All international Visiting Scholars (VS) and Visiting Student Researchers (VSR) at UC Berkeley (UCB) must hold the appropriate visa to conduct research on campus. Remote appointments are not permitted; all visits must take place in person on campus. This page outlines the visa types typically required, the documentation needed for compliance, and special considerations for external visa holders and Fulbright Scholars. Please review these requirements carefully to ensure a smooth onboarding process and adherence to university and federal policies.
The most commonly issued visa for international Visiting Scholars and Visiting Student Researchers is the J Exchange Visitor visa. The B-1/B-2 visas and Visa Waivers are not eligible for these titles.
For more information on the university's visa policies for these titles, please visit the Berkeley International Office (BIO)website to learn which visa types are applicable. Additionally, please review BIO's website for details on the minimum financial requirements for these positions.
External Visa Holders (including Fulbright Scholars):
To ensure compliance with university policies, visiting scholars and visiting student researchers on an external visa must provide the following documents:
- Identity – A valid, government-issued passport photo ID page that includes personal identifying information is required. Please note that a visa ID page or a U.S. driver’s license is not sufficient. A visa only permits entry into the United States, and a driver’s license merely establishes authorization to drive within a particular state—it does not verify lawful presence or eligibility to be in the U.S.
- Immigration Authorization Period – A valid DS-2019 (for J-1 visas), I-20 (for F-1 and F-1 OPT visas), or other applicable official USCIS immigration document verifying their legal status to be in the country and indicating the start and end dates of the individual’s authorized stay in the U.S. This ensures that the Berkeley appointment falls within the visa program’s authorized period. EAD is not proof of legal status and is not acceptable for this requirement.
- Authorization to be at Berkeley – Authorization from the home institution confirming that the individual is permitted to be at UC Berkeley, including the corresponding UCB appointment dates. This may be provided as a brief memo from the university or a faculty member on official letterhead.
- VSRs: If an F-1 I-20 CPT lists the University of California, Berkeley, and the respective appointment dates, it will satisfy both the authorization period and the authorization to be at Berkeley requirements.
Stipends: For VSRs receiving funds from Berkeley, a completed F-1 CPT page naming UC Berkeley as the "employer" with corresponding UCB visit dates is required. If the I-20 does not list CPT authorization for UC Berkeley, a memo on official letterhead from the home institution’s international office authorizing payment will be sufficient.
If a scholar is on an H-1B visa through their home institution, an authorization document to receive funds is typically provided by the authorized immigration office of their home university. If a university does not sponsor them, the memo must be on letterhead from the HR department or by their authorized immigration representatives on official letterhead. A letter from their supervising principal investigator is not acceptable in this case.
Fulbright Scholars:The Fulbright award letter will suffice as the required documentation for the Authorization to be at Berkeley document, as VSPA approval is required before the DS-2019 certificate can be issued. The DS-2019 is still required and must be submitted to VSPA when Fulbright issues the certificate, so it can be added to the scholar's Immigration Authorization Period record.
Note: Some document requirements may vary depending on a scholar's visa program and legal status. VSPA will follow up when applicable.