If you are entering the U.S. as a visiting researcher or an employee who will receive compensation from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), you do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. You must visit a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the United States to obtain a U.S. visa stamp in your passport before your departure. For information regarding visa issuance, please visit the DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application page.
The Visa Waiver Program has restrictions: A visa holder with a waiver for tourism (WT) or waiver for business (WB) may not receive any salary; his or her status may not be extended; and his or her status may not be changed within the U.S. to any other immigration classification.
Travelers eligible for the Visa Waiver Program may apply for a visa, if they prefer to do so. Not all countries participate in this program, and not all travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries are eligible to use the program. Visa Waiver Program travelers are screened prior to admission into the United States using a system called ESTA. You must complete your ESTA application before departing for the United States.
For further information about the Visa Waiver Program or to find out if this program is appropriate for you, please contact a Visa and Immigration Services Advisor.
