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Information
for UAF Departments hosting/hiring
international visitors
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UAF Departments may host or sponsor
the
following immigration Categories
Issues
common to all immigration categories
sponsored by UAF Departments:
- Immigration 101 Training Manual
- Individuals
in each immigration category
are sponsored by UAF
- Each category must be resident
in Fairbanks
- Dependents must remain with
the primary visa holder
- All must maintain a valid
(unexpired) passport, I-94 Departure
Record and sponsoring document
- The visa itself is not
a governing document once
the individual has entered
the U.S. It can expire and
not impact the legal status
of the individual as long
as the other documents have
not expired.
- Under current immigration
regulations, Canadians are
not required to obtain a visa
in order to enter the U.S.
in any immigration status.
Students
(F-1
Visa Category)
- Must be unconditionally admitted – controlling
document is a Form I-20
- Must enroll full-time every
semester unless approved in
advance by a UAF immigration
Designated School Official (International
Student Advisor, OIP Director
or Associate Director).
- Eligible for on-campus employment
only
- Employment exceptions are
Curricular Practical Training
and Optional Practical Training
which must be authorized in
advance of the employment
beginning
- OPT is 12 months of employment
authorization, anywhere in
the U.S. for any employer
in the student’s field
of study
- OPT is available after
each degree level
- Dependent is an F-2 who
is not eligible to enter a degree
program/study or work. Part-time
study that is avocational or
recreational in nature is permitted
- Sample
UAF departmental employment
and recommendation letters
for students
Department
of State Exchange Visitor (J-1
Visa Category)
- Sponsoring document is a
Form DS-2019
- Has 13 categories of which
we are authorized four: student,
professor, short term scholar
and research scholar – there
are different rules for each
category
- J-1 student may not be self-supporting:
must have some type of sponsoring
funds that allow the individual
to participate in the exchange
- J-1 professor/short term
scholar/ research scholar may
be self supporting but there
must be some reason for the
University to be sponsoring
them to be here
- Dependent is
a J-2 who
is eligible to study full
time/enter a degree program,
and work with USCIS employment
authorization. At no time
may the funds of the J-2 be
used to support the J-1 (separate
checking/saving accounts;
cannot buy food or pay utilities,
etc)
Specialty
Occupation Employee (H-1B
Visa Category)
- Sponsoring document is a
Form I-797 “Notice of
Action” approving the
H-1B
- Position must qualify first – on
a national level the field requires
a degree to begin the profession
- Then the skills of the applicant
may be considered to determine
if the applicant is eligible
for the position and related
status
- Employer’s visa…the
employee is the beneficiary
of the employer’s application – a
non-resident may not apply for
an H-1B on his/her own behalf
- Dependent is an H-4 who
is eligible to enter a degree
program and study full or
part time. There is NO employment
authorization available.
Trade
NAFTA (TN
Visa Category)
- Available for Canadian and
Mexican citizens ONLY
- Mexicans follow an application
process similar to an H-1B and
must have the TN visa to enter
the U.S.
- Canadians must have a signed
and accepted letter of offer,
proof of citizenship, proof
of education (transcripts/ diplomas)
at the Port of Entry to apply
for admission to the U.S. in
this category.
- Dependent is
a TD who
is eligible to enter a degree
program and study full or
part time. There is NO employment
authorization available.
Permanent
Residency (Green
Card)
Business
and/or Visitor (B-1
or 2 Visa Category)
- Individuals may be invited
to, rather than officially sponsored
by, UAF, as such there is no
UAF-issued immigration document.
The above common issues do not
apply to people in this status.
- Controlling document indicating
status is the I-94 received
on entry to the U.S. Immigration
authorization to take courses
is very limited.
- No employment authorization
is available.
Helpful
U.S. Department of State websites:
U.S. Department
of State listing of U.S. Consulates and Embassies worldwide: http://usembassy.state.gov/
For approximate Visa
Wait times to obtain an
appointment at a U.S. consulate
or embassy: select
a city
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