1. International Programs – Global Services (IP-GS) International Scholar Services
Presented by Jan Keiser
Immigration Compliance Specialist
International Programs – Global Services Department (IP-GS)
03/20/2013

2. Disclaimer Information presented here subject to change
Not final, not conclusive
Continue to incorporate updates and feedbacks
03/20/2013

3. IP Organization http://ip.wsu.edu/ IP organizational chart
International Research Department, Bryan 206
Global Learning Department
Education Abroad, Bryan 105
IALC, McAllister
Global Services Department
International student services team, Bryan 108
International scholar services team, Bryan 206
International admissions team, Bryan 206
03/20/2013

4. International scholar services team Bryan 206
Jan Keiser, Immigration Compliance Specialist
All WSU permanent residence services
H-1B, TN, E-3, and other int’l scholar services
J-1 scholar services for branch campuses: Spokane, Tri-Cities and Vancouver
Rob Cassleman, International Scholar Advisor
J-1 international scholar services for Pullman
Fulbright J-1 students from foreign countries
Jody White, International Program Specialist
H-1B intake and travel packet
Immigration Tracker and file management
Scholar and family dependent social and cultural programs
03/20/2013

5. Processes
When there is an international candidate you intend to hire, contact Jan/Rob for visa category recommendation (H-1B or J-1 scholar) and other relevant information.
For H-1B initiation, Jody White at
For J-1 scholar initiation, go to: FAQ.html
For Permanent Residence (PR/Green Card) questions, contact Jan.
For H-1B, J-1, TN or any other visa categories, contact Rob/Jan.
03/20/2013

6. Interviewing Questions Related to Employment Eligibility
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) protects two (2) types of employment discrimination:
Citizenship status (M-274 “U.S. citizens, recent permanent residents, temporary residents under the IRCA legalization program, asylees and refugees are protected.” )
National origin (M-274: “An employee’s national origin relates to the employee’s place of birth, country of origin, ethnicity, ancestry, native language, accent, or the perception that he or she looks or sounds “foreign.” All U.S. citizens and employment–authorized individuals are protected from national origin discrimination.” )
M-274 Handbook for Employers, USCIS
03/20/2013

7. Notes for the Employer
 The employer should not ask for copies of any specific documentation; to do so is a violation of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA).
Employees may complete Section 1 of Form I-9 at any time between acceptance of a job offer and the first day of employment. Documentation showing identity and employment authorization must be provided by the employee within 3 business days of their effective date of employment.
 Self-disclosure regarding visa status or visa-related sponsorship requirements by a prospective international employee is allowable.
03/20/2013

8. The employer may ask these questions, but must ask all candidates
Are you authorized to work indefinitely in the U.S. for any employer?
Will you now or in the future need a work visa sponsorship from a new U.S. employer if you are offered this position?
If a candidate indicates that he/she is not a U.S. citizen, or looks or sounds “foreign,” the employer should not request to see employment eligibility verification documents before hire.
03/20/2013

9. H-1B Challenges (1)
Is the offered position eligible for H-1B visa status?
Is the offered position a “specialty occupation?
Must be in a specific field of endeavor.
Must require minimum Bachelor degree as entry to the occupation.
Must pay either Prevailing Wage or actual wage, whichever is higher.
Must request a new DOL (Dept. of Labor) Prevailing Wage Determination when filing each H-1B petition: initial (change of status or transfer)/extension/amendment.
DOL prevailing wage is updated on July 1 each year, usually higher than the previous year. What does it mean to the employer?
Is the foreign national eligible for H-1B? His/her prior/current immigration status in the U.S.
Position can be either temporary, permanent or tenure-track
03/20/2013

10. H-1B Challenges (2)
Job advertisement content and plan, recruitment documentation for tenured/tenure-track teaching faculty position, for PR sponsorship purpose only.
Processing time delay: internal processing, DOL (Dept. of Labor), DOS (Dept. of State), and USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).
USCIS filing fees: $325 H-1B filing fee, $500 fraud prevent fee, optional $1225 premium processing fee.
FDNS (Fraud Detection and National Security, Dept. of Homeland Security) unannounced site visit for compliance audit.
Transportation cost back to last residence abroad if terminated by an employer for any reason prior to H-1B end date.
Possible visa delay “Administrative Processing.”
03/20/2013

