Non-Immigrant Visas

 

Departments and schools hiring international personnel or hosting international visitors for short- or long-term projects have several non-immigrant options. Below are the most common types used at Texas Tech Health El Paso.

Common Visa Types

  • Suitable for short-term visits such as conferences and presentations.
  • May be paid an honorarium and/or expenses for an event of 9 days or less.
  • Not appropriate for research collaborations benefiting TTUHSC El Paso.

J-1 Short-Term Scholar

  • Appropriate for visitors staying up to 6 months.

  • May be paid or unpaid (sabbatical, outside funding).

  • Cannot be extended beyond 6 months.

J-1 Researcher or Professor

  • Suitable for research or teaching positions.

  • May not be used for tenure-track positions.

  • Status can be granted for up to 5 years.

J-1 Student Intern

  • Must fulfill educational objectives for the student's degree program.

  • Must be full-time (at least 32 hours per week) and up to 12 months in duration.

H-1B (Specialty Worker)

  • Available for professional and academic appointments.

  • Initial approval for up to 3 years, renewable up to 6 years.

  • Requires Department of Labor certification and USCIS processing.

E-3 (Australian Specialty Worker)

  • Limited to Australian citizens.

  • Can be granted for 2 years, extendable indefinitely.

  • Dependents are eligible for employment authorization.

O-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability)

  • For individuals with outstanding achievements.

  • Initial approval for 3 years, with 1-year extensions available.

TN (Trade NAFTA)

  • Available to Canadian and Mexican citizens in specified fields.

  • Initial approval for 3 years, extendable indefinitely.

Forms