Payments to Foreign Nationals can be very complex due to tax and immigration laws.  All Foreign Nationals must complete a Tax Status Analysis before payments can be issued.

Please contact Payroll to discuss your plans for making a payment to a Foreign National before extending the invitation.

Additionally, it is very important that you consider the following:

• What type of Visa the visitor will obtain for the trip (or if he/she will be on a visa waiver)
• What type of payment you intend to make (travel reimbursement; honorarium; other)
• How long will the visitor be on campus
• How you will obtain the required documentation from the visitor that you will need
• Whether the visitor has a SSN or ITIN – one is required if he/she will receive payment for services (such as an honorarium)—and whether taxes will be withheld from that payment

What is the visa status of the visitor you wish to invite?
The visa status under which a Foreign National enters the United States affects the type of payment the visitor can receive. It also dictates the documentation the visitor will need to receive payment. Be sure the visa status allows the type of payment you wish to provide to the visitor.

The most common visa types are B-1, B-2, F-1, G-1, H-1B, J-1, O-1, P-1, P-2, P-3, TN, WB, and WT.

Is the expected type of payment allowed under the visitor’s Visa status?

• Travel Reimbursements: typically allowed for visa statuses B-1, B-2; F-1 (Bates sponsored, otherwise with restrictions); G-1; H-1 (Bates sponsored); J1 (Bates sponsored); O-1 (Bates sponsored); P-1, P-2 and, P-3 (Bates sponsored or official itinerary); TN; WB; WT.
• Honorarium Payments: typically allowed for visa statuses B-1 and B-2 (activity no longer than 9 days and no more than 5 payments in 6 months); F-1 (Bates sponsored); J1 (Bates sponsored), J-2 with EAD; O-1 (Bates sponsored); P-1, P-2 and P-3 (Bates sponsored or official itinerary); WB and WT (activity no longer than 9 days and no more than 5 payments in 6 months).
  • Bates College can not pay an honoraria to someone on an H-1B visa that is not sponsored by Bates College.
  • Please see the Dean of Faculty Bringing Scholars and Artists to Campus site for more information regarding Honorarium payments.

There are significant tax issues when honoraria payments are made. The visitor must have SSN or ITIN in order to receive payment. If there is no tax treaty with the visitor’s country, as much as 30% of the payment can be withheld for taxes. The visitor should be advised in advance of the offer to visit. W-8BEN must be completed for all honoraria payments.

Does the visitor have the documentation required to process his/her payment?
The following copies of documents are needed for all payments:

• Passport: Identification page with picture, passport number, and all entry and exit stamps

NOTE: Additional documents are needed for certain payments. For example, either an SSN or ITIN plus the W-8BEN and Foreign National Tax Information forms are needed for all service payments.