H-1B VISA INFORMATION

Responsibility
UC Irvine departments wishing to hire an international scholar pursuant to H-1B status shall file the requisite forms and supporting documents with the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the International Center (IC). It is the responsibility of the employing department to prepare the H-1B petition and supporting documents for IC. The materials should not be completed by the individual worker on his or her own behalf, except for the paperwork completed for dependent family members. 

H-1B eligibility at UC Irvine
Generally, most international scholars come to UCI on the J-1 exchange visitor program. The J visa is the visa of choice for Postgraduate Researcher/Postdoctoral Scholar appointments. UCI will pursue the H-1B visa classification for full-time (100%) teaching and/or research appointments for the period of proposed employment for which secure funding is available when: 

• the position is in direct support of an academic unit
• the three-year eligibility for the J-1 visa has been exhausted and the temporary appt. is expected (and funded) to extend beyond the normal three year period in the J
• the scholar is currently at another institution in H-1B status
• the position is a tenure track faculty appt
• recommended as exceptions by IC.

Please contact Christine McCarthy at (949) 824-7249 to determine eligibility prior to downloading the H1B Temporary Worker Packet.

Download:
H1B Temporary Worker—Information and Petition Packet for Sponsoring Academic Departments
Bypassing J-1 & Going to H-1B: Comparing the Benefits
Bypassing J-1 Exchange Visitor Status & Going to H-1B Temporary Specialty Worker Status Information Form