TU DEPARTMENTS MUST GET APPROVAL FROM PAYROLL MANAGEMENT IN HUMAN RESOURCES BEFORE ALLOWING AN INDIVIDUAL HOLDING B-1/2 or WB/WT STATUS TO ENGAGE IN ANY ACTIVITY FOR WHICH THE TU DEPARTMENT WISHES TO REIMBURSE THE INDIVIDUAL.

General rule: Employment not permitted

The B-1 category is not intended to facilitate employment in the United States. As a general rule, B-1 and WB visitors are not permitted to engage in employment of any kind while in the United States. For example, they may not legally accept part-time, full-time, or temporary teaching or research positions, for which they are paid by a U.S. institution.

Despite the general rule prohibiting employment, certain reimbursement and honorarium payments discussed in10.6.3 Academic honorarium payments under INA § 212(q) are permissible if they arise out of a legitimate B-1 activity.

Receipt of reimbursements and per diem expense payments

Visitors in B-1 and WB status have traditionally been allowed to receive reimbursements for incidental expenses or per diems related to their B-1/WB activity. The total amount of such payments cannot exceed what is "reasonable" as a business expense. The FAM offers some general guidelines:

9 FAM 41.31 N11.1 Incidental Expenses or Remuneration (CT:VISA-701; 02-15-2005)

A nonimmigrant in B-1 status may not receive a salary from a U.S. source for services rendered in connection with his or her activities in the United States. A U.S. source, however, may provide the alien with an expense allowance or reimbursement for expenses incidental to the temporary stay. Incidental expenses may not exceed the actual reasonable expenses the alien will incur in traveling to and from the event, together with living expenses the alien reasonably can be expected to incur for meals, lodging, laundry, and other basic services.