Professors and Researchers

UC Berkeley is an international crossroad of research and teaching activity, hosting over 3000 visiting international professors, researchers, and scholars throughout the year. Our visitors come from around the world and stay from just a few days to a few years. See also our Visiting Scholar Data for annual statistics.

Your Visa and Immigration Status
The type of visa and immigration status you have while at UC Berkeley depends on many factors. Your UC Berkeley host department, in consulation with Berkeley International Office, will help you determine the most appropriate immigration status for your stay in the U.S.

UC Berkeley Academic Titles
Academic institutions use a variety of different titles to describe their employees and associates. Your UC Berkeley host department will assign a title to you which best fits the objectives of your visit. The most common term you will hear is "visiting scholar" which is generally used to describe most of our non-paid visiting researchers and professors.

Policies that affect your UC Berkeley academic title are separate and different from policies regulating your immigration status, but may overlap in some ways. To find out more about policies affecting Visiting Scholars at UC Berkeley, see the Visiting Scholars and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) web site.

Immigration Categories of Visitors
For specific information regarding federal immigration reguations and university policies, please select from the categories below:

J-1 Exchange Visitors
H-1 Temporary Workers
TN Mexican and Canadian NAFTA Professional Workers
O-1 Aliens of Extraordinatry Ability
Permanent Resident Status ("green card" holder or immigrant)
B-1/B-2 Visitors for Business or Pleasure
Visa Waiver Program (WB/WT)

Prospective Researchers and Professors
Individuals interested in pursuing research or teaching at UC Berkeley must be invited in a formal campus appointment by an academic department or lab who will serve as your host. The host department will then take care of the paperwork necessary for you to obtain a visa to come to the U.S.

For more information, please visit the Visiting Scholars and Postdoc Affairs web site


	Researchers and Professors	A-Z Index
Home Students Prospective Students New Students Current Students Exchange Students Practical Training Students Summer Students Returning Students Professors & Researchers Prospective J-1 H-1B TN O-1 Permanent Residents B-1/B-2 Visa Waiver Family UCB Departments Students J-1 Researchers & Faculty H-1B Staff TN Staff O-1 Staff B-1/B-2 Visitors Visa Waiver Visitors Permanent Residents Living at Berkeley Transportation Housing Money Health & Safety Legal Resources Cultural Adjustment Travel & Visas Programs & Workshops Calendar Resource Links About Berkeley International Office Staff Contact US	UC Berkeley is an international crossroad of research and teaching activity, hosting over 3000 visiting international professors, researchers, and scholars throughout the year. Our visitors come from around the world and stay from just a few days to a few years. See also our Visiting Scholar Data for annual statistics. Your Visa and Immigration Status The type of visa and immigration status you have while at UC Berkeley depends on many factors. Your UC Berkeley host department, in consulation with Berkeley International Office, will help you determine the most appropriate immigration status for your stay in the U.S. UC Berkeley Academic Titles Academic institutions use a variety of different titles to describe their employees and associates. Your UC Berkeley host department will assign a title to you which best fits the objectives of your visit. The most common term you will hear is "visiting scholar" which is generally used to describe most of our non-paid visiting researchers and professors. Policies that affect your UC Berkeley academic title are separate and different from policies regulating your immigration status, but may overlap in some ways. To find out more about policies affecting Visiting Scholars at UC Berkeley, see the Visiting Scholars and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) web site. Immigration Categories of Visitors For specific information regarding federal immigration reguations and university policies, please select from the categories below: J-1 Exchange Visitors H-1 Temporary Workers TN Mexican and Canadian NAFTA Professional Workers O-1 Aliens of Extraordinatry Ability Permanent Resident Status ("green card" holder or immigrant) B-1/B-2 Visitors for Business or Pleasure Visa Waiver Program (WB/WT) Prospective Researchers and Professors Individuals interested in pursuing research or teaching at UC Berkeley must be invited in a formal campus appointment by an academic department or lab who will serve as your host. The host department will then take care of the paperwork necessary for you to obtain a visa to come to the U.S. For more information, please visit the Visiting Scholars and Postdoc Affairs web site