All of us have struggled for years with the problem of international guest lecturers who come into the U.S. in visitor or tourist visa classification and make it impossible for us to pay the honoraria we had promised. Section 431 of the 1998 law permits educational and nonprofit research institutions to pay reimbursements for expenses and honoraria to international visitors engaged in academic activities. The academic activity can last no longer than nine days .
Visitors are limited to six such reimbursements or honoraria payments in a six-month period.
No one could be paid an honorarium. Under the new law, all of these kinds of visitors may receive both reimbursement for expenses and payment of honoraria. Here is a checklist of things the department MUST do when international guest arrives at Duke. Help visitors read and complete the declaration form on which they confirm eligibility for payment. Sometimes they come in and have absolutely no documentation.