B-1 Visitor for Business / WB Visa Waiver for Business 

The B-1 visa is issued to temporary visitors to the United States for professional/business purposes. The B-1 Visitor for Business visa classification may be used by international scholars coming to the U.S. for short stays to participate in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions/conferences, or to undertake independent research. A B-1 Visitor may not accept full-time, part-time, or temporary employment for which they are paid by the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS).

The information below is taken directly from UMMS policy on B-1 Visitors for Business & WB Visa Waiver for Business Visitors.

At UMMS, a B-1 visitor may only have short-term (generally one month or less) and non-salaried affiliations.   For visitors who are from countries that do not require visa stamps for entry into the United States, the WB classification, granted as part of the visa waiver program, has similar guidelines.

UMMS may provide B-1 or WB visitors with an expense allowance (per diem) or reimbursement for incidental expenses [9 FAM 41.31 notes N11.1]. In certain circumstances, an honorarium may be paid to an individual in either B-1 or WB visa status for ‘usual academic activities'. For the honorarium payment to be permitted, the academic activity must not last longer than nine days and the individual may not have accepted similar payments from more than five institutions during the previous six months. The UMMS interpretation of this section of the Act [INA Section 212(8 U.S.C. 1182)(q)] is that honoraria payments are limited to a maximum of five visits in a six-month period, each visit lasting no longer than nine days, at UMMS and/or other institutions.

The UMMS Treasurer’s Office is required to withhold 30% of the honorarium payment for tax purposes. If the individual wishes to claim tax treaty benefits, he/she must have a social security number or tax identification number.

A person requesting a B-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad must present a letter of invitation from UMMS. The Consul has sole discretion in the decision to grant any visa. The invitation letter must state the purpose of the visit, the dates of the visit, and also that no salary will be paid by UMMS. If UMMS will provide the WB or B-1 visitor with an expense allowance or reimbursment of incidental expenses, this should be included in the letter.  If the visitor will be receiving an honorarium, the invitation letter should include a statement such as “In order to receive this honorarium you have indicated that you have not accepted similar payments from more than five institutions in the past six-month period, per INA Section 212(8 U.S.C. 1182)(q)” and the UMMS visit should not exceed 9 days.  In addition, documentation from the visitor's business or employer outside the U.S. is recommended to complement the UMMS letter.

The letters must also be presented to the immigration inspector at the point of entry into the United States, and the visitor must request entrance as a B-1 Business Visitor. The immigration inspector will decide the appropriateness of the visa classification and will note “B-1” on the scholar's entry permit (Form I-94, the small white card stapled in the passport). The notation on the Form I-94 is of the greatest importance. A person may have a B-1/B-2 visa stamp in his or her passport, but the immigration inspector will decide upon the visa classification after reviewing the UMMS letter of invitation and will note the Form I-94 appropriately. B-2 Visitors for Tourism (or “WT” under the Visa Waiver Program) may not have any kind of professional affiliation or receive any payment while in the United States .The B-2 and WT are strictly tourist classifications.

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Visa Waiver Program- WB Classification

Certain scholars coming to the United States for short professional visits can enter without getting a visa stamp in their passport under the Visa Waiver Program. To be eligible, a scholar must be a citizen of one of the following countries:

Scholars in WB classification cannot extend their stay or change immigration status.

As with the requirements for the Visitor for Business (B-1) visa classification, scholars coming under the Visa Waiver Program (WB) must have a letter of invitation from their UMMS faculty host to present to the immigration inspector at the airport when they enter the country (see the information above about particular contents of the invitation letter). At the discretion of the inspector, the scholar's Form I-94 will be noted “WB,” and he/she will be permitted to engage in business activity while in the United States. An honorarium may be paid to the WB visitor, provided that the nine day limit and all other guidelines mentioned previously are followed. Visitors who do not present a letter of invitation from UMMS will be admitted “WT,” Visitor for Tourism. Those admitted as WT may not be affiliated with UMMS.

More information about the Visa Waiver Program is available through the U.S. Department of State.

All B-1 or WB visitors who will be inside University of Massachusetts Medical School Labs must be cleared by employee health before entering the lab.  B-1 or WB visitors are not required to register with the International Students and Scholars Office.

B-1 or WB visa for medical electives at UMMS

The B-1 or WB category is considered acceptable for use by individuals who are students at foreign medical schools who seek to enter the U.S. temporarily in order to take an "elective clerkship" at a UMMS. The intent of this is to afford practical experience and instructions in the various disciplines of medicine under the supervision and direction of faculty physicians at UMMS as an approved part of the student's foreign medical school education.  The B-1 / WB options does not apply to graduate medical training.  All students interested in a medical elective at UMMS must apply and be accepted through the Division of Student Affairs.  Individuals accepted into a medical elective are not required to register with the ISSO.

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