Your Immigration Responsibilities (all other visas)

Harvard sponsored scholars must comply with the U.S. federal regulations governing their specific visa status. The following is a summary of the responsibilities that Harvard sponsored scholars should adhere to in order to maintain lawful status in the United States.

H-1B Scholars

Change of address updates

All nonimmigrant visa holders are required to notify USCIS within 10 days of a change of residential address. H-1B visa holders may report a change of address by completing Form AR-11 or Form AR-11SR. Please follow the instructions on the Change of Address section of this website. Please also notify the HIO of the new address by sending a photocopy of the form submitted to USCIS

CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT

Individual's H-1B status is dependent upon continued employment. H-1B petitions are employer and position specific, which means that the individual is authorized by USCIS to work only at Harvard or one of its affiliated hospitals in a specific position. HIO should be consulted prior to any changes in H-1B employment such as job title, job duties, salary, percentage of time, and/or location. An amended H-1B petition may be required under certain circumstances.

As H-1B status is employer specific, scholars may not accept compensation, including honoraria, from any other entity. Individuals in H-1B status invited to give a lecture, collaborate, conduct research or present at other institutions can receive reimbursement for reasonable living and transportation costs only.  All H-1B employees sponsored by Harvard or any other employer are required to obtain a written approval from their employer/visa sponsor to receive reimbursement.  An individual may work for more than one employer, but each employer must file a separate H-1B visa petition.

public assistance restrictions

Under certain U.S. federal, state, county, and local laws, nonimmigrants and their dependents may qualify for “public assistance,” such as health insurance, subsidized housing, food assistance, or unemployment benefits. Accepting such benefits as a nonimmigrant visa holder can lead to inadmissibility to the United States due to reliance on “public assistance” under the Immigration and Nationality Act, this could ultimately result in denial of re-entry into the United States in the future. The nonimmigrant is responsible for understanding that certain types of benefits could qualify for “public assistance” and knowing the risks associated with enrolling and/or receiving such benefits.

O-1 Scholars

As an O-1 visa holder, you will have an expiration date on the Form I-94 that should match the end date on the O-1 petition filed on your behalf. You are advised to print out a Form I-94 via the above mentioned web site each time you make an entry to the United States. To maintain the O-1 visa status, you must continue to pursue the intended activity at Harvard University.

Changes in Employment

If there are significant changes in employment, the O-1 visa holder should contact their HIO advisor. O-1 visa holders are only authorized for employment by the organization which sponsored the O-1 petition. An O-1 visa holder may work for more than one employer, but each employer must file a separate visa petition.

Change of Address

All non-immigrants are required to notify USCIS within 10 days of a change of residential address. H-1B visa holders may report a change of address by completing Form AR-11 or Form AR-11SR. Please follow the instructions on the Change of Address section of this website. Please also notify the HIO of the new address by sending a photocopy of the form submitted to USCIS.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RESTRICTIONS

Under certain U.S. federal, state, county, and local laws, nonimmigrants and their dependents may qualify for “public assistance,” such as health insurance, subsidized housing, food assistance, or unemployment benefits. Accepting such benefits as a nonimmigrant visa holder can lead to inadmissibility to the United States due to reliance on “public assistance” under the Immigration and Nationality Act, this could ultimately result in denial of re-entry into the United States in the future. The nonimmigrant is responsible for understanding that certain types of benefits could qualify for “public assistance” and knowing the risks associated with enrolling and/or receiving such benefits.

TN Scholars

In order to maintain TN status, individuals are expected to engage in employment only with the sponsoring employer through which the TN status was obtained.

As TN status is employer specific, individuals may not accept compensation, including honoraria, from any other entity. Individuals in TN status invited to give a lecture, collaborate, conduct research or present at other institutions can receive reimbursement for reasonable living and transportation costs only. An individual may work for more than one employer, but must obtain a separate TN based on each employer.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RESTRICTIONS

Under certain U.S. federal, state, county, and local laws, nonimmigrants and their dependents may qualify for “public assistance,” such as health insurance, subsidized housing, food assistance, or unemployment benefits. Accepting such benefits as a nonimmigrant visa holder can lead to inadmissibility to the United States due to reliance on “public assistance” under the Immigration and Nationality Act, this could ultimately result in denial of re-entry into the United States in the future. The nonimmigrant is responsible for understanding that certain types of benefits could qualify for “public assistance” and knowing the risks associated with enrolling and/or receiving such benefits.