Legal Permanent Residency
The Office of International Services works with OSU departments to support international employees who need long-term or permanent work authorization in the US. OSU uses a variety of employment-based immigration pathways to sponsor permanent residency, based on the employee’s position type and other factors.
Benefits to All Parties
When international employees come to work at the OSU, they usually start out on a limited-duration work authorization. However, limited-duration work authorization usually has a maximum time cap. Even though international employees may already have (short term) work authorization, OSU will often choose to also file for permanent work authorization, called permanent residency, for employees in certain permanent positions. The permanent residency process is conducted in tandem, while the employee works using his or her short term work authorization.
Filing for the employee’s permanent residency can be cost effective for the sponsoring department, since OSU will have fewer long-term immigration filing fees to pay, more flexibility in work assignments, and less risk of breaks in work authorization.
It can also be a benefit to the international employee, alleviating stress about ongoing immigration processes and giving the individual more flexibility in travel and research funding options.
OSU’s portion of the permanent residency sponsorship process can take anywhere from 1.5 - 3 years.
OSU's Routes to Permanent Residency
Labor Certification
The Labor Certification is OSU’s most commonly used employment-based pathway to permanent residency. The Labor Certification requires OSU to document that sponsoring permanent residency for the position is not detrimental to the labor market.
Outstanding Professor/Researcher
The Outstanding Professor/Researcher category is an achievement-based pathway to permanent residency. This category is available for professors and researchers who are recognized internationally as outstanding in their academic field.
National Interest Waiver
The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is an achievement-based pathway to permanent residency. This category is available for employees who demonstrate that their academic endeavor has both substantial merit and national importance.
Length of the Status
Having a Green Card (officially known as a Permanent Resident Card) allows an individual to live and work permanently in the United States.