Other Visa Categories


Listed below are general guidelines for maintaining your legal status while enrolled at KU in an immigration category other than F-1 or J-1. This information is provided as a courtesy and should not be considered legal advice. For more specific information, you should consult either with the employer, organization, agency, or individual responsible for your presence in the country, or with competent legal counsel.

If you wish to change your status to that of an F-1 or J-1 student, please arrange to meet with an ISS advisor to discuss your options. You can also refer to the Change of Status webpage for information about the process. If you do change your status while you are a KU student, please notify the ISS office and provide applicable documentation so that necessary updates to your record can be made.

  • Remains in status only as long as the A-1/A-2 from whom status is derived remains in valid A-1/A-2 status
  • Duration of stay is not date-specific and is conditional as noted above
  • Study is permitted without limits
  • Employment is permitted if endorsed by their diplomatic mission and U.S. Department of State, but must apply to USCIS for authorization (child dependents are only eligible to apply for employment until attaining age 21 or until age 23 and in some cases 25 if a full-time student)
  • Duration of stay is limited to expiration date on I-94
  • Study is not allowed, except for a casual short-term class that is not the primary purpose of presence
  • Employment is not permitted
  • Must change to a status that allows studying (usually F-1) prior to beginning a course of study
  • Remains in status only as long as the E-1/E-2 from whom status is derived remains in valid E-1 status and only until attaining age 21 if a dependent child
  • Duration of stay is limited to departure date on I-94 or until status terminates as noted above
  • Study is permitted without limits
  • Employment is permitted only for dependent spouses (not children) but must apply to USCIS for authorization; dependent children of E-1 TECRO employees may also apply for employment authorization

Refer to the Dependent section of our website for more detailed information about F-2 dependents

  • Duration of stay is limited to expiration date on I-94 and is contingent upon continuation of employment with sponsoring employer
  • Study is permitted incidental to employment
  • Employment is limited to sponsoring H-1B employer, but may hold employment with more than one sponsoring employer if authorized separately for each one
  • Remains in status only as long as the H-1B from whom status is derived remains in valid H-1B status and only until attaining age 21 if a dependent child
  • Duration of stay is limited to expiration date on I-94 or until status terminates as noted above
  • Study is permitted without limits
  • Employment is permitted only for a dependent spouse when the primary H-1B is the beneficiary of an I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) or has been granted H-1B status under AC21, which permits H-1B nonimmigrants seeking lawful permanent residence to work and remain in the U.S. beyond the six-year limit on their H-1B status; must apply to USCIS for authorization

Refer to the Dependent section of our website for more detailed information about J-2 dependents

  • Admitted for 90 days for purpose of marriage to U.S. citizen
  • Duration of stay is conditional for intended purpose and is limited to expiration date on I-94
  • May not change or extend this status; must apply for adjustment to permanent resident following marriage
  • Study is permitted without limits
  • Employment is permitted but must apply to USCIS for authorization
  • May remain in U.S. while petition for adjustment to permanent residence is being adjudicated
  • Limitations on departure and re-entry during adjudication period
  • Study is permitted without limits
  • Employment is permitted but must apply to USCIS for authorization
  • Duration of stay is limited to expiration date on I-94 and is contingent upon continuation of employment with sponsoring employer
  • Study is permitted incidental to employment
  • Employment is limited to sponsoring L-1 employer
  • Remains in status only as long as the L-1 from whom status is derived remains in valid L-1 status and only until attaining age 21 if a dependent child
  • Duration of stay is limited to expiration date on I-94 or until status terminates as noted above
  • Study is permitted without limits
  • Employment is permitted (as a spouse dependent only) but must apply to USCIS for authorization
  • Remains in status only as long as the TN from whom status is derived remains in valid TN status and only until attaining age 21 if a dependent child
  • Duration of stay is limited to expiration date on I-94 or until status terminates as noted above
  • Study is permitted without limits
  • Employment is not allowed
  • Duration of stay is limited to expiration date on I-94 and is contingent upon continuation of employment with sponsoring employer
  • Study is permitted incidental to employment
  • Employment is limited to sponsoring TN employer, but may hold employment with more than one sponsoring employer if authorized separately for each