International Scholar Center

Operations Narrative

Visa Processing

One of the principle functions of the International Scholar Center (“ISC”) is to process visas for international faculty and scholars. The three main visa types utilized by the ISC to gain lawful status for faculty and scholars are the J, H-1B and O visa types. The basic procedures for each visa type are detailed as follows:

H-1B Classifications

New Employer H-1B

H-1B Premium Processing

H-1B Change of Employer

H-1B Extension

H-1B Extension “7^th Year” for Pending I-140 or Approved I-140

H-1B Extension “7^th Year” for Approved I-140 with Backlog for AOS

I-539 Change/Extension for Nonimmigrant Status

To process all classification of H-1B visas, the following processes are required:

• Prevailing Wage Determination through the US Department of Labor
• Labor Condition Application for certification by the US Department of Labor
• Job Posting Notice at the Beneficiary’s work site
• Filing with the USCIS¹ forms, advocacy letter and evidentiary requirements for H-1B
• Filing of forms I-539 and evidentiary requirements for dependents, for dependents only

J-1 Classifications

 New J-1 Scholar

To process the New J-1 Visa application, the following processes are required:

• Determination of program eligibility
• Determination of financial eligibility
• Submission of program and scholar data to SEVIS²
• Retrieval of DS-2019 forms evidencing J-status
• Preparation and shipping of all forms and documentation required for visa appointment for procurement of visa authorization at US embassies/consulates

¹United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

²SEVIS is the US Department of Homeland Security database system used to track international visitors in the F and J categories, i.e. students and scholars.

To process the J-1 Extension within a maximum duration of 5 years, the following processes are required:

• Submission of program information to SEVIS
• Retrieval of DS-2019 forms evidencing status

To process F-1/OPT to J-1 filing for I-539 Change of Status within the US:

• Submission of program information to SEVIS
• Retrieval of DS-2019 forms evidencing status
• Filing of I-539 and DS-2019m evidentiary documents and advocacy letter to USCIS

To process Employment Authorization for J-2 Dependents:

• Filing of I-765 forms, advocacy letter and evidentiary requirements to USCIS

Waiver of 212(e) 2-year return requirements

• Advocacy letter to the US Department of State
• Filing of US Department of State Recommendation with the USCIS

 O-1 Classifications

To process a New O-1 Outstanding Researcher Nonimmigrant Visa Petition, the followng processes are required:

• Extensive consultations with the scholar to establish grounds for petition and collect evidence
• Preparation of formal, detailed advocacy letter
• Filing of the I-129 forms, O supplement with the advocacy letter and evidentiary documents with the USCIS

Extension of O-1

• Preparation of advocacy letter and collect evidence
• Filing of I-120 forms, O supplements, advocacy letter and evidentiary documents

Lawful Permanent Residence

The ISC plays an important role in facilitating the green card process for faculty and scholars. The ISC is involved in green card processes as follows:

Initial consultation to determine proper immigrant visa selection for green card based on the scholar’s employment expectation, credentials and UCR policy

Coordination of all processes and filings with the immigration attorney

Final review of all US Department of Labor filings and I-140 petitions to sponsor Lawful Permanent Residence

Assist with the filing of Adjustment of Status including:

Consultations

A key function of the International Scholar Center is to provide information to faculty, scholars and staff for immigration purposes. Consultations with staff are on-going and typically occur through telephone or email conversations. The topics of such consultations span a wide range of immigration-related issues.

Workshops

The International Scholar Center provides regular workshops to the UCR community designed to improve awareness on immigration issues and procedural concerns. Additionally, the workshops are designed to provide opportunity for all members of the UCR community to learn more about immigration law, visa selection strategy, recruitment strategy for immigration purposes, and personal immigration issues.

Orientations

As required by federal guidelines, the ISC staff provides orientations for J scholars and H scholars arriving on campus to begin a new research program or new employment. Although the actual purpose of the orientation is to prove the scholar is present on campus for program activation purposes, orientation provides the ISC and the scholar an opportunity for discussions about the UCR and Riverside communities, assist with health insurance, social security issues, banking issues, and other relocation concerns of those newly arriving to the United States.

Programming

As required by federal guidelines, the ISC provides opportunities for J scholars and other visiting faculty to engage in cultural events in the surrounding communities. Such programming may include weekend excursions, or other short-term travel events. The ISC staff also notifies scholars of community events and works in partnership with UCR and Riverside community organizations to provide new programs to enhance the cultural exchange aspect of the J scholar program.

 Administrative Function

In compliance with federal guidelines, the ISC maintains a public access file for purposes as defined by the Department of Labor. Additionally, the ISC maintains files, data, and reports on current and past scholars in both non-immigrant and immigrant categories. The ISC provides reports and information to UCR departments on status issues and immigration-related Department of Labor compliance issues which affect UCR departments.

Assistance in Other Immigration Matters

The ISC staff provides staff, faculty and scholars support on a variety of immigration-related issues affecting individuals or organizations at UCR. Such issues demand knowledge or expertise in the field of immigration law which is uniquely held at UCR by the ISC staff.