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Hiring Departments

Hiring Departments: Faculty and Scholar Immigration Support

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supports CSUSB departments, colleges, and hiring units with immigration-related processes for eligible international faculty members, researchers, and visiting scholars.

This page is intended for department chairs, deans, administrative support coordinators, analysts, search committees, and other campus partners involved in hiring, hosting, or supporting international faculty and scholars.

Immigration review should begin as early as possible. Start dates, work authorization, petition filing timelines, travel plans, remote work, and permanent residency planning may all affect whether a candidate or scholar can begin or continue their CSUSB appointment.

 
When to Contact ISSS

Departments should contact ISSS as early as possible when:

  • A finalist or selected candidate may need immigration sponsorship;
  • A candidate currently holds F-1, J-1, H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, or another nonimmigrant status;
  • A candidate is currently outside the United States;
  • A candidate requests an earlier start date due to immigration concerns;
  • A department wants to invite or host an international scholar or researcher;
  • A current faculty member needs an H-1B extension;
  • A faculty member is pursuing permanent residency or working with an immigration attorney;
  • There may be changes to title, duties, salary, FTE, department, worksite, or remote work location;
  • A faculty member plans international travel while an immigration petition is pending;
  • A faculty member resigns, transfers, or ends employment earlier than expected.

Early communication allows ISSS to review the situation before commitments are made and helps prevent avoidable delays or compliance concerns.

Before Making an Offer

Departments should not assume that a candidate can begin employment by a specific date until immigration review has been completed.

Before finalizing an offer or confirming a start date, departments should consider:
  • The candidate’s current immigration status;
  • Whether the candidate is inside or outside the United States;
  • Whether a change of status, extension, transfer, or visa appointment may be needed;
  • USCIS, Department of Labor, or Department of State processing timelines;
  • Whether premium processing may be needed;
  • Whether the department or college can support required filing fees;
  • Whether the candidate has upcoming travel plans;
  • Whether the position and worksite details are finalized.

ISSS can help departments understand possible immigration timelines and identify whether additional review is needed before an offer or start date is confirmed.

 
H-1B Sponsorship for Faculty

H-1B sponsorship is the primary employment-based nonimmigrant option used by CSUSB for eligible faculty appointments.

H-1B employment is employer-specific, position-specific, and worksite-specific. The petition must accurately reflect the faculty member’s position title, job duties, salary, FTE, appointment dates, and physical work location.

Departments and colleges are responsible for providing accurate and timely information needed for the H-1B petition, including:
  • Offer letter or appointment documentation;
  • Position title and rank;
  • Job duties;
  • Salary and FTE;
  • Appointment start and end dates;
  • Worksite and remote work information;
  • Job posting or recruitment information;
  • Minimum degree, field of study, experience, and special skill requirements;
  • Funding confirmation for required filing fees.

Employees may not begin H-1B employment until the appropriate work authorization is in place. In many cases, this means USCIS must approve the H-1B petition before employment may begin.

For more information, please visit the H-1B Sponsorship for Faculty Members page.

 
J-1 Scholar Hosting

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program supports temporary academic exchange activities, including teaching, research, observation, consultation, and collaboration.

Departments interested in inviting a visiting scholar, professor, research scholar, short-term scholar, or specialist should review the Hosting International Scholars information and contact ISSS before making commitments to the prospective visitor.

J-1 sponsorship is different from H-1B employment sponsorship and is generally not used for tenure-track or permanent faculty employment.

Departments should contact ISSS early to review:

  • Proposed J-1 category;
  • Appointment dates;
  • Funding;
  • English proficiency documentation;
  • Site of activity;
  • Insurance requirements;
  • Travel plans;
  • Dependent information, if applicable.

For more information, please visit the Hosting International Scholars page.

Department and College Responsibilities

Departments and colleges play a key role in immigration sponsorship and scholar hosting. Immigration processes depend on accurate, timely, and consistent information from the hiring unit.

Departments and colleges may be responsible for:

  • Providing complete and accurate request forms;
  • Confirming position and appointment details;
  • Providing job postings and recruitment documentation;
  • Confirming required degree fields, experience, and special skills;
  • Confirming salary, FTE, worksite, and reporting structure;
  • Identifying whether remote work or online teaching is expected;
  • Providing funding confirmation for required filing fees;
  • Notifying ISSS of any changes before they occur;
  • Ensuring the employee or scholar does not begin work or activity before authorization is in place.

If information changes after ISSS has started an immigration process, departments should notify ISSS immediately.

Fees and Premium Processing

Some immigration processes require government filing fees. For university-sponsored employment petitions, required employer filing fees must generally be paid by the employer and may not be passed to the employee.

Premium processing may be recommended or required when timing is critical, such as when:

  • An approval is needed before a start date;
  • An employee’s work authorization is close to expiring;
  • USCIS processing times may disrupt employment;
  • A department or college needs a decision by a specific date for operational reasons.

Premium processing does not guarantee approval. It only provides faster USCIS action, which may include approval, denial, or a Request for Evidence.

Departments and colleges should plan for possible immigration-related costs early in the hiring or extension process.

Employment Changes and Remote Work

Changes to employment terms may affect immigration status or require a new or amended petition.

Departments should contact ISSS before making changes to:

  • Job title or rank;
  • Job duties;
  • Salary or pay structure;
  • FTE or work schedule;
  • Department or reporting unit;
  • Worksite location;
  • Remote work location;
  • Appointment start or end date;
  • Leave of absence or extended unpaid leave;
  • Outside employment or additional paid activity.

Online course modality does not automatically change the immigration worksite. The relevant question is where the faculty member will physically perform the work.

If a faculty member will regularly work from a remote location outside the area covered by the immigration filing, ISSS must review whether additional action is required before the remote work begins.

Travel While a Petition Is Pending

International travel while an immigration petition is pending can affect the petition, especially if the petition includes a request to change or extend status from within the United States.

Faculty members and scholars should contact ISSS before making international travel plans while any university-sponsored petition or application is pending.

Travel may affect:

  • Change of status requests;
  • Extension of status requests;
  • Visa stamp requirements;
  • I-94 records;
  • Ability to return to the United States;
  • Employment start dates;
  • Filing strategy.

Departments should refer faculty members and scholars to ISSS before approving or relying on international travel plans that may affect immigration status or employment authorization.

Permanent Residency and Green Card Processes

Some faculty members may pursue employment-based permanent residency. These processes are complex and may involve institutional review, external immigration counsel, and coordination with departments, colleges, Faculty Affairs and Development, Human Resources, and other campus partners.

Departments should contact ISSS before signing or providing:

  • Employer support letters;
  • Recommendation letters that describe CSUSB’s institutional role;
  • Job offer or continued employment letters for immigration purposes;
  • Recruitment or selection documentation;
  • Attorney-prepared forms or letters;
  • Other documents requested for a permanent residency case.

Faculty members may choose to consult immigration counsel regarding personal green card strategy. Any document that represents CSUSB or requires university support must be reviewed through the appropriate institutional process before signature.

For more information, please visit the Employment-Based Permanent Residency page.

Ending Employment or Appointment

Departments should notify ISSS as early as possible if an international faculty member, employee, or scholar will end employment or appointment earlier than expected.

Early notification is important because some immigration classifications require the university to take action when employment or program activity ends.

Departments should contact ISSS if:

  • A faculty member resigns;
  • A faculty member transfers to another institution;
  • A faculty member is terminated;
  • A visiting scholar ends the program early;
  • A planned appointment is cancelled;
  • The employee or scholar does not arrive as expected;
  • The employee or scholar stops performing the authorized activity.

ISSS will review whether any immigration reporting, petition withdrawal, or scholar record action is required.

Start the Immigration Review Process

To begin immigration review, departments should contact ISSS with as much information as possible, including:

  • Candidate or scholar name;
  • Position title;
  • Department and college;
  • Proposed start date;
  • Appointment type and duration;
  • Current immigration status, if known;
  • Whether the individual is inside or outside the United States;
  • Any known travel plans;
  • Any timing concerns;
  • Any requested immigration category, if known.

ISSS will review the information, identify possible next steps, and coordinate with the department, college, employee, scholar, and other campus partners as needed.

 
Important Reminder

Information on this page is intended as general institutional guidance for CSUSB departments and hiring units. Immigration processes are fact-specific and may require additional review.

Departments should not promise immigration sponsorship, employment start dates, remote work arrangements, or permanent residency support before ISSS has reviewed the case.