Visas

General Immigration Status Information

J-1

(Currently J-1 visa status is NOT facilitated by the Dean's Office)

  • To get a DS-2019 from the International Center takes 15 business days. They WILL NOT process these outside of 45 days from the requested start date of the appointment.
  • There is a re-charge fee of $350 for the processing of J-1.
  • Typically this status is used for Postdocs, sometimes Professional Researchers. Ladder Rank Faculty Members are not eligible for J-1 status.
  • Fairly simple application consisting of: Departmental Request form (requires PI and Chair signature), applicant forms, applicant accompanying forms.
  • Can be requested for up to five years.
  • Can be cancelled at any time.
  • Short term J-1 category can be used for people who are visiting for 6 months or less. Employees in this status can be paid, and are not subject to any "home rules" or "bars" like individuals who are on a full Research Scholar J-1.

H-1B

  • Processing time for H-1B (initial request) is SIX MONTHS without premium processing. FOUR MONTHS with premium processing (cost of $1,225 must be paid by department).
  • There is an International Center re-charge for H-1B visas of $1,100 - must be paid by department.
  • Other fees for this visa paid to Dept. of Homeland Security are: $325 I-129 Petition Processing Fee, $500 Fraud Detection & Protection Fee. These fees must also be paid by the department.
  • Typically this status is used for Professional Researchers and Faculty. Postdoc H-1B requests are done by exception only.
  • More complex application requiring a lot of immigration information from the candidate and put together by the department, departmental request signed by PI and Chair, Chair Letter, Job Offer letter signed for acceptance, checks (pay authorizations), campus recharge form signed by appropriate person who has authority over funds. An index number is needed for processing.
  • Can be requested for three years at a time, and six years total.
  • Can be cancelled at any time, however, if termination is initiated by the University, the employer is obligated to pay for return airfare to the employee's home country.
  • Employees in this status MUST be employed 100%.

Permanent Residence

  • The International Center will ONLY consider processing cases for ranks ABOVE POSTDOC. Professional Researchers and Faculty.
  • Should be done though the University only for Faculty.
  • One part-time counseling attorney processes all cases for the entire university.
  • Employment should be intended to be permanent.
  • These cases will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The Dean's Office will offer guidance and review for PR cases, and will serve as liaison between the candidate and the International Center.

Other Statuses

TN – for Canadian and Mexican Citizens, this is processed by the employee upon entry into the US. This is NOT a UCSD sponsored visa status. It will enable the scholar to work at UCSD, however, we would not have anything to do with the set up beyond providing an employment offer letter to the candidate.

F-1 OPT – status for postgraduate students who are continuing their studies by taking part in a "training position," such as a postdoc appointment. This status is facilitated by the degree granting institution. It is typically granted for one year, however, in some circumstances can be extended. After this status expires, employee must be moved into a different status (typically J-1).

B-1 (visitor for business) / B-2 (visitor for tourism) / WB (waiver for business) – these are for visitors who are coming for a maximum of 90 days. These are not intended for paid positions, although some forms of payment are allowed such as per diem, travel expenses, reimbursement, honorarium. These visas are facilitated between the visitor and the consulate and or the entry officer and can be obtained with an offer letter from UCSD.

 

 

Initial Request: H-1B Visa Status Processing - Jacobs School of Engineering

Initial Requests of H-1B

  1. The department completes the H-1B request form (accompanied by the candidate's CV and appointment offer letter): H-1B Request Form
  2. The Dean's Office contacts the scholar directly to obtain needed materials for the H-1B request and to set up a meeting if necessary.
  3. Scholar returns completed visa request and accompanying documentation to the Dean's Office.
  4. The Dean's Office completes the departmental component of the H-1B and sends the department paperwork to the Department Contact to obtain signatures from the appropriate Department Representatives.
  5. When the signed H-1B department documents are returned to the Dean's Office, the application will be completed, and submitted to the International Scholar Office for their processing.
  6. Once notified, the Dean's Office will request applicable pay authorizations from the Department.
  7. When H-1B approval notice is received from the International Center, the Dean's Office will assure that the employee receives document and signs the International Center form. The Department will be provided with a copy of the renewal notice to the Department Contact for inclusion in the Employee File as well as for PPS implementation.

Processing timelines

Seven months in advance of start date to process H-1B without having to pay for premium processing.

Minimum of five months in advance of start date with premium processing.

Less than five months will not be accepted.

 

Renewal Request: H-1B Visa Status Processing - Jacobs School of Engineering

H-1B Renewal Requests

  1. Department and Dean's Office communicate to review upcoming visa end dates.
  2. The department completes the H-1B request form (accompanied by the candidate's CV and appointment offer letter): H-1B Request Form
  3. Dean's Office works with employee and Department contact as needed to renew visa status following the same steps in the initial process.

Processing timelines

Six months.

 

Departure Information

Processes when an employee leaves the university

When an H-1B employee leaves the university, the department will need to notify the Dean's Office (estrange@eng.ucsd.edu) by email including the following information:

  • Name of Employee
  • Date of Separation
  • Reason for Separation (i.e. resignation, termination)
  • Date of departure from the U.S. (if applicable)
  • Date and location of new employment (if applicable)

**If an H-1B visa holder is terminated by the University, the department is required OFFER to pay for their return airfare to their home country in writing.

 

Immigration Links

International Scholar Office Homepage: http://icenter.ucsd.edu/iso/

JSOE H-1B Request Form: H-1B Request Form

PPM: http://adminrecords.ucsd.edu/ppm/docs/200-16.pdf

 

USCIS Case Status Tracking