Independent Services and Payments to Foreign Nationals

When inviting foreign national guests to perform independent services in the U.S., SDSU is limited by very specific regulations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Labor regarding payment and honoraria.

Departments are required to confirm if a foreign national, who is not an SDSU employee, is allowed to perform independent services and receive payment. An individual's visa status and work authorization must be verified BEFORE services are rendered. Failure to confirm an individual's ability to work and receive payment may have negative effects to their immigration status in the future.

For specific information on how to requisition a payment for a foreign national (non-SDSU employee), please visit the Accounts Payable website and review the Nonresident Alien Payment Checklist.

Common Visa Types

Below are the common visa types and whether or not they may receive an honorarium or reimbursement for expenses. While these are the most commonly seen visa types for foreign national guests, some individuals may have visa types not listed. Please contact [email protected] to inquire about visas not listed in the chart.

*Some restrictions apply. See "Document Requirements and Additional Information by Visa Type" for more information.

Visa description: Employment authorization document

Honorarium: Yes

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description:  Visitor for business

Honorarium: Yes*

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes*

Visa description: Visitor for pleasure

Honorarium: Yes*

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes*

Visa description: Temporary worker in a speciality occupation (Australian citizens only)

Honorarium: No

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description: Student enrolled as an undergraduate or undergraduate student at a U.S. institution and authorized for employment while pursuing their studies

Honorarium: Yes

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description: Student recently completed undergraduate or graduate studies at a U.S. institution and has been authorized for employment after graduation.

Honorarium: Yes

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description: Temporary worker in a speciality occupation

Honorarium: No

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes*

Visa description: Spouse of an H-1B temporary worker in a speciality occupation

Honorarium: No

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

 Visa description: Temporary exchange visitor who is in the U.S. to teach or conduct research in their field (short-term scholar, professor, or research scholar categories).

Honorarium: Yes*

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description: Temporary exchange visitor who is enrolled in classes at a U.S. institution

Honorarium: Yes

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description: Green card holder

Honorarium: Yes

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description: Temporary worker with extraordinary ability or achievement

Honorarium: No

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes*

Visa description: Canadian or Mexican citizen under the NAFTA agreement

Honorarium: No

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description: Temporary business visitor under the Visa Waiver Program

Honorarium: Yes*

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Visa description: Temporary tourist visitor under the Visa Waiver Program

Honorarium: Yes*

Reimbursement for expenses: Yes

Document Requirements and Additional Information by Visa Type

I-94 card marked with B-1 status

B-1/B-2 visa stamp