Other Employment or Business Visas
The following lists other visa classifications that permit temporary business or professional activities in the US. Each visa has its own specific conditions and restrictions. Please contact the International Center for more information.
E-3 status is available to citizens of Australia who are offered temporary employment in a specialty occupation. A specialty occupation is defined a position that requires "theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum requirement." In practice, this means that the position must require the minimum of a bachelor's degree in a specific disciplinary area and that the employee must have the required educational qualifications at the time of application.
- E-3 status is granted for up to two years and can be extended indefinitely in increments of up to two years
- E-3 status requires a Department of Labor approved Labor Condition Application (LCA) that certifies the position will be paid the higher of the actual or prevailing wage for the specialty occupation
- E-3 status is employer-specific; employees are only allowed to work for their E-3 sponsor
- An E-3 employee may be accompanied by a dependent spouse and/or unmarried minor children under 21
Departments interested in sponsoring an Australian citizen who may be eligible for E-3 employment should contact the International Center at least 90 days in advance of commencement of employment for information about application procedures.
The O-1 visa classification is available to individuals who have received sustained national or international acclaim for extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, and athletics, or who have a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture and television industries. Evidence of extraordinary ability and achievement may include, but are not limited to: receipt of national or international prizes and awards; membership in professional associations requiring outstanding achievement; and publication of original research considered to be of major significance. O-1 employees must be able to show a high level of expertise and must be recognized as having reached the top levels of their fields.
- O-1 status may be granted for up to three years and extended indefinitely for one year increments as long as the O-1 employment continues
- O-1 status is employer specific; the O-1 employee may only work for the O-1 sponsor*
- An O-1 employee may be accompanied by a spouse and/or unmarried minor children under 21
Because the O-1 visa requires a complex petition accompanied by substantial levels of documentation, Tufts uses this classification to sponsor only highly qualified teachers, scientists, and artists who have extraordinary expertise. For more information, contact the International Center.
*Note that the O-1 visa allows for an individual of extraordinary ability to be sponsored either by a single employer, or by an agent who has the ability to manage employment with multiple employers following an itinerary of professional engagements. Tufts is not authorized to act as an agent and is only able to sponsor individuals for employment with Tufts. However, O-1 visa holders who have secured O-1 status through an agent may consult with their agent and the agent's immigration attorney to see if any engagement with Tufts can be accommodated within their existing agent-based O-1 approval. Depending on the specific circumstances of the engagement, Tufts may still be required to file its own concurrent O-1 petition even if the individual already has approval for an O-1 through an agent.
Employees seeking O-1 status based on their Tufts employment are required to use a University-approved immigration attorney, with the approval of the International Center, University Counsel, and the Dean of the employee's school. Please contact the International Center at internationalcenter@tufts.edu for more information.