11. H-1B “No- Benching” Rule
Benching: the practice of an employer placing in nonproductive status without pay.
An employer is responsible for paying the required wage to the H-1B employee at all times during the LCA validity period and as specified on the LCA and Form I-129.
Even if an employee is "benched," i.e., placed in a non- productive status for reasons such as training, lack of license, lack of assigned work, or any other job-related reason, the employer must still pay the employee the required wage.
03/20/2013

12. Exceptions to H-1B“No-Benching” Rule
Employees who have not yet “entered into employment”
Nonproductive time due to conditions unrelated to employment or which render an H-1B alien unable to work
Certain academic contracts that compress a full year's wages into a period of less than one year
Where there was a "bona fide termination" of the employee by the employer
03/20/2013

13. H-1B “enters into employment” with the employer
H-1B nonimmigrant shall receive the required pay beginning on the date when the nonimmigrant "enters into employment" with the employer.
The H-1B nonimmigrant is considered to "enter into employment" when he/she makes him/herself available for work or otherwise comes under the control of the employer, such as by waiting for an assignment, reporting for orientation or training, going to an interview or meeting with a customer, or studying for a licensing examination, and includes all activities thereafter.
Notify IP-GS when an H-1B employee is terminated or resigns.
03/20/2013

14. J-1 Challenges
Purpose of the program: collaborative, exchange, temporary
Cannot hold permanent, tenure-track position
Prior participation in J-1 program
12 months bar
24 months bar for J-1 Research Scholar/Professor category only
2 year home country residence requirement: not eligible for H-1B visa and immigrant visa; not eligible for change of status in the U.S. (including change to H-1B & PR) unless it has been waived or fulfilled.
Waiver of 2 year home country residence requirement
Possible visa delay “Administrative Processing”
03/20/2013

15. TN Challenges Applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico;
Temporary, cannot hold permanent, tenure-track position;
Profession is on the NAFTA list; alena.org/en/view.aspx?x=343&mtpiID=147#Ap1603.D.1
Position in the U.S. requires a NAFTA professional;
Mexican or Canadian applicant is to work in a prearranged full- time or part-time job, for a U.S. employer. Self employment is not permitted;
Canadian or Mexican citizen has the qualifications of the profession;
If degree earned outside U.S., Canada and Mexico, must be accompanied by credential evaluations in English language.
03/20/2013

16. PR Challenges (1)
Only permanent full-time/tenure-track position for WSU to sponsor
Teaching faculty (EB-2)
Job advertisement content and plan to meet DOL Labor Certification requirements
Documentation of recruitment process, DOL audit: 30 – 45%, random or target, unpredictable
Must request prevailing wage determination from the National Prevailing Wage Center, long processing time
Must file Labor Certification application within 18 months from the job offer letter date
Lengthy process, can be up to 2 years or longer
Retrogression for individuals born in China and India
Has priority in processing to meet mandated federal deadlines.
03/20/2013

17. PR Challenges (2) Senior researcher (EB-1b):
Must be permanent full-time/tenured/tenure-track position;
Must have at least 3 years of experience in teaching or research in the academic field;
Must be recognized internationally as outstanding in a specific academic field.
WSU PR sponsorship policy services/files/PR-Policy.pdf
Much higher and stringent standards to meet
Extensive documentation
Higher denial rate
03/20/2013

18. Self-Petition PR For example, post-doctoral position
EB-2 National Interest Waiver
Retrogression for individuals born in China and India
7th year H-1B extension possible if I-140 has been pending/approved for 365 days or more
EB-1a,Extraordinary Ability
Demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim. Achievements must be recognized in the specific field through extensive documentation.
Extraordinary ability means a level of expertise indicating that the individual is one of that very small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor. Evidence, for example, one-time achievement (i.e., Pulitzer, Oscar, Olympic Medal), the best of the best in the field.
03/20/2013

19. PR and 7th year H-1B extension
H-1B is allowed a cumulative 6 years in the U.S. for any U.S. employers
If I-140 Immigration Petition for Alien Worker is pending/approved for 365 days or more, eligible for 7th year H-1B extension, applies to H-4
Self-petition PR employees must keep IP-GS updated of their petition status, as they may be eligible for 7th year H-1B extension to ensure uninterrupted employment at WSU.
03/20/2013

20. Green Card (current version)
03/20/2013

21. Green Card (old version)
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22. I-551 Stamp
03/20/2013

23. EAD (Employment Authorization Document)
03/20/2013

24. Questions and Answers Contact the international scholar services team:
Jan Keiser: ,
Rob Cassleman: ,
Jody White: ,
03/20/2013