Online Handbook for the Division of International Studies, and International Institute programs

Home

About the Administration

Event Planning Guide:

• Checklist
• Communications and Publicity
• Business Services
• Room Reservations
• Speaker Reimbursement

Computer Services

Telephone Services

Business Services

International Visitors

Purchasing

International Travel

Domestic Travel

International Visitor Information

Bringing international visitors to the University of Wisconsin-Madison is complex business. All visas fall within two broad categories: non-immigrant and immigrant. Non-immigrant visas are given to individuals who intend to reside temporarily in the U.S. The position they fill may be permanent, but they must be here in some non-immigrant category. Immigrant visas are for those who intend to reside permanently in the U.S. and have an offer of permanent employment. Non-immigrant visas require considerably less documentation and processing time.

A chart detailing the variety of visa types and payments the II makes to non-resident visiting lectures immediately follows.

Pay-Type Eligibility for Non-resident Visiting Lecturers

* If tax treaty exemption applies.
**Stay limited to 9 or few days for purposes of reimbursement and visitor cannot receive payment for more than 6 stays in 6 months.
+ With permission of the J-1 sponsor, all three pay types can be made only if the sponsor’s letter of authorization explicitly allows this.
^ If application for ITIN has been filed with the IRS; copy of form must include a stamp indicating receipt by the IRS.

Descriptions of Documentation

Immigration Documents

I-94 A small white card, called the I-94 Departure records, is issued to the visitor at the time of entry into the US by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Usually stapled to the visitor’s passport.

IAP-66 8 ½” X11” sheet of paper, entitled “United States Information Agency Exchange Visitor Program Services, GC/V; Certificate of eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status”. This document is used to obtain a J-1 visa, is sent by the sponsor (UW-Madison), to the visitor prior to arrival in the US. The pink copy is retained by the visitor for entry and/or re-entry into the U.S.

I-797 This is an 81/2”X11” sheet of paper, entitled “Notice of Action, the United States of America,” that is used to obtain an H-1B or O-1 visa. Sent by the INS to the visitor prior to arrival in U.S.

Tax Documents

W-7 8 ½” X 11” sheet of paper, entitled “Application for IRS individual Taxpayer Identification Number.” This IRS document allows an individual to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)* required on the W-8BEN and 8233 forms. (Appendix 13)

W-8BEN 8 ½” X 11” sheet of paper, entitled “Certificate of Foreign Status”, is an IRS document certifying that an individual is a non-resident alien for tax purposes and thus is allowed to apply for various provisions of the tax treaty between his/her country and the U.S. (Appendix 14)

8233 8 ½” X 11” sheet of paper, entitled “Exemption from withholding on Compensation for Independent (and Certain Dependent) Personal Services of a Nonresident Alien Individual”. This is an IRS document allowing an individual to claim exemption from tax withholding of the payment received for giving a lecture. (Without this document, 30% of an individual’s payment would be withheld for taxes. This is one of the tax treaty provisions allowed by the W-8 form. (Appendix 15)

* When planning to bring a foreign visitor to campus, always find out whether the person has either a social security number or an international tax identification number (ITIN). ITINs can be applied for upon arriving here. Applicants will need to make an appointment with Jose Carus. His office is in the A.A. Peterson Building, and his phone number is 2-0582.