Visa Options for UW International Faculty and Staff

Visas for international faculty and staff at the University of Washington are processed through the International Scholars Office (ISO) in 239 Gerberding Hall on behalf of the Provost. This summary of visa sponsorship guidelines reflects a blending of federal regulations and institutional practice. Sometimes there are exceptions to the guidelines, and other visa options (B-1, J-2, F-1, O-1, etc.) may exist. For more information about visas and faculty appointments, contact ISO or the Office of Academic Human Resources.

The UW sponsors J-1 visas for international faculty and scholars, salaried or non-salaried, who engage in a full-time program of teaching, research, observation or consultation. At the time of appointment, the expectation is that the exchange visitor will return home upon completion of the activity. If UW provides no salary support, some amount of funding must come from the J-1's home institution or other agency (not personal funds only). If UW is providing salary support, the amount (including any portion of salary paid by the J-1's home-country employer) must match the UW faculty salary schedule and be commensurate to the rank held in the home country. If the J-1 will teach at UW, the teaching should be short-term and under direct supervision of department faculty. Foreign medical graduates may participate in non-clinical programs where patient contact is incidental to their primary activity of teaching, research, consultation or observation. University sponsorship is required for a J-1 visa. Period of eligibility is up to 5 years. Depending on circumstances, there could be 12-month and 24-month "bars" on repeat participation in J status, and a 2-year return home requirement prior to eligibility for H status or U.S. permanent residence. Department of State expects J scholars to possess a bachelor's degree or higher. UW sponsors J visas for the following academic appointments (other titles may also qualify):

• Visiting Scholar
• Visiting International Professional Scholar (VIPS)
• Visiting Lecturer
• Visiting Instructor
• Visiting Scientist
• Visiting Professor (assistant, associate, full)
• Senior Fellow and Research Associate, if coming to the U.S. from overseas.

Students enrolled and pursuing degrees at foreign universities may participate in full-time supervised research and work-based learning internships at the UW for a maximum stay of 12 months for each degree/major. The interns must be sponsored by an authorized faculty member of a UW academic department or program who agrees to closely supervise the intern in accordance with established requirements. Interns are not permitted to take credit classes at the UW. In certain circumstances, interns are permitted to receive a stipend from the sponsoring department or program.  For more information, see Visiting International Student Internship and Training (VISIT) program details. UW Educational Outreach administers the VISIT program on behalf of the University of Washington.

To qualify for an H-1B visa at the University of Washington, the appointment must be full-time, salary must be paid by UW at prevailing wage, job must require a minimum of a bachelors degree, and the foreign national must be fully-qualified for the job at time the petition is filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Additional requirements apply to foreign medical graduates who perform patient care which is not incidental to their teaching or research. Return-home transportation costs are paid by the employing department if the H-1B is terminated prior to end of the authorized stay. University sponsorship is required for an H-1B visa. Period of eligibility is six years. UW sponsors H visas for the following appointment titles (other titles may also qualify):

• Senior Fellow and Research Associate, if the foreign national is currently in the U.S.
• Instructor, Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor, including appointments that are "acting," "research," "visiting" and "clinical."
• Research or Clinical Technologist if no minimally-qualified U.S. workers are available for the job.
• The UW does not sponsor professional staff for H-1B status.

The E-3 visa classification permits Australian nationals to work in specialty occupations in the U.S. for up to two years, and may be renewed indefinitely provided the beneficiary can demonstrate he/she does not intend to remain permanently in the U.S. E-3 status is an appropriate classification for Australian citizens who are offered temporary positions as full-time UW-salaried academic staff. The E-3 visa is generally less expensive and requires less paperwork than the H-1B.

To qualify for TN status at the UW, the foreign national must be a Canadian or Mexican citizen who will work for salary in a professional occupation on a temporary, short-term basis. Employment may be full or part-time. Qualifying occupations listed in the NAFTA treaty include university teachers, nurses, and research assistants (postdocs). Period of eligibility is three years, and may be renewed in 3-year increments. A letter from the employing department, along with a passport and evidence of a qualifying degree, presented by the applicant at the port of entry, is needed to obtain TN status. Applications to extend TN status may be filed through the International Scholars Office.

The University of Washington supports permanent residence applications for professorial faculty. (Faculty holding visiting or acting appointments are ineligible for the permanent residence process.) Position must be full-time, paid a UW salary at prevailing wage, expected to last indefinitely, and include teaching duties.

Depending on circumstances, foreign nationals may work at the University of Washington even though they have not been sponsored by the UW for any of the visas described above. These may include F-1 students who engage in certain types of employment, J-2 spouses of J-1 Exchange Visitors, green card applicants, asylum seekers and refugees, and others whose immigration status permits them to apply for work authorization. Typically in these situations the evidence of employment eligibility is an employment authorization document (EAD) popularly known as a "work permit." The EAD is a laminated plastic card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and provides its holder a legal right to work in the U.S. during the card's validity dates.