B-1/WB Visitors for Business
Individuals in B-1 status or WB (Waiver Business) status under the Visa Waiver Program are not usually appointed to University positions (with the exceptions of the DOF rank of Visiting Research Collaborator and other short-term appointments with no compensation as long as the activity can appropriately be conducted in the Visitor for Business category). The B-1/WB status is usually used by individuals invited to the University to give a lecture or a talk or by individuals with Departmental Guest status.
Visitors for business may engage in temporary commercial, business or professional activities related to their employment or business abroad, as long as the activity in the U.S. is not “employment”. It is appropriate for attendance at conventions, conferences, to undertake independent research and to engage in consultations and other legitimate activities of a commercial or professional nature.
Immigration regulations allow educational institutions to pay honoraria and expenses to individuals in B-1 Visitor for Business and WB (Waiver Business) status for usual academic activities lasting no more than 9 days as long as the individual has not received more than 5 such payments in the previous 6 months. B-1s not receiving honoraria may be reimbursed expenses without the 9 day time limit. See Payments to Foreign Nationals, Guests and Speakers for Princeton University policies.
