Other Visa Options

While there are many visa categories to consider, there are few that allow a person to work in the U.S. In addition to the information below, the Tax Office has a comprehensive list of typical visas/scenarios for international individuals working in higher education.  If you have questions about working for Middlebury under a work visa status not mentioned on our website, please reach out to us at isss@middlebury.edu.

The USCIS site also contains information about the various visa types for non-immigrant Temporary Workers.

If a person or employee will not be located in the U.S. when they are working or providing the service, then the hosting Middlebury department/program or faculty/staff member needs to contact Middlebury Human Resources to determine if Middlebury is legally able to pay the prospective short-term person based on the location they will be in when performing the work or short-term purpose for Middlebury.  The point of location of the employee/independent contractor is what determines which country’s laws must be adhered to by Middlebury to pay and/or employ someone.

Below are a list of statuses that may allow for either employment at or payment for non-employment academic purposes at Middlebury while in the U.S.:

F-1 or J-1 Status at Other Institutions 

Individuals currently in F-1 or J-1 status at other institutions may be eligible to apply for employment authorization through the institution which produced their I-20 or DS-2019. Students in F-1 status may be eligible and apply for Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training. Those in J-1 status may be able to apply for and be granted Academic Training.  If you are currently in F-1 or J-1 student status, and are considering working Middlebury or have a job offer to work at Middlebury in the U.S., you should contact your F-1 or J-1 sponsor regarding your eligibility and how to apply for work authorization pursuant to your F-1 or J-1 status.   The International Studetn and/or Scholar Office at your sponsoring institution, is the office that should be contacted.  Most international student and/or scholar advisors in those offices are  Principle/Designated School Officials (P/DSOs) for F-1s or Responsible/Alternate Responsible Officers (ROs) for J-1s and they can assist you regarding employment authorization.

Concurrent H-1B statuses

This is for individuals that are or will be in H-1B status and will be concurrently employed with another employer while they are employed by Middlebury.

• ISSS determines if we can sponsor someone for concurrent H-1B status for the position they were offered employment for.
• Please visit the H-1B Temporary Workers page for more information on H-1B status.

Other statuses with valid work authorization permitting them to legally work for Middlebury:

• ISSS determines if the authorization is valid for the period of employment offered and if Middlebury would need and is able to sponsor for a visa status should the employment go beyond the end date of the authorization.
• Examples of statuses may include but are not limited to:
  • J-2 Dependent Status with a valid I-766 Employment Authorization Card;
  • Asylee or Refugee status;
  • H-4 Dependent with a valid I-766 Employment Authorization Card;
  • A-2 Dependent with permission from the sponsor to work and/or an I-766 Employment Authorization Card; and
  • R-1 with permission from their sponsor to work at Middlebury.
• If you have a status other than one listed above, please contact ISSS at isss@middlebury.edu so we can provide guidance to you regarding what is needed to show work authorization to work for Middlebury.

B-1/B-2 or WB/WT - Tourist for Business/Tourist for Pleasure categories

The “visitor” visa is a non-immigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1),for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2), or combination of both (B-1/B-2) purposes.  If a Middlebury faculty/staff or department/program hosts a foreign national to come to Middlebury for short-term academic purposes that is not employment, please visit the Inviting Foreign Nationals to Middlebury for Short-term Purposes (insert link when completed) page.  

Individuals coming to Middlebury for any prolonged academic activity that is not deemed employment by Human Resources and/or will last longer than 9 calendar days at Middlebury should not enter the U.S. in any tourist status (B-1/B-2/WB/WT).  Please refer to the Scholar Visa Information page for other options.

updated 09/09/2025