Purdue University is home to many different types of faculty-
Purdue policies relating to these categories are available here-
The chart below shows which immigration statuses are available for the different types of faculty appointments offered by Purdue. The information presented below is the result of either or both immigration law / Purdue Policy. Ultimately the choice if which immigration stategy is followed is determined by International Scholar Services in collaboration with the Department and faculty member.
| Tenured & Tenure-Track | Clinical and PoP | Research Faculty | Visiting Faculty | Lecturers & Short-Term Lecturers | |
| F-1 Student with OPT | No | Yes provided the appointment has a end date | Yes provided the appointment has a end date | Yes provided the appointment has a end date | Yes provided the appointment has a end date |
| J-1 Exchange Visitor Status? | No | Yes provided the appointment has a end date | Yes provided the appointment has a end date | Yes provided the appointment has a end date | Yes provided the appointment has a end date |
| H-1B Status? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| E-3 Status | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TN Status | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| O-1 Status | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Permanent Residence | Yes - Required by Policy | Yes - Required by Policy | Yes - Department Choice | No - not eligible under law | Yes for Lecturers (Department Choice), No for Short-Term Lecturers (not eligible under law) |
Most tenured and tenure-track faculty are sponsored by Purdue University for H-1B visa status. In limited situations, and depending on the unique circumstances of the faculty member and offered employment, O-1 status might be sponsored.
Tenured and tenure-track faculty are automatically sponsored for permanent residence utilizing the "EB-2" labor certification-based path to permanent residence specifically intended for university teachers. This process is required by Purdue policy.
Certain tenured or tenure-track faculty may be approved, with their department's permission, for EB-1B permanent residence. International Scholar Services recommends exploring this option for faculty who face larger backlogs, such as citizens of India or China.
Both the work visa and permanent residence processes are initiated at the same time, shortly after the offer is accepted by the faculty member. What this means in practice is that the work visa request (usually an H-1B) is immediately placed in the queue for processing by an International Scholar Services counselor, with the goal of filing the required paperwork within two months. The permanent residence request is generally also initiated and placed in queue, but because of the nature of the permanent residence process, the required preparation, and our office's caseload 'seasons', the initial filing might not occur for several months.
International Scholar Services supports our current faculty in timely extensions of their H-1B (or O-1) status, as well as in progressing through the steps required for permanent residence.
International Scholar Services is aware that temporary work status such as H-1B (or O-1) can have adverse impact on faculty activities
These limits are why International Scholar Services makes every effort to prioritize the permanent residence processes of arriving tenure-track faculty. Nonetheless, because of backlogs that have developed within the US immigration structure, tenure-track faculty might face tenure-clocks that are shorter than the anticipated timeline to acquire permanent residence.
The Office of the Provost has implemented a procedure for faculty who are being considered for tenure before their permanent residence is awarded. This process is called "Conditional Tenure". Conditional tenure will automatically convert to regular tenure upon approval of lawful permanent resident status, provided that the individual has maintained continuous service (excluding approved leaves of absence) to Purdue following receipt of conditional tenure.
Most clinical faculty and professors of practice are sponsored by Purdue University for H-1B visa status. In limited situations, and depending on the unique circumstances of the faculty member and offered employment, O-1 status might be sponsored, or alternatively J-1 exchange visitor status or F-1 student status with Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permission may be tolerated temporarily.
Clinical faculty and professors of practice are automatically sponsored for permanent residence utilizing the "EB-2" labor certification-based path to permanent residence specifically intended for university teachers. This process is required by Purdue policy. E, F, J, or TN status are strictly nonimmigrant - in other words, the pursuit of permanent residence violates E, F, J and TN status. For this reason, faculty who remain in E, F, J or TN status must eventually move to H-1B or O-1 status before the final step to the permanent residence process is taken.
Certain clinical faculty or professors of practice may be approved, with their department's permission, for EB-1B permanent residence. International Scholar Services recommends exploring this option for faculty who face larger backlogs, such as citizens of India or China.
Both the work visa and permanent residence processes are initiated at the same time, shortly after the offer is accepted by the faculty member. What this means in practice is that the work visa request (usually an H-1B) is immediately placed in the queue for processing by an International Scholar Services counselor, with the goal of filing the required paperwork within two months. The permanent residence request is generally also initiated and placed in queue, but because of the nature of the permanent residence process, the required preparation, and our office's caseload 'seasons', the initial filing might not occur for several months.
International Scholar Services supports our current faculty in timely extensions of their H-1B (or O-1) status, as well as in progressing through the steps required for permanent residence.
International Scholar Services is aware that temporary work status such as H-1B (or O-1) can have adverse impact on faculty activities in that certain government agencies limit funding to temporary visa holders.
These limits are why International Scholar Services makes every effort to prioritize the permanent residence processes of arriving tenure-track faculty. Nonetheless, because of backlogs that have developed within the US immigration structure, tenure-track faculty might face tenure-clocks that are shorter than the anticipated timeline to acquire permanent residence.
Most research faculty are sponsored by Purdue University for H-1B visa status. In limited situations, and depending on the unique circumstances of the faculty member and offered employment, O-1 status might be sponsored, or alternatively J-1 exchange visitor status or F-1 student status with Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permission may be tolerated temporarily.
It is the department's choice as to whether to pursue permanent residence for research faculty. In general, if permanent residence is pursued, the best path to permanent residence is usually EB-1B permanent residence. International Scholar Services particularly recommends exploring this option for faculty who face larger backlogