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Cornell University

International Services

Office of Global Learning

Employment Outside of Cornell

  • For Faculty/Staff

If you are a Cornell employee with a Cornell-sponsored visa status that allows you to conduct research or teach, you are allowed to pursue additional employment only in very limited situations. It is very important to follow the employment rules for your visa type. Find out more below.

J-1

As a J-1 exchange visitor, you can only work at Cornell University in the position named on your DS-2019 form. Substantial off-campus employment is not allowed.

Any off-campus work must be approved by the Office of Global Learning. The activity must be related to the objectives of your J-1 exchange visitor program and may not delay its completion. You will need a letter of permission from the Office of Global Learning before you begin.

How can I obtain a letter of permission?

To request approval for an occasional lecturing or consulting opportunity, please complete our off-campus payment reimbursement form. Allow up to five business days for us to review and process your request. If approved, you will receive an email with our approval letter attached.

Can I pursue a long-term consulting opportunity?

No. You can only accept compensation for preapproved occasional lectures or consultations. Pursuing other entrepreneurial or long-term employment without work authorization is a serious violation of your legal status in the United States.

H-1B and E-3

H-1B and E-3 are employer, location, and duty specific. This means you may work only for Cornell doing the job duties specified in your H-1B or E-3 application.

Your hiring department must inform the Office of Global Learning immediately of any proposed changes in the terms and conditions of your employment, including changes in salary, job location, title, and job duties or responsibilities. Changes may require us to file amended paperwork with the U.S. Labor Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Honoraria and Fees

Your H-1 B or E-3 status does not allow you to accept honoraria and consultation fees paid by another employer. You may be reimbursed for expenses for talks and presentations at other institutions, but no other payment or compensation for services may be accepted.

Concurrent Employment

If you have H-1B or E-3 status, you may have more than one employer—but only if each employer files an H-1B or E-3 petition on your behalf that outlines the job and duties you will performing at each place of employment.

Please inform the Office of Global Learning if you have an H-1B elsewhere, and the other H-1B is concurrent with your employment at Cornell.

O-1

O-1 status is employer-specific and employment-specific. This means you may work only for Cornell and only in the job duties specified when your O-1 petition was approved.

Your hiring department must inform the Office of Global Learning immediately of any proposed changes in the terms and conditions of your employment, including changes in salary, job location, title, and job duties or responsibilities. Changes may require us to file amended paperwork with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Honoraria and Fees

Your O-1 status with Cornell does not allow you to accept honoraria and consultation fees paid by another employer. You may be reimbursed for expenses for talks and presentations at other institutions, but no other payment or compensation for service may be accepted.

Concurrent Employment

O-1s may have more than one employer only if each employer files their own O-1 petition specific to the job and duties the O-1 will have at their place of employment. 

TN

TN status for Canadian citizens is employer-specific and employment-specific. Your hiring department must inform the Office of Global Learning immediately of any proposed changes in the terms and conditions of employment including changes in salary, job location, title, and job duties and responsibilities, since such changes may  require us to file a new entry in regarding your TN status.

TN application procedures for Mexican require that an I-129 petition be submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and any changes to a Mexican citizen’s conditions of employment would require a new I-129 petition.

Honoraria and Fees

Your TN status with Cornell does not allow you to accept honoraria and consultation fees paid by another employer. You may be reimbursed for expenses for talks and presentations at other institutions, but no other payment or compensation for service may be accepted.

Concurrent Employment

TNs may have more than one employer—only if the concurrent employment is noted on your I-94 record of entry (Canadian citizens) or if each employer files a I-129 TN petition on your behalf that outlines the job and duties you will have at each place of employment (Mexican citizens).