum in 3-year increments

Processing Information: 
  • 4 to 6 months in total with expedited processing.
  • Internal requirements must be met prior to submission to USCIS.
Use at Yale: 
  • Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Professor
  • Instructor
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Staff (M&P) Position (if approved for sponsorship)
Considerations: 
About H-1B Visas

Associate Professor

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

Duration: 

6-year maximum in 3-year increments

Processing Information: 
  • 4 to 6 months in total with expedited processing.
  • Internal requirements must be met prior to submission to USCIS.
Use at Yale: 
  • Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Professor
  • Instructor
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Staff (M&P) Position (if approved for sponsorship)
Considerations: 
About H-1B Visas

Associate Research Scientist

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Instructor

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

Duration: 

6-year maximum in 3-year increments

Processing Information: 
  • 4 to 6 months in total with expedited processing.
  • Internal requirements must be met prior to submission to USCIS.
Use at Yale: 
  • Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Professor
  • Instructor
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Staff (M&P) Position (if approved for sponsorship)
Considerations: 
About H-1B Visas

Lab Associate

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Lector

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Lecturer

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Postdoctoral Associate

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Postdoctoral Fellow

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Postgraduate Associate

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Postgraduate Fellow

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Professor

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

Duration: 

6-year maximum in 3-year increments

Processing Information: 
  • 4 to 6 months in total with expedited processing.
  • Internal requirements must be met prior to submission to USCIS.
Use at Yale: 
  • Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Professor
  • Instructor
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Staff (M&P) Position (if approved for sponsorship)
Considerations: 
About H-1B Visas

Senior Lector

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Senior Lecturer

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Short-term Visitors

B Visitor Visa (B-1, B-2, WB, WT)

B Visitor Visa (B-1, B-2, WB, WT)

Duration: 

Very limited duration – no more than 9 days if there is honorarium and/or reimbursement

Processing Information: 
  • With letter of invitation individual can apply for a visa or if has one in possession can proceed to the U.S.
  • OISS can assist departments with letter of invitation.
Use at Yale: 
  • Short-Term Visitors
Considerations: 
  • For short-term visitors (e.g those giving a lecture, participating in a conference, conducting independent research).
  • Not to be used for Yale employees.
  • Restrictive criteria on payment of honoraria and/or reimbursement of expenses.
  • Requires a letter of invitation from inviting department.
  • Can be fairly quick if individual already has a B-1/B-2 visa or is eligible for ESTA.
B Visitor Visa and Visa Waiver Program

Staff (M&P) Position

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

H-1B Temporary/Specialty Occupation Worker

Duration: 

6-year maximum in 3-year increments

Processing Information: 
  • 4 to 6 months in total with expedited processing.
  • Internal requirements must be met prior to submission to USCIS.
Use at Yale: 
  • Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Professor
  • Instructor
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Staff (M&P) Position (if approved for sponsorship)
Considerations: 
About H-1B Visas

Visiting Faculty

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Visiting Fellow

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

J-1 Research Scholar/Professor

Duration: 

Maximum of 5 years¹

¹ Yale appointment maximum duration may differ

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks² for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

² Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Postdoctoral Associate
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postgraduate Associate
  • Postgraduate Fellow
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Visiting Fellow
  • Lab Associate
  • Lector
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lector
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Visiting Faculty
Considerations: 
  • Fastest non-immigrant option; takes the least amount of time to process.
  • Will be subject to the  12 or 24 month bar.
  • Dependents hold J-2 status and can apply for work authorization.
  • May be subject to the  two year home country resident requirement.
  • May transfer between different U.S. schools inside the U.S but there can be no gap between employers and must all be within the five-year maximum.
About J-1 Visas

Visiting Undergraduate Participating in Research or Clinical Activities (J-1 Student Intern)

J-1 Student Intern

J-1 Student Intern

Duration: 

12-months or duration of Visiting Student in Research (VSR) program, whichever is shorter

Processing Information: 
  • Processed by OISS
  • Allow 6 to 8 weeks* for OISS to process and send immigration document to scholar

*Does not include time waiting for a visa appointment

Use at Yale: 
  • Visiting Undergraduates Participating in Research of Clinical Activities (J-1 Student Intern)
  • Intern (in established intern program)
Considerations: 
  • Only option for participants in the Visiting Undergraduates Participating in Research or Clinical Activities program, or other approved internship programs.
  • Visiting students who qualify for VAR, Special Student or Postgraduate Fellow positions are not eligible for this category.
  • Requires a detailed contract-type document (DS-7002) and a formal evaluation to be completed at the beginning, middle, and end of the internship.
Next Steps for J-1 Student Intern