H-1B VISA REQUEST PROCEDURES

Click here to download H-1B Visa Worksheet
Click here to download H-1B Flowchart for Faculty and Staff

STEP ONE

DEPARTMENT COMPLETES THE H-1B VISA REQUEST FORM

The H-1B DEPARTMENT VISA REQUEST FORM needs to be filled out along with the following required attachments: the Prevailing Wage Request Form and Comparable Salary Letter listing two or three similar positions and associated wages in your department. Send these three documents to EMPLOYEE IMMIGRATION SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING, +4733, for review. If the request is approved, Human Resources will process the H-1B petition.

Click here to download H-1B Department Visa Request Form
Click here to download Prevailing Wage Request Form
Note: Prevailing Wage Request Form: Requested D.O.T. Code under item 11 should be left blank.
Click here to download Sample Comparable Salary Letter

STEP TWO

DEPARTMENT COMPOSES THE "DEPARTMENT LETTER" AND A LETTER OF OFFER

The department is responsible for completing the "Department Letter" to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, California Service Center. A sample of the Department Letter is provided and should be submitted with the H-1B petition. Please note that the Department Letter must be printed on your department's letterhead and state a description of the beneficiary's duties, hours of work, and salary. All H-1B non-immigrant positions are referred to as temporary. H-1B petitions may be requested for one, two, or three years, with extensions totaling no more than 6 years. Also, indicate that the employment fits within the six-year limitation of total H-1B employment and that the employer will cancel the beneficiary's employment upon expiration of the authorized period of stay.


Click here to download Department Letter


The requesting Department should also compose a Letter of Offer to the Beneficiary, detailing the dates of employment, salary, duties, etc. The Department may add a signature and date line at the end for the Beneficiary to accept the position. Or, the Beneficiary may write a separate letter to the Department indicating acceptance of the offered position. Copies of these letters are required for the H-1B petition.

STEP THREE

DEPARTMENT COLLECTS REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FROM BENEFICIARY

Department is responsible for collecting the required supporting documentation from the beneficiary. Please forward the following checklist of items to the beneficiary. Beneficiary must provide these items to Employee Immigration Services to be included in the H-1B petition.

Please mail or hand deliver the following required documents to:


Employee Immigration Services,
Human Resources,
Administrative Services Building
185 E. Mill Street
Akron, OH 44325-4733

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FROM THE BENEFICIARY 

1. H-1B Visa Request Form - Beneficiary 
Click here NEW H-1B Visa Request Form - Beneficiary

2. Copy of the Letter of Offer given to the Beneficiary regarding the proposed employment.

3. Copy of the Offer Letter with signature of acceptance or a copy of an acceptance letter.

4. Copy of all diplomas received by the Beneficiary. If not in English, documents must be translated and certified by a translator.

5. Beneficiary's Resume/Vita.

6. Copy of first page of selected publications authored by the Beneficiary and highlighting journal name and author's name. If not in English, first page must be translated and certifed by a translator.

7. Copy of Beneficiary's current immigration documents i.e. passport picture and expiration page, visa stamp, front and back of I-94, I-797 Approval Notices if applicable, I-20 if applicable and/or DS2019 if applicable.

8. Copy of Social Security Card, if applicable.

9. Copy of Employment Authorization Card, if applicable.

10. If filing for Dependent, Spouse, the following documents are required:

I-539 Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
$290 filing fee payable to: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Copy of Marriage Certificate. If not in English, must be translated and certified by a translator.

Copy of Immigration Documents (i.e. passport picture and expiration page, visa stamp, front and back of I-94, H-4 Approval Notice if applicable, I-20 applicable, and/or DS 2019 if applicable.

Copy of Social Security Card, if applicable.

11. If filing for Dependent Child or Dependent Children, provide for each:

Copy of Child's Birth Certificate. If not in English, must be translated and certified by a translator.

Copy of Immigration Documents i.e. passport picture and expiration page, visa stamp, front and back of I-94, H-4 Approval Notices if applicable, I-20 if applicable, and/or DS 2019 if applicable.

Copy of Social Security Card, if applicable.

12. Premium Processing Form

STEP FOUR

DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

REQUESTING THE CHECKS

After Human Resources approves the H-1B position, Departments may request the checks necessary to accompany the I-129 form. The current I-129 filing fee is $325. There is also a $500 Fraud Prevention fee for first time or transfer H-1B applicants. Applicants holding an H-1B and requesting an extension here at The University of Akron do not need to pay the $500 Fraud Prevention fee again. Please order separate checks made payable to the:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (see addresses below). To save valuable time, please deliver the check requests to Accounts Payable, Administrative Services Building, Room 152, and request the checks be "picked up" by your department when available. Please deliver the checks to the Office of Employee Immigration Services, 185 E. Mill Street, Akron, OH 44325-4733.

As of January 30, 2008, the USCIS employed a special unit dedicated to processing H-1B CAP EXEMPT petitions at the USCIS California Service Center. For H-1B's being filed in time for three to four months processing time, use the following address on your check request and Department Letter.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
California Service Center
ATTN: CAP EXEMPT H-1B PROCESSING UNIT
P.O. BOX 30040
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92607-3004

As of February 6, 2008, the USCIS confirmed that H-1B PREMIUM PROCESSING petition requests that are CAP EXEMPT will be adjudicated in 15 days for an additional fee of $1,225. Check made payable to: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. Departments should use the following address for Premium Processing check requests and the "Department Letter."

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
California Service Center
PREMIUM PROCESSING
ATTN: CAP EXEMPT H-1B PROCESSING UNIT
24000 Avila Road, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

STEP FIVE

DEPARTMENT FILLS OUT "DEPARTURE OF SCHOLAR FORM H-1B"

It is the responsibility of the department to fill out the Departure of Scholar Form - H-1B no later than one week if the H-1B resigns earlier than the H-1B Approval valid end date, completes his contract, or is terminated from The University of Akron.


Click here to download Departure of Scholar Form - H-1B


Please mail the Departure of Scholar Form - H-1B to Employee Immigration Services so the H-1B file may be closed.


Employee Immigration Services,
Human Resources
The Administrative Services Building
185 E. Mill Street
Akron, OH 44325-4733