FacultyStaff Visa Services FSVS Working with you Provost

Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS) Working with you. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS). Joseph I. Elias Director, FSVS elias@usc. edu Office: (213) 740 -5718 Fax: (213) 821 -7877 University of Southern California 3434 South Grand Avenue, CAL 302 Los Angeles, CA 90089 Mail Code: 2812 Elizabeth King FSVS Visa Specialist kingeliz@usc. edu Office: (213) 740 -5257 https: //visaservices. usc. edu/ Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Overview • Immigration Introduction • Hot Topics • Q&A Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Immigration Introduction USC employs over 1000 international faculty and staff. • For a foreign national to work in the United States, either temporarily or on a permanent basis, must be authorized by the US government. • FSVS is responsible for obtaining authorization university-wide except for Js and OPT which are handled by OIS. • USC’s immigration responsibility extends to visitors such as guest speakers, performers, collaborators. Main Takeaway Anything that touches a Foreign National should be run past Jodie and Ida to consult with FSVS. Err on the side of caution. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Working at USC - Options for International Faculty and Staff Nonimmigrant Work Visas Can begin working for USC in a few months; Temporary in nature; Used for many international faculty/staff at USC. Permanent Residence aka the Green Card Can take years to complete process; Typically, USC will only sponsor tenure-track faculty and long-term faculty/research, and staff. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Nonimmigrant Work Visas – Where we typically Start. Alphabet Soup of Visa Categories H-1 B Visa TN Visa O-1 Visa E-3 Visa J-1 Visa - OIS F-1 OPT Employment authorization – OIS for USC Graduates B-1/B-2, Tourist, Visa Waiver, ESTA Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Hot Topics When to contact FSVS? The seed, the thought, the germination of the idea of bringing a Foreign National to USC. Why? Ø Legal deadlines and permissibility Ø Visitors and Honorariums Ø Almost always not permissible. Small exception for B-1/B-2, Tourist, Visa Waiver, ESTA. See FSVS website. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Deadlines/timelines Faculty who we will sponsor for permanent residency/green card through Special Handling Ø We only have 18 months from final selection to file with the Department of Labor – the offer letter. Ø Once FSVS is informed, takes 4. 5 months to prepare and be in a position to file with DOL Ø Miss the deadline and we must pursue re-recruitment which is an internally cumbersome process that meets much resistance. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Missing the Special Handling Deadline cont. Ø Have to convene a selection committee again. Ø Post on FAM. Ø Can antagonize other Ø FSVS actively reworking the process to minimize and avoid these obstacles. v Must also place in a departments to see a nonimmigrant category that position posting. supports immigrant intent such Ø DOL reporting requirements separate from Immigration as H-1 B. v Cannot sponsor J-1, F-1 OPT. may be triggered with Office of Compliance. Ø Cost of running new ads. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Staff sponsored for green cards v Need to get them into H-1 B or O-1 Status Ø Note when recruiting those already on H, there may be Ø USC requires at least 2 years of H insufficient time left to meet USC -1 B or O-1 employment before it 2 yr employment requirement and will sponsor for green card. file a labor cert in time. Ø No Js, TNs , or F-1 OPT Ø H-1 B capped at 6 years unless Ø Gap in employment authorization and the mess in having to green card processing for more terminate, end benefits, and than 365 days. accrual of time for benefits. Ø Labor certification must be filed no later than 4 th year, 364 th day. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Job descriptions and wages Department Costs Premium Processing - why we require it. Extensions/Amendments Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Early termination of Hs and Os Must be offered reasonable cost of return transportation to last foreign residence Foreign Nationals from India and China’s unique circumstances. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Additional Resources FSVS website: visaservices. usc. edu Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

FSVS Website Initiate a case. Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Joseph I. Elias Director, FSVS elias@usc. edu Elizabeth King FSVS Visa Specialist kingeliz@usc. edu Office: (213) 740 -5718 Fax: (213) 821 -7877 University of Southern California 3434 South Grand Avenue, CAL 302 Los Angeles, CA 90089 Mail Code: 2812 Office: (213) 740 -5257 https: //visaservices. usc. edu/ Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)

Joseph I. Elias Director, FSVS elias@usc. edu Atticia Vizcaino FSVS Visa Specialist vizcaino@usc. edu Office: (213) 740 -5718 Fax: (213) 821 -7877 University of Southern California 3434 South Grand Avenue, CAL 302 Los Angeles, CA 90089 Mail Code: 2812 Office: (213) 740 -5257 https: //visaservices. usc. edu/ Provost Faculty/Staff Visa Services (FSVS)