Change or Ending Employment/Appoinment

The ISSO provides support to foreign nationals throughout the course of the employment/appointment at BU. Host departments, the scholar/employee and the ISSO all play different roles. As the host department we rely on you to share accurate, timely appointment details and consult with us before making any changes.

It is critical that the ISSO is notified before any changes or extensions to the BU appointment/affiliation so we can determine how this will impact their current immigration status. Extensions and certain changes will require ISSO to issue a new immigration document and/or request an extension/amendment from USCIS. Plan ahead to avoid gaps in employment, research, or teaching at BU.

Changing the Terms of Employment/Appointment

Notify the ISSO in advance when:

  • Considering a promotion or other change in job title, rank or job classification
  • Changing job duties/responsibilities substantially
  • Changing to the individual’s funding source or amount
  • Decreasing or substantially increasing salary/benefits (other than standard annual adjustments)
  • Changing the work location(s) will change
  • Approving an employee for a flexible work arrangement (link to flexible work arrangement section under guidelines)
  • Change in FTE from full-time to part-time (or part-time to full-time)
  • The employment/appointment at BU will be interrupted (medical leave, sabbatical, research elsewhere, visa or immigration processing delays, personal issues, etc.)
  • Employment/appointment will be shifted to another BU host department
  • Employee obtains a different employment authorization or obtains lawful U.S. permanent residence.

If your scholar/employee is sponsored by BU (ie. H-1B, J-1, TN, STEM OPT, etc.), please complete the change in employment form and send your ISSO advisor

Ending the Employment/Appointment

Host departments should notify the ISSO by completing the end of employment activity notification form whenever a foreign national’s employment/appointment at BU will be ending. This notification allows the ISSO to properly report and close the ISSO record and any related immigration sponsorship items in accordance with federal regulations. In addition, once we receive the notification, we will be able to provide additional guidance to both the departing scholar/employee and the host department.

Please note the following sponsorship status details related to completion reporting requirements:

  • J-1 scholars and employees: Upon notification from the host department, the ISSO must report the completion of the J-1 program via the foreign national’s SEVIS record. If the appointment ends before the end of the J sponsorship period, the ISSO may provide a new DS-2019 to reflect the amended completion date. If the interruption of employment will be brief and you intend for them to return to BU after an extended absence, please discuss this with the ISSO advisor to consider options for avoiding bars on returning in J status.
  • H-1B and O-1 employees: If the host department dismisses the employee prior to the expiration of the obtained H-1B/O-1 approval, the department is responsible for the reasonable costs of return transportation to the employee’s home country. Departments are notified and agree to this provision as part of the sponsorship request process. If the employee resigns from BU or the employment will end as indicated in the approved petition, the return transportation liability is not incurred. In addition, the ISSO is required to notify both USCIS and DOL if an employee leave prior to the date approved in the petition to USCIS.
  • F-1 STEM OPT employees: BU must notify the F-1 sponsor (school from which the employee graduated) within 48 hours of the end of employment at BU. Given this short timeframe, it is imperative that ISSO receive timely notice when an employee on STEM OPT is leaving.