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Faculty and Staff

Faculty and Staff Immigration Services

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides immigration-related support for international faculty, staff, researchers, and exchange visitors at California State University, San Bernardino.

This page is intended for CSUSB departments, hiring units, faculty, staff, and scholars who need information about employment-based immigration sponsorship, scholar hosting, or permanent residency processes connected to university appointment or employment.

 
How ISSS Can Help

ISSS supports university immigration processes by:

  • Reviewing immigration options for eligible faculty, staff, researchers, and scholars;
  • Advising departments on immigration timelines and required documentation;
  • Preparing and filing certain university-sponsored nonimmigrant petitions, including H-1B petitions;
  • Supporting J-1 Exchange Visitor processes for eligible visiting scholars and researchers;
  • Coordinating with campus partners, including colleges, departments, Human Resources, Faculty Affairs and Development, and external immigration counsel when appropriate;
  • Providing general information about employment-based permanent residency processes connected to university employment.

ISSS provides institutional immigration guidance related to CSUSB employment and scholar hosting. ISSS does not provide personal legal representation or private immigration legal advice. Faculty, staff, and scholars may choose to consult an immigration attorney for advice regarding personal immigration history, dependent applications, permanent residency strategy, travel, or other individual immigration matters.

Before Making an Offer

Departments should contact ISSS as early as possible when considering hiring or hosting an international faculty member, staff member, researcher, or scholar.

Immigration timelines can affect:

  • Employment start dates;
  • Work authorization;
  • Visa eligibility;
  • Travel plans;
  • Department or college filing fees;
  • Onboarding and Form I-9 completion;
  • Long-term permanent residency planning.

Departments should not assume that a candidate may begin work, continue work, or change employment terms until the appropriate immigration review has been completed.

 
Employment-Based Nonimmigrant Sponsorship

CSUSB may support certain employment-based nonimmigrant visa classifications when the position, employee, and university sponsorship requirements are met.

The most common employment-based petition filed by CSUSB is the H-1B petition for eligible specialty occupation positions. Other classifications, such as TN, E-3, or O-1, may require separate review and may not be routinely filed or supported by ISSS.

For more information, please visit:

 
J-1 Exchange Visitors and International Scholars

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is used for eligible temporary academic exchange activities, such as visiting professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, and specialists.

J-1 Exchange Visitor sponsorship is different from employment-based visa sponsorship and is generally not used for tenure-track or permanent faculty employment.

Departments interested in inviting a visiting scholar or researcher should review the Hosting International Scholars information and contact ISSS before making commitments to the prospective visitor.

For more information, please visit:

 
Permanent Residency and Green Card Processes

Some faculty positions may be eligible for employment-based permanent residency sponsorship or support. Permanent residency processes are complex and may involve both institutional review and external immigration counsel.

Depending on the case, possible pathways may include:

  • PERM Special Handling for college and university teachers;
  • EB-1 Outstanding Professor or Researcher;
  • National Interest Waiver or other self-petition options;
  • Other employment-based immigrant visa categories.

ISSS can provide general information about CSUSB’s institutional role in employment-based permanent residency processes. Faculty and staff should consult qualified immigration counsel for legal advice regarding individual eligibility, case strategy, family members, or personal immigration history.

For more information, please visit:

Important Reminders

International faculty, staff, researchers, and scholars should contact ISSS before:

  • Beginning employment at CSUSB;
  • Changing job title, duties, worksite, salary, FTE, or department;
  • Working remotely from a location not previously reviewed;
  • Traveling internationally while a petition or application is pending;
  • Accepting outside employment or additional paid activities;
  • Ending employment or transferring to another institution;
  • Filing a dependent application or personal immigration application that may affect current status.

Changes in employment or immigration activity may require review before the change occurs.

 
Contact ISSS

For faculty and staff immigration questions, please contact International Student and Scholar Services.

Departments and hiring units should contact ISSS as early as possible when immigration sponsorship or scholar hosting may be needed.