UCF Global is committed to facilitating research and scholarly activities both domestically and internationally. We serve as primary hub for departments wishing to host international visitors and employees.
Once a faculty member or department has identified a foreign national they would like to host at the University of Central Florida, they must determine which visa type best suites the collaboration, the future plans of the visitor, and the goals of the host department. Below is a comparison chart which provides side-by-side information which can help a host department make that determination.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES TO INVITE YOUR FOREIGN NATIONAL VISITING SCHOLAR OR EMPLOYEE:
Important Questions and Answers
Hosting any foreign national in any visa type can have potential export control implications to the United States and the University of Central Florida. The UCF Office of Export Controls Compliance is a critical partner in hosting foreign nationals at UCF. As part of the visa process, visa petitions for new employees and/or visiting scholars are routed to the Office of Export Controls Compliance for a detailed compliance review. Part of this review also includes reviewing visa petitions for affiliations with Denied Entities and High Risk Entities.
Does the individual you are looking to hire/host have an affiliation with a denied entity?
The U.S. Government prohibits U.S. entities from engaging in activities with parties that are identified on the U.S. Denied Parties Lists (Denied Entities).
At this time, UCF will not hire new employees and/or host visiting scholars that have a current affiliation with a Denied Entity or have had an affiliation with a Denied Entity in the last 10 years.
For more information on Denied Entities, please see: https://www.trade.gov/consolidated-screening-list.
As part of the visa process, visa petitions for new employees and/or visiting scholars are routed to the Office of Export Controls Compliance for a detailed compliance review. Part of this review also includes reviewing visa petitions for affiliations with Denied Entities. For questions, please contact the Associate Director for the Office of Export Controls Compliance, Ashley Guritza at: Ashley.Guritza@ucf.edu.
Do you engage in work that is export controlled?
If you engage in work that is export controlled, certain foreign persons may not be permitted to engage in your export-controlled research activities. In some cases, UCF can seek written authorization from the U.S. Government (i.e. an export control license) to permit foreign persons to engage in export-controlled research activities. On average, the licensing process takes two to six months and should be started as soon as possible. There is never a guarantee that the U.S. Government will grant an export control license, but UCF is happy to assist faculty with the export control licensing process. The UCF Office of Export Controls Compliance is the only UCF unit authorized to submit export control licenses on behalf of UCF and UCF personnel.
For more information, please see: https://www.research.ucf.edu/ExportControl/I-129.html.
Visa petitions for new employees and/or visiting scholars are routed to the Office of Export Controls Compliance for a detailed compliance review. Part of this review includes identifying individual research activities that may require a license. For questions, please contact the Associate Director for the Office of Export Controls Compliance, Ashley Guritza at: Ashley.Guritza@ucf.edu.
Visa Comparison Chart
| H-1B | J-1 | O-1 | TN | B1/B2 or Visa Waiver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PURPOSE | Temporary Employment: Specialty Occupation | Educational and Cultural Exchange | Temporary Employment: Extraordinary Ability/Achievement | Temporary Employment: NAFTA Professional | Tourism/Conference Attendance |
| REQUIREMENTS | Position must require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a specific field of study | English Proficiency & Adequate Funding | Demonstrated proof of extraordinary ability/achievement | Citizenship of Canada or Mexico: Position must be a listed NAFTA profession | none |
| PROCESSING TIME | H1B/PROCESSING TIME: Agency Specific, Fluid, & Subject to Change without Notice | 2-4 months | O-1/PROCESSING TIME: Expedited: 2-3 Months (dependent on how quickly Letters of Support can be acquired); Standard: 8 Months | Border Crossing: Immediate; Change of Status: 8-12 months | 2-4 months for B1/B2; 2-4 weeks for ESTA (Visa Waiver) |
| FEES(italics = optional) | Form I-129 filing: $460 USD; Anti-fraud: $500 USD; USCIS Checks Advanced by Fragomen Fee: $100 USD; Fragomen Legal Rush Fee: $900-$1,500 USD; USCIS Premium Processing: $2,805 USD | SEVIS I-901: $220 USD; DS-160 Visa Application: $185 USD | Form I-129 filing: $530 USD; Legal Processing: $5,500 USD; USCIS Checks Advanced by Fragomen Fee: $100 USD; Fragomen Legal Rush Fee: $2,000-$3,000 USD; USCIS Premium Processing: $2,805 USD | Border Crossing: $50 USD -or- Form I-129 filing: $510 USD; Legal Rush Fee: $900-$1,500 USD; USCIS Premium Processing: $2,805 USD | DS-160 Visa Application: $185 USD -or- Visa Waiver Application: $14 USD |
| LEGAL COUNSEL | Fragomen Worldwide | n/a | Fragomen Worldwide | Fragomen Worldwide | n/a |
| MAXIMUM DURATION | 6 years (3-year initial approval) | 5 years (less for certain J-1 categories) | 3 years (1-year subsequent renewals optional) | 3 years(3-year subsequent renewals optional) | n/a |
| SALARY REQUIREMENTS | ≥ Actual wage or prevailing wage, whichever is greater | No minimum requirements | No minimum requirements | ≥ Federal or State minimum wage, whichever is greater | n/a |
| DEPENDENTS | Employment: No; Study: Part Time or Full Time |
Employment: Yes w/ EAD; Study: Part Time or Full Time |
Employment: No; Study: Part Time or Full Time |
Employment: No; Study: Part Time or Full Time |
Employment: No; Study: No |
| ADVANTAGES | Path to permanent residency | Quick processing – Often funded externally | No home residency requirement -Typically faster than H-1B processing | Quick processing – Border crossing presents low cost | 35+ countries participate in VWP; Visitor may have B1/B2 visa in passport |
| DISADVANTAGES | High fees; Long processing times; Minimum wage requirements | Barred from repeat participation Possible home residency requirement No tenure-track positions No path to permanent residency |
High fees Renewals of only 1-year increments |
Limited to citizens of Canada or Mexico No path to permanent residency Not all positions are eligible |
No employment options No institutional access Limited scope of activity on campus |
Notes: This chart does not constitute legal advice. All sponsorships are employer and position specific. Fees and processing times are subject to change without notice. Please consult with UCF Global for additional guidance on which visa type may be most appropriate for a visitor or prospective employee.