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The immigration status held by foreign visitors while they are in the U.S. determines the types of payments they can receive without jeopordizing that status. In most cases visitors cannot change their immigration status after arrival in the U.S. Departments can protect their visitors by assuring that visitors know the appropriate immigration status for their visit and understand the rules of that status before they enter the U.S.
Departments should not make contractual arrangements with international visitors that would violate the visitors immigration status. Departments should begin planning for the visit as soon as possible and should work with the international office to assure that the visitor has the documents appropriate for the payments the department intends to make.
A good first step for a hosting department is to call the campus international office and ask for assistance on payments to international visitors. The office can advise on the most appropriate visa status and what must be done for the visitor to obtain that status. Often, it is necessary to send a document abroad. The visitor uses that document as part of an application for a visa at a U.S. consulate and presents the document at U.S. immigration inspection. The international office will help with the preparation of necessary documents.
The visitors are responsible for presenting the documents and obtaining the appropriate visa status.
When the visitor arrives, the department should photocopy the visitors departure card (I-94) which is usually stapled inside the passport. The status indicated on the departure card is the official status for the visitors current visit. If the visitors passport includes a U.S. visa sticker with a different status indicated, the status indicated on the I-94 card takes presedence.
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