Visa Sponsorship Policies

If you are admitted as a student, offered a Postdoctoral position or other job, or match with a clinical training program at UT Southwestern and need a visa, the Office of International Affairs will coordinate with you and the inviting program or department to identify and secure appropriate visa classification. The nature of your UT Southwestern activities, your prior U.S. immigration status, long-term professional goals, and institutional policy will all be considered in determining the appropriate visa classification for you. We will contact you with detailed instructions and are available to answer your questions throughout the visa process.

The Office of International Affairs prepares the following visa documents/applications “in house":

  • J-1 Exchange Visitor
  • F-1 Student
  • H-1B Specialty Occupation Worker
  • TN (Treaty NAFTA) visa (Canadian or Mexican citizen only.) 

Requests for J-1 visa sponsorship through the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) must be coordinated through our office.   Applicants for U.S. permanent residency, J-2 dependents of J-1 Exchange visitors, and other categories of individuals holding valid Employment Authorization Documents (EAD,) may study or work at UT Southwestern. 

Certain UT Southwestern faculty may be sponsored for O-1 visas. Research track and tenure track faculty with titles of Instructor or above may be sponsored for U.S. permanent residency “green card.” These applications are coordinated through the Office of International Affairs but must be prepared and filed by a qualified immigration attorney.

Glossary of Some Common Visa Classifications

B-1/B-2

This is a visitor’s visa for business or tourism. Payment of honoraria and/or expense reimbursement allowed only if U.S. visit does not exceed nine (9) days and U.S. visits over prior six months do not exceed five (5); may be requested initially for several months with possibility of extending once in the U.S. up to a maximum of 12 months

EAD

“Employment Authorization Document” issued to applicants for U.S. permanent residency, J-2 dependents of J-1 Exchange Visitors, and other individuals granted temporary permission to remain and work in the U.S.; Usually must be renewed annually

ECFMG J-1

J-1 Exchange Visitor “Alien Physician Trainee” sponsored by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) for medical residencies and fellowships; annual renewals for progressively more complex training may be possible for up to a maximum of seven years

F-1

Student Visa for degree seeking students and Visiting Senior Medical Students at UT Southwestern; may be extended for the duration of the educational objective

H-1B

Employment visa for positions that require the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree or higher in a specialized field; maximum presence is six years

J-1

Exchange Visitor visa for students (for duration of degree program,) short-term scholars (limited to 6 months,) or research scholars (limited to 5 years);  J-1 students must be participants in a reciprocal exchange program, sponsored by a government or international organization, and/or “substantially funded” by UT Southwestern

O-1

Temporary work visa for individual with documented “extraordinary ability” in a field of endeavor; issued initially for up to three years, with one year extensions for an unlimited period thereafter

TN

“Trade NAFTA” visa for professional positions held by citizens of Mexico and Canada; issued initially for up to three years, and renewable in three year increments for an unlimited period provided no steps are taking to apply for U.S. permanent residency (“green card”)

WT/WB

“Visa Waiver” program for tourism or business available to nationals of certain countries; payment of honoraria and/or expense reimbursement allowed only if U.S. visit does not exceed nine (9) days and U.S. visits over prior six months do not exceed five (5); limited to a maximum of 90 days with no extension or change of visa classification allowed