Process for Visa Applications for CAS-Sponsored Faculty and Researchers

Important information for international faculty, staff, and students is available at the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).

One of the most important issues is the process required to initiate visa processing as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Details of the university-wide policies outlined on the ISSO website; the same message was included in a recent e-mail to all ISSO newsletter subscribers. Additional details of policies regarding Export Control Certification are available on the website of the Office of Sponsored Programs.

The department, program, or center that will be the primary employer of international faculty member of scholar has very important responsibilities in ensuring that appropriate processes are followed in order to comply with federal regulation. These responsibilities must be carried out fully and in a timely way, or else the hiring and employment process will be threatened.

Departments, centers, and programs should ensure that they are familiar with the University’s policies regarding export control, which are outlined website of the Office of Research Compliance. Departments should pay particular attention to the “Red Flags” that may create export control issues as well as the exclusions from export control regulations, including the exclusion for universities engaged in “fundamental research”.

The department’s responsibilities include:

  • providing complete and accurate visa paperwork for the scholar
  • providing full information regarding any access to export-controlled technology or technical data as outlined on the forms
  • ensuring compliance with all attestations on the ISSO Form A as well as export control regulations
  • forwarding the complete and accurate packet of immigration paperwork including Form A and all supplement forms and letters from the host department and Form B with all supporting documentation from the prospective scholar to the Office of Faculty Actions

ISSO requires that Form A to request immigration sponsorship for all non-immigrant classifications from CAS departments, programs, and centers be reviewed and signed by the CAS Dean. This requirement is in addition to the need for an approved appointment letter for the scholar, and applies to both compensated and uncompensated appointments, whether or not the scholar will have access to restricted technologies or data. The Office of Faculty Actions will acknowledge receipt of the visa paperwork (via e-mail, to the Chair/Director and administrator), and will obtain the necessary signature. The Office of Faculty Actions will hand-deliver the completed paperwork to ISSO, but will not retain copies of this paperwork.