H-1B Temporary Workers
Contact OIE
for H-1B questions and issues.
General Processing Timelines
6 months prior to intended start date or date of status
expiration
Costs
Securing H-1B status for an employee costs up to $3,500 in filing and legal fees if done on a no-rush time frame; hiring departments are expected to contribute $1,500. Expedited processing through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services costs an additional $1,225, and are borne solely by the sponsoring department.
Who can be an H-1B status holder?
Individuals coming to the United States to perform temporary
services in a specialty occupation are eligible for H-1B. A specialty
occupation is defined as one that requires "theoretical and practical
application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and attainment
of a bachelor's or higher degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum
requirement."
Procedure for requesting H-1B immigration approval
REQUESTS FOR IMMIGRATION PAPERWORK ARE NOW SUBMITTED THROUGH OIE'S ONLINE SYSTEM, SUNAPSIS,
- First-time Users of SUNAPSIS:
- All departmental users must be approved for access to the SUNAPSIS system. To request access, please visit https://istart.uvm.edu and follow this tutorial.
- Approved and Returning SUNAPSIS Users:
- Problems?
- Contact OIE at 802-656-4296
UVM Human Resources process
Learn
more.
Post-approval
- Employees new to UVM
- Getting a visa: Upon receiving the official approval
documents from USCIS, OIE will send them to
the employee who can anticipate receiving them within 3-5 business
days. Electronic copies are not sufficient for visa procurement. The
Office of International Education advises that new employees plan 6
weeks between receiving their H-1B approval documents and travel to the
U.S. to accommodate the visa application
and interview process at a U.S. Embassy or
Consulate abroad. Some consular posts have significant waiting periods
for visa processing. In general, most strive to provide appointments
within two weeks from the initial request. Find
out current visa wait times.
Please note that citizens of some countries may encounter
security checks that could delay receipt of their visa by weeks, even
months. UVM has encountered this situation in
several cases with citizens of China and India (delays of 2-4 months
have been experienced in extreme cases).
- Changing status at UVM
- Updating I-9: Employees who already are working at UVM
in another status (F-1, J-1) need to make an appointment to pick up
their approval notice and update or complete a new I-9.
Post arrival check-in
All H-1B status holders must formally check in with the Office
of International Education within 1 business day of arrival.
To schedule an appointment: Call
802 656-4296: please indicate the name and visa category (H-1B) of the
employee
What happens at check-in?
- Complete I-9 (original is returned to department to be
submitted to HR)
- Complete the International Information Form (IIF) for the
University Controller's Office; this form ensures that the foreign
national is taxed properly
- Review of information in H-1B approval packet
- Refer to the Social Security Administration when relevant
for SSN application
- General orientation and answers about getting settled in
Vermont