Individuals who enter the United States as short term visitors with a visa status of B-1 / VWB (business visitor) - B-2 / VWT (tourist visitor) are potentially eligible to receive honorarium payments provided the following considerations:
1) That the payment is made in connection with a “usual academic activity”
2) The visit must not exceed nine (9) days at MHC.
3) The visa holder cannot accept reimbursement for travel expenses/ honorariums from more than five (5) academic institutions within the previous six (6) month period.
This restriction is commonly called the 9/5/6 rule.
Honorarium is subject to a 30% tax withholding and other reporting requirements that vary depending upon the visitor’s country of origin, or country of tax residence. A SSN or ITIN is required to apply for treaty benefits if available for the visitor's country of tax residence.
ESTA: Citizens of the following countries, are currently not required to get such a visa under the USCIS Visa Waiver Program (VWP) but they need to provide an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
B1-B2 or ESTA visitors must provide the following documentation to receive honorarium: VIEW FORMS