OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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International Services is OSU’s designated office to file immigration applications on behalf of OSU. The International Employee & Exchange Visitor team supports OSU and OSU employees through immigration sponsorship process for employment-based immigration category (e.g. H-1B, TN, E-3).
To determine what sponsorship options are available for a position, hiring departments can complete a Sponsorship Request.
To find out basic information about immigration statuses that OSU is often able to sponsor, Immigration Sponsorship options.
To provide information needed for the immigration sponsorship process, hiring departments can use International Services online system, IP Connect Login.
International Services is OSU’s designated office to file immigration applications on behalf of OSU. The International Employee & Exchange Visitor team supports OSU and OSU employees through immigration sponsorship process for employment-based immigration category (e.g. H-1B, TN, E-3).
International Services evaluates OSU’s immigration sponsorship options for a position. However, it is the hiring department’s decision whether OSU will sponsor immigration work authorization for a position.
Once the immigration sponsorship process is started, International Services will assist the hiring department and employee through the process. International Services uses an E-Forms process in an online portal, IP Connect, to gather the information necessary for to prepare and file applications with the Immigration Service requesting immigration work authorization for OSU’s employee.
Through the application process in IP Connect, International Services will provide the hiring department and employee step-by-step instructions through the sponsorship process.
Processing timelines for immigration applications is highly application-specific and subject to high fluctuation. Generally, most employment-based immigration work authorization processes take a minimum of 3 months. International Services therefore highly recommends initiating the immigration sponsorship process as soon as possible.
In order to know what immigration sponsorship is possible, International Services must review both the position and the immigration and professional history of the successful candidate through the Immigration Sponsorship Evaluation form. International Services will evaluate the sponsorship options and notify the sponsoring department.
As a part of the evaluation, International Services will provide an estimate of costs and timeline based on the specific application and current governmental processing timelines.
Employment-based immigration sponsorship is a lock-step process, often involving processes evaluating the position, the wage, and any immigration factors that could impact the application; and processing through the US Department of Labor. International Services will complete all the required steps to prepare the application for work authorization which is filed with the Immigration Service.
International Services files the application with the Immigration Service. The Immigration Service’s processing times vary significantly based on the type of application, the time of year, and staffing levels. At the time of filing, International Services will provide the hiring department with an estimate of the expected processing time for the Immigration Service to evaluate the application.
For some applications, the hiring department may have the option to pay the Immigration Service to expedite the application. International Services will let the hiring department know about this option during the sponsorship process.
An approval of OSU’s application with the Immigration Service provides immigration work authorization for employees who are inside of the US. International Services will provide the approval to the employee – who can use the approval to complete their OSU hiring paperwork.
In some cases, a visa issued by a US Consulate outside the US is required in order to cross the border into the US. If an employee is outside the US, they may need to apply for a visa foil in their passport in order to enter the US and “activate” their work authorization.
OSU Department
Hiring Department: Complete recruitment and hiring process. Decide which immigration sponsorship to offer for the position and notify the employee. Pay costs for immigration sponsorship. Complete the Export Control process.
Department Contact: Access IP Connect to complete the department’s portion of the E-Form Process. Provide requested information throughout the immigration sponsorship process.
Office of International Services (International Employee & Exchange Visitor team)
Evaluate immigration sponsorship eligibility. Prepare and file OSU’s immigration sponsorship application with government agencies.
Employee
Accesses IP Connect to complete the employee’s portion of the E-Form Process. Provide requested information throughout the immigration sponsorship process.
IP Connect/Sunapsis is an online data management system used by International Services to manage OSU’s immigration sponsorship processes. Detailed instructions and training about using IP Connect can be found in the IEEV Department Contact Resources Canvas site.
Initial Applicants – Consular Processing: The prospective H-1B employee will work with the hiring department to complete the initial H-1B application in the IP Connect system. Once that is complete, OIS will work on the H-1B petition and labor certification documentation that will be submitted to USCIS. If outside the U.S., once the H-1B petition is approved by USCIS, the prospective H-1B employee applies for an H-1B visa at a US consulate abroad using the documentation issued by USCIS (the official I-797 Approval Notice) and the department. Appointment wait times and visa procedures are available from the US Department of State and the US Consulate in the country in which the H-1B employee will apply for a visa.
Initial Applicants – Change of Status: If changing from another immigration status to H-1B immigration status while inside the US, the prospective H-1B employee will work with their hiring department to complete the initial H-1B application. Once that is complete, OIS will work on the H-1B petition and labor certification documentation that will be submitted to USCIS.
Supervisor of H-1B employee and/or Department Contact:
Appointment offer letter
H-1B Employee
The following documents will need to be submitted in .pdf or .img format through the IP Connect system:
Contact us for the TN application process overview.
Contact us for the E-3 application process overview.