Information for Visitors
Visa Requirements
Most foreign visitors who are coming to the U.S. for
a visit of under 90 days may enter on a tourist visa. The
U.S. has mutual agreements with several countries allowing
entry as a tourist as long as you have a valid passport; no
formal visa is required. Check with the nearest U.S.
Consulate to determine if your home country is included in
this program.
Foreign visitors who are receiving a grant, travel
stipend, honorarium, or any other form of payment or
reimbursement from a U.S. source need to have a formal visa.
Payments may only be received by foreign visitors under
certain circumstances, and the paperwork becomes more
complicated. Consult with CBS staff for information on the
type of visa that your visit requires. The usual visas that
our visitors receive are:
Business (B-1) Visa - This requires a letter
of invitation from our University, which the visitor takes
(or sends) to the U.S. Consulate in their home country, along with other documents
and a fee. Those who will receive reimbursement for travel
costs, or will receive an honorarium (for a lecture or other
service), must have this type of visa. Receipts and your used airline
ticket are required
for all reimbursements.
In addition, if the visitor receives an honorarium,
he/she will be required to fill out several tax-related
documents (even though taxes may or may not be
collected).
J-1 Visa (for Exchange Visitors: Visiting
Scholars, Researchers, Professors) - The J-1
visa requires a
formal invitation from our University which we provide by
applying for an IAP-66 document. This document will allow
the visitor to apply for a visa through the U.S. Consulate
in their home country. The applicant must also show proof of
financial means sufficient for the length of their stay, and
an application fee is required.
This visa status requires that the visitor (and any
accompanying family members) be covered by a health
insurance policy with specific terms. If the visitor
does not have such a policy, it may be purchased upon
arrival in Reno.
Again, if a visitor receives any type of payment
allowed under this visa, tax documents will have to be
filled out.
This information is by no means complete and should always be verified by contacting the nearest U.S. Consulate in your home country. Also, the regulations and procedures change from time to time.