B-1 Admissions for Those Receiving Honoraria
Posted Jan 17, 2000

Pursuant to the October 21, 1998, enactment of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA), a person who will receive an honorarium from a University or other institution of higher education or a nonprofit entity or a government research organization, is allowed to enter the U.S. on a B-1 visa.

The Law Office of Sheela Murthy is aware of the importance of this section to NAFSA member Universities and other institutions of higher education, as well as to research organizations that, from time to time, invite leading international scholars and researchers to share their findings and research accomplishments with U.S. scholars and students. The ability to pay an honorarium to such international scholars makes sense; this provision became a part of the law in 1998 as a result of lobbying by academic institutions.

There was some concern that the INS delay in issuing its regulations regarding payment of honoraria would prevent Universities and other research organizations from enjoying the input of such international scholars. The INS recently issued a Memorandum advising its port of entry officers to allow such persons into the U.S. on the B-1 visa classification pending INS issuance of its regulations on this subject.