Nav Screen Region
Site Header Region
Page Header
Main Content Region

H-1B Department Guidance

H-1B Sponsorship for CSUSB Departments

H-1B sponsorship is an employer-sponsored immigration process that may be available for certain CSUSB positions requiring specialized knowledge and appropriate academic qualifications.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) works with departments and colleges to review proposed H-1B sponsorship, prepare required employer documentation, and coordinate the university’s immigration process.

H-1B sponsorship is connected to the specific position, worksite, salary, appointment dates, and other employment conditions reviewed during the petition process. Departments should involve ISSS early when a current or prospective employee may require H-1B sponsorship.

What ISSS Reviews

 
Contact ISSS Before Making Commitments

Departments should contact ISSS before promising H-1B sponsorship, establishing an employment start date that depends on H-1B authorization, or making commitments based on an assumed immigration outcome.

An offer of employment or approval through another university process does not by itself confirm H-1B eligibility, university sponsorship, or employment authorization.

Early review allows ISSS to evaluate the proposed position, the prospective employee’s circumstances, required university documentation, and the immigration timeline before commitments are made.

What ISSS Reviews

ISSS reviews both the proposed position and the prospective H-1B employee before determining whether the university can proceed with H-1B sponsorship.

This review is completed by ISSS. Departments should provide accurate position and appointment information but should not independently determine H-1B eligibility.

 
The Position

ISSS may review:

  • Job duties and responsibilities;
  • Required degree and qualifications;
  • Position title;
  • Salary;
  • FTE and work schedule;
  • Department or employing unit;
  • Worksite or work location;
  • Appointment start and end dates; and
  • Whether the position may meet applicable specialty-occupation requirements.
 
The Prospective H-1B Employee

ISSS may review:

  • Academic credentials;
  • Qualifications for the proposed position;
  • Current immigration status, if applicable;
  • Immigration history relevant to the proposed H-1B process;
  • Prior H-1B or other employment-based immigration history, when relevant; and
  • Timing or other circumstances that may affect the petition process.

ISSS may request additional information depending on the individual circumstances of the case.

Department and College Responsibilities

Departments and colleges provide the employment and appointment information ISSS needs to evaluate and prepare an H-1B petition.

Depending on the case, departments may be asked to provide:

  • Position title and job duties;
  • Minimum degree and qualification requirements;
  • Salary and FTE;
  • Appointment start and end dates;
  • Worksite or work-location information;
  • Appointment, offer, or employment documentation;
  • Recruitment or position information, when requested;
  • Funding information, when applicable; and
  • Other university documentation needed for the petition.

Departments are responsible for making sure the information provided to ISSS accurately reflects the proposed employment.

Contact ISSS before changing information that has already been provided for an H-1B case, including the position title, duties, salary, FTE, department, worksite, or appointment dates.

How the H-1B Process Works

The H-1B process requires coordination among the hiring department, ISSS, the prospective or current employee, and federal agencies.

  1. Contact ISSS. The department contacts ISSS when H-1B sponsorship may be needed.
  2. ISSS completes an initial review. ISSS reviews the proposed position and the prospective employee’s circumstances to determine whether the university can proceed with the H-1B process.
  3. ISSS initiates the H-1B request. If the case may proceed, ISSS provides or initiates the applicable request process and identifies the information needed from the department and employee.
  4. The department provides employment documentation. The department submits the requested position, appointment, worksite, salary, and other institutional information.
  5. ISSS prepares the required employer filings. This may include preparation of the Labor Condition Application and supporting H-1B petition materials.
  6. The petition is submitted to USCIS. After the required university and federal preparation steps are complete, ISSS submits the employer petition to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
  7. USCIS reviews the petition. USCIS may approve the petition, deny it, or request additional evidence.
  8. ISSS communicates the result and next steps. ISSS will notify the appropriate university parties and the employee when a decision or other action is received and will explain any employment-related next steps.

Costs, Fees, and Processing Time

H-1B petitions involve federal filing fees, university preparation time, and USCIS processing time. Some cases may also involve premium processing.

Fees and processing times can change, and the timing of an individual case depends on the circumstances of the petition.

Departments should review the current Fees & Timelines guidance and contact ISSS when planning a proposed employment start date or budgeting for an H-1B case.

View H-1B Fees & Timelines

Changes During H-1B Employment

H-1B employment is connected to the position and employment conditions reviewed as part of the university's petition.

Departments should contact ISSS before implementing changes to an H-1B employee's position, duties, salary, FTE, department, worksite, employment dates, or other employment conditions.

Advance review allows ISSS to determine whether updated documentation, a new Labor Condition Application, an amended petition, or another immigration action may be required.

If an H-1B employee expects to travel internationally while a petition or extension is pending, the employee should contact ISSS before making travel plans.

Review Employment Changes & Endings

Plan Ahead for H-1B Extensions

Departments should contact ISSS well before an H-1B employee's current period of authorized employment expires if CSUSB intends to continue the employment.

An extension may require updated information about the appointment, salary, FTE, job duties, worksite, funding, and proposed period of continued employment.

ISSS will review the circumstances and provide instructions for the applicable extension process. Departments should not assume that continued university employment by itself extends H-1B authorization.

 
Department Reminders
  • Contact ISSS before promising H-1B sponsorship or establishing an employment start date that depends on H-1B authorization.
  • Do not assume that an offer, appointment, or other university approval confirms immigration eligibility or employment authorization.
  • Contact ISSS before changing the employee's position, duties, salary, FTE, department, worksite, or employment dates.
  • Notify ISSS promptly if the employee's CSUSB employment will end.
  • Do not assume that approval of a university personnel action also completes any required immigration review.
  • Plan early when continued employment will require an H-1B extension or another immigration process.

Starting a New H-1B Case

Contact ISSS when a current or prospective employee may require H-1B sponsorship. ISSS will review the proposed employment and determine the appropriate next steps before initiating the applicable H-1B request process.

Already Working on an H-1B Request?

If ISSS has already initiated a request, use the Coyote International Portal to provide requested information, upload documents, and continue the case.

Coyote International Portal Log-In