VIII. Limits of Visa Authorizations

The Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Member’s immigration authorization is limited.

In general, immigration work visa authorizations do not let a Sponsored International Scholar/Staff Member engage in “any” activity.

  1. Authorized Activities
    1. Hosts and Host Units must ensure the accuracy of the details submitted to International Scholar Services.
      1. The University shares those details about the proposed activities and presence with the US government.
      2. US government authorizations are restricted to the details in submitted paperwork or information.
      3. The International Scholar Services Counselors personally attest to the accuracy of those details.
      4. Care therefore must be taken with the following: Offer letter / invitation letter; MyISS eforms, intake forms, online questionnaires or other submissions to IntlScholars; Emails from unit representatives with updates
    2. Hosts and Host Units are responsible for ensuring that actual activities and presence by the Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Member comply with the limits for that scholar.
      1. Hosts and Host Units must ensure that the following elements are not changed, added, or altered in any way, with respect to any given Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Member, unless first discussed with International Scholar Services
        • Worksite / Site of Activity / geographic location where professional activities are personally performed
        • College / Department / School / Unit with responsibility over the Sponsored International Scholar/Staff Member’s professional / scholarly activities
        • Specific activities / tasks / responsibilities
        • Compensation / wages / stipends / allowances / other funding
        • Date when professional / scholarly activities will begin
        • Date when professional / scholarly activities will end
        • Proportion of time spent per day or per week engaged in professional / scholarly activities
  2. Unauthorized Activities
    1. If the Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Member engages in additional or different activities from the details in the submitted paperwork and information, those activities might be “unauthorized”.
    2. Engaging in unauthorized activities potentially invalidates the Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Member’s legal status in the USA.
    3. The law may require International Scholar Services to terminate the Sponsored immigration visa status of Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Members who have engaged in unauthorized activities, which may in turn require a termination of their University appointment / employment.
  3. Authorization Duration (Authorized Stay)
    1. Sponsored immigration visa statuses are temporary.
    2. All Sponsored immigration visa statuses offered by the University are governed by laws that-
      1. Set a maximum duration of
        • Each granted increment of stay, and
        • The total time in the USA permitted in ‘this’ visa status
      2. Determine whether a non-US Person in the USA can
        • Extend or renew a specific visa status, or
        • Change to another visa status without departing the USA
          • International Scholar Services maintains information about the different Sponsored immigration visa statuses available through the University on the ISS website at https://www.purdue.edu/IPPU/ISS/ under Scholar Services / Immigration. Hosts, Host Units and International Scholars/Staff Members may review this information to understand the limits on specific immigration visa statuses.
  4. Maintenance of Status
    1. Maintenance of Status may be defined as the act of ensuring that the Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Members activities while at the University complies with the limits on their immigration visa status and their presence in the USA
    2. Both the Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Member and the Host are responsible for maintenance of status.
      • Hosts and Host Units are responsible for ensuring that the University activities and duration comply with the issued Authorization, and for notifying International Scholar Services of any proposed changes or additions before they occur
      • Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Members are responsible for understanding the rules that relate to their particular immigration visa status and complying with those rules. Guidance on maintenance of status is on the ISS website at https://www.purdue.edu/IPPU/ISS/scholar/immigration/Maintaining%20Visa%20Status.html
  5. Change of work locations
    1. The location where an international person will engage in their professional or research activities is considered a significant ("material") detail by US immigration rules. This means a change to the location of activities is also significant.
    2. Significant changes to locations of activity include-
      1. providing research or professional activities from an off-campus site in the USA, such as in another part of Indiana, or another state, or
      2. providing research or professional activities rom another country.
    3. For purposes of examining the significance of a new location-
      1. sites for professional development activities - for example, conferences, workshops or similar events - are not considered new locations of 'professional or research' activities
      2. sites where the international person will collaborate with colleagues, engage in research, utilize research tools or equipment, engage in field studies, utilize library or archive resources, or similar activities, are considered new locations of 'professional or research' activities
    4. Reporting proposed changes. The duration of time an international person may spend at a new locations of professional or research activities depends on the visa status they hold. However, as a general rule, any time the international person spends more than (i) 22 working days, or (ii) 30 calendar days, at a new location where they are engaged in professional or research activities, the host and/host unit must report the new location to International Scholar Services at intlscholars@purdue.edu. 
    5. Depending on the situation, a change in work location may require a notification of change to the relevant government agency. In general, the law requires such notifications to be made before the effective date of the change. The form of notification depends on the visa status held by the international. For H-1B or E-3 status holders, the notification is in the form of a petition to USCIS. Please check our website for current International Scholar Services processing times. 
    6. In most cases, if International Scholar Services is interested in a new location of professional or research activities, then other offices at Purdue also will be interested-
      1. A Change of Duty Station request is required to be completed when an employee’s normal work duties will be performed for more than 22 working days away from their hiring campus (West Lafayette or Regional campus). See https://purdue.edu/business/mas/global/compliance/cod.php. Note submission of this form does not notify International Scholar Services of the change; the host unit is responsible for emailing International Scholar Services. 
      2. A Research/Instruction/Engagement leave is requested when an employee needs to further research, participate in instructional opportunities, or become involved in engagement activities. See https://www.purdue.edu/business/mas/global/compliance/leave.php. Note submission of this form does not notify International Scholar Services of the change; the host unit is responsible for emailing International Scholar Services. 
        1. Purdue policy generally allows RIE leaves to be paid or unpaid. However, if the RIE is in the USA, and depending on the visa status held by the international person, immigration rules may impact what is permitted.