Scholar/Employee Information:
B-1/B-2 Visitor Visas

The visa category B-1 is for visitors who are coming to the U.S. for business purposes. The B-2 category is for visitors who are coming to the U.S. for pleasure or tourism. Visitors from some countries are permitted to enter the US without a visa stamp in their passport. These visitors are admitted as B-1/B-2, but under the “Visa Waiver” program.

Visitors are specifically prohibited from working or studying in the U.S. Visitors entering the U.S. under the B-1 or B-2 categories must apply for and receive approval from USCIS for a change of status before he or she can pursue a course of study in the U.S. Saint Louis University strongly discourages prospective international students from entering the US under a visitor category with the intention of filing for a change of status to F-1 student. These petitions are not likely to be approved by the USCIS.

B-1/B2 visitors may not accept employment until they have received a change of status from the USCIS. There are conditions under which a B-1 visitor may receive an honorarium and reimbursement of expenses for giving a lecture or presenting at a conference. The B-1 or B-2 visitor:

• Must be at Saint Louis University for no more than 9 days.

• Must not have accepted similar payments from more than 5 other institutions in the previous 6 months.

Please note: hiring a professor to teach a short course does NOT meet the above criteria.

If you have any questions regarding a prospective international visitors, please contact the Office of International Services.