Before departments choose the H-1B status for a scholar they should review information about eligibility and associated fees. Currently, it can take as long as 6-8 months for OIA to obtain approval for H-1B status from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) without the use of premium processing. Please contact OIA if you believe a visa is required for a foreign national to begin employment at UC Merced. An initial consultation should be done with the employment-based visa advisor before submitting an H-1B request to gauge the feasibility of successfully obtaining the visa.
Also, it is critical that departments understand that they are responsible for return transportation costs for any H-1B employee who is terminated and cannot find a new H-1B sponsor in the U.S.
Application Procedure for New H-1B Visa Status
Complete the following forms and submit to OIA:
Reference Documents for UC Merced Departments
Immigration Attorney Visa Services Fee Schedule for UC Merced |
OIA Visa Services Fee Chart |
USCIS Application Filing Fees |
After You Submit to OIA
Once OIA receives approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), we will contact the department and the applicant. If the applicant is overseas, OIA will provide the approval notice and other relevant documents to the department to send via courier service to the foreign national. Upon receipt, the foreign national must apply for an H-1B visa stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consualte abroad to use to enter the U.S.
The employer is responsible for return transportation costs for any H-1B temporary worker for whom employment is terminated. In addition, the employer must advise the OIA of any change in employment conditions, including promotion, termination and salary changes.