About Your Status
Each nonimmigrant status has its own requirements and obligations to remain eligible for study, employment, or future visits to the United States. Some immigration missteps may not have immediate consequences, but any prior violation can be discovered, resulting in the denial of immigration benefits and the derailment of the career opportunities. Even minor, one-time violations could result in accrual of unlawful presence and severe penalties like a 3-year, 10-year or permanent bar from the United States.
Maintaining lawful nonimmigrant status is your responsibility. The International Offices are available to assist you in understanding your responsibilities. Become acquainted with the rules that apply to your immigration category, and reach out to your international advisor if you have questions.
F-1 students are nonimmigrants pursuing specific educational or professional objectives at academic institutions in the United States. When you enter as an F-1 student, you accept responsibility to abide by the conditions of the nonimmigrant status. The information provided here should serve as your guide to keeping legal F-1 student status throughout your stay in the United States. Even momentary or accidental lapses in compliance with F-1 regulations could make a student ineligible for certain future immigration benefits (such as change of status to H-1B) and render the student inadmissible to the United States if the offense is not corrected and the student accrues unlawful presence. Days in unlawful presence add up to trigger a 3-year, 10-year or permanent bar from the United States. F-1 maintenance of status infractions that could trigger severe penalties include, but are not limited to:
- Dropping below a full course of study without prior authorization from your international student advisor
- Failure to report employment during initial and STEM OPT
- Unauthorized work during any time in F-1 status
- Accruing over 90 days of unemployment in initial OPT (even during H-1B cap gap and while outside the United States)
- Accruing over 150 total days of unemployment during initial and STEM OPT
Please review this section carefully to learn more about properly maintaining your F-1 student status. When in doubt, ask your international student advisor. Maintaining lawful nonimmigrant status is your responsibility. The International Offices are available to assist you in understanding your responsibilities if you have any questions.
The J-1 Exchange Visitor nonimmigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-based or study-based exchange programs. The Exchange Visitor Program promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by educational and cultural exchanges.
J-1 students are nonimmigrants pursuing a full course of study for specific educational or professional objectives at academic institutions in the United States. When you enter the United States as a J-1 student, you accept responsibility to abide by the conditions of the nonimmigrant status. Even momentary or accidental lapses in compliance with J-1 student regulations could make the student ineligible for certain future immigration benefits (such as change of status to H-1B) and render the student inadmissible to the United States if the offense is not corrected and the student accrues unlawful presence. Days in unlawful presence add up to trigger a 3-year, 10-year or permanent bar from the United States. J-1 student maintenance of status mistakes that could trigger severe penalties include, but are not limited to:
- Dropping below a full course of study without prior authorization from an J-1 student advisor
- Failure to begin academic training/employment within 30 days of program completion date
- Failing to provide updated worksite, home address, phone, or email address within 10 days
- Failing to maintain health and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance
The information provided here should serve as your guide to keeping legal J-1 status throughout your stay in the United States. When in doubt, ask your international student advisor. Maintaining lawful nonimmigrant status is your responsibility. The International Offices are available to assist you in understanding your responsibilities if you have any questions.
The J-1 Exchange Visitor nonimmigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work- and/or study-based programs. The Exchange Visitor Program promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by educational and cultural exchanges.
J-1 scholars are nonimmigrants engaged in research or teaching at Caltech and JPL. Upon admission to the United States as a J-1 scholar, you accept responsibility to abide by the conditions of the nonimmigrant status. Penalties for noncompliance with any aspect of the J regulations would result in harsh penalties, such as a 3-year, 10-year, or permanent bar from the United States if the offense triggers the accrual of unlawful presence. Even momentary and accidental lapses in compliance can make a scholar ineligible for future immigration benefits (such as a change of status to H-1B) and seriously derail career plans. J-1 maintenance of status infractions that could trigger severe penalties include, but are not limited to:
- Engaging in lectures or short-term consultations without prior authorization from your J-1 advisor
- Engaging in any other unauthorized work, like Uber or freelancing work
- Failing to provide updated worksite, home address, phone, or email address within 10 days
- Failing to maintain health and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance
The information provided here should serve as your guide to keeping legal J-1 status throughout your stay in the United States. When in doubt, ask your international student or scholar advisor. Maintaining lawful nonimmigrant status is your responsibility. The International Offices are available to assist you in understanding your responsibilities if you have any questions.
H-1B Temporary Workers in a Specialty Occupation are nonimmigrants who are authorized to engage in employment for a specific employer. Information provided here can help you keep legal H-1B status during your stay in the United States.
B-1 and WB business visitors are nonimmigrants who enter the United States for short periods and who do not intend to be employed while they are in the United States.
B-1 visas are issued to visitors for business from most countries. Citizens of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program may enter the United States in WB status, as visitors for business without a visa, if they meet the requirements. Information provided here can help you keep legal B-1 or WB status during your stay in the United States.
The TN nonimmigrant classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities at a professional level. This includes temporary employment. A list of TN profession can be found on the NAFTA website. Information provided here can help you keep legal TN status during your stay in the United States.
The E-3 nonimmigrant classification permits Australian citizens come to the United States to perform services in a specialty occupation. A specialty occupation requires theoretical and practical application of a body of knowledge in a professional field and at least the attainment of a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States. Information provided here can help you keep legal E-3 status during your stay in the United States.
The O-1 nonimmigrant classification is for individuals who possess extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Information provided here can help you keep legal O-1 status during your stay in the United States.
*The International Offices assist international students and scholars after an appointment to visit or work at Caltech/JPL has been offered and accepted. The International Offices cannot provide immigration assistance or answer inquiries prior to acceptance of a Caltech/JPL appointment.