Allowable Payments by Visa Type
View a chart of the available payments by visa type at Columbia University. If a visa is not listed, payment is unallowable.
Eligibility for Payments/Salary by Columbia University Based on DHS and IRS Guidelines
- Immigration Status
- B-1
- Honoraria
- YES *
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES*
- Prize/Award
- NO
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- B-2
- Honoraria
- YES *
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES*
- Prize/Award
- NO
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
* If engaged in an academic activity lasting no more than 9 days at Columbia and the person has not received payments from more than 5 other institutions in a 6 month period.
- Immigration Status
- E-3 Columbia is petitioner
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- E-3 Columbia is NOT petitioner
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- F-1 with Columbia's sponsorship
- Honoraria
- YES but not during academic year
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO*
- Salary
- Up to 20 hours/week during term & full-time during vacations**
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- YES but not during academic year
- Immigration Status
- F-1 not with Columbia sponsorship
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO***
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- F-1 not with Columbia but with work authorization**** from visa sponsor(CPT/OPT)
- Honoraria
- YES but not during academic year
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- YES but not during academic year
- Immigration Status
- F-2
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- NO
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- H-1B Columbia is petitioner
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- H-1B Columbia is not petitioner
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- H-2, H-3, H-4
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- NO
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
*Student notetaking with Disability Services is the only allowable exception.
**Students on appointment may not work more than 20 hours per week without exception. Individual schools may also have policies that limit the number of hours a student may work. Students should consult with their dean’s office or their school website for more information.
***For Barnard College and Teachers College students, an exception is allowed, but authorization is required in writing from the International Students and Scholars Office of the visa holder's sponsoring institution.
****Work authorization from a visa sponsor, will outline what specific business relationship is allowable. This must be related to the visa holders field of study.
- Immigration Status
- I
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- NO
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- J-1 Student category on Columbia's sponsorship
- Honoraria
- YES but not during academic year
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO*
- Salary
- Up to 20 hours/week during term & full time during vacations**
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- YES but not during academic year
- Immigration Status
- J-1 Student category not on Columbia's sponsorship
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- J-1 Student category not on Columbia's sponsorship with work authorization*** from visa sponsor
- Honoraria
- YES
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- YES
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- J-1 Researcher, Professor category on Columbia's sponsorship with Columbia University appointment
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- J-1 Researcher, Professor category on Columbia's sponsorship with Visiting Scholar or Visiting Scientist courtesy designation
- Honoraria
- YES
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- J-1 Researcher, Professor category not on Columbia's sponsorship
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- NO
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- J-1 Researcher, Professor category not on Columbia's sponsorship with work authorization*** from visa sponsor
- Honoraria
- YES
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- YES
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- YES
- Immigration Status
- J-2
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- J-2 with work authorization card (EAD)
- Honoraria
- YES
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- YES
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- YES
- Immigration Status
- K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4 without work authorization
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- NO
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4 with work authorization card (EAD)
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- YES
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- YES
- Immigration Status
- L-1
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- NO
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- L-2
- Honoraria
- YES
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- YES
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- YES
*Student notetaking with Disability Services is the only allowable exception.
**Students on appointment may not work more than 20 hours per week without exception. Individual schools may also have policies that limit the number of hours a student may work. Students should consult with their dean’s office or their school website for more information.
***Work authorization from a visa sponsor, will outline what specific business relationship is allowable.
- Immigration Status
- O-1 Columbia is petitioner
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- O-1 Columbia is not petitioner
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- NO
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- P-1, P-2, P-3 Columbia is not a petitioner
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- TN Columbia is sponsor
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- YES
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- TN Columbia is not sponsor
- Honoraria
- NO
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- W-B
- Honoraria
- YES *
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
- Immigration Status
- W-T
- Honoraria
- YES *
- Supplier of Goods/Service
- NO
- Salary
- NO
- Expense Reimbursement
- YES *
- Prize/Award
- YES
- Per Diem for Payment of Services
- NO
* If engaged in an academic activity lasting no more than 9 days at Columbia and the person has not received payments from more than 5 other institutions in a 6 month period.
Generally, these tables apply to typical cases. Exceptions may apply based on unique facts and circumstances.
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