Nonimmigrant Employment and Scholar Options
Nonimmigrant visa classifications allow eligible international faculty, staff, researchers, and scholars to come to or remain in the United States temporarily for a specific purpose, such as employment, teaching, research, or academic exchange.
At CSUSB, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) reviews nonimmigrant options connected to university employment and scholar hosting. The appropriate classification depends on the individual’s immigration history, citizenship, position, appointment type, job duties, funding, start date, and long-term plans.
Departments should contact ISSS as early as possible before making commitments to international candidates, employees, or visiting scholars.
H-1B Sponsorship
The H-1B classification is the primary employment-based nonimmigrant option used by CSUSB for eligible faculty and staff positions that require at least a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific field.
H-1B employment is employer-specific, position-specific, and worksite-specific. This means the H-1B petition must accurately reflect the employee’s CSUSB position, job duties, salary, worksite, appointment dates, and other employment terms.
CSUSB generally files H-1B petitions for eligible full-time faculty and staff positions when university sponsorship requirements are met.
Departments should contact ISSS before:
- Making or changing an employment start date;
- Changing job title, duties, salary, FTE, department, or worksite;
- Allowing remote work from a location not previously reviewed;
- Requesting H-1B sponsorship for a new hire;
- Extending H-1B employment;
- Considering international travel while a petition is pending.
For more information, please visit the H-1B Sponsorship page.
J-1 Exchange Visitors
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program supports temporary academic exchange activities, including teaching, research, observation, consultation, and collaboration.
At CSUSB, J-1 Exchange Visitor sponsorship may be appropriate for eligible visiting professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, specialists, and other exchange visitors whose primary purpose is temporary academic exchange.
J-1 sponsorship is different from H-1B employment sponsorship and is generally not used for tenure-track or permanent faculty employment.
Departments interested in inviting a J-1 scholar or exchange visitor should review the Hosting International Scholars information and contact ISSS before making commitments to the prospective visitor.
For more information, please visit the Hosting International Scholars page.
Other Classifications Reviewed Case-by-Case
Some international faculty or staff may ask about other nonimmigrant classifications, such as TN, E-3, or O-1. These classifications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may not be routinely filed or supported by ISSS.
TN classification may be available to eligible Canadian or Mexican citizens in certain professional occupations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Eligibility depends on citizenship, position, degree field, job duties, and whether the occupation is listed under the TN professional categories.
TN classification is reviewed case-by-case and should not be assumed to apply to all faculty or staff roles.
E-3 classification is available only to eligible Australian citizens coming to the United States to work in a specialty occupation. E-3 eligibility depends on citizenship, position requirements, job duties, wage requirements, and other immigration factors.
E-3 classification is reviewed case-by-case and is not the standard employment sponsorship process used by CSUSB.
O-1 classification may be available to individuals who can demonstrate extraordinary ability in their field. O-1 petitions require a high level of documentation and legal analysis.
CSUSB does not routinely file O-1 petitions through ISSS. Faculty or staff interested in O-1 classification may need to consult qualified immigration counsel. Any O-1 strategy connected to CSUSB employment must be reviewed by the university before commitments are made.
Important Reminder
Information on this page is intended as general institutional guidance for CSUSB employment and scholar hosting processes. It does not replace legal advice. Faculty, staff, scholars, and dependents may choose to consult qualified immigration counsel regarding personal immigration history, dependent applications, permanent residency strategy, travel, or other individual immigration matters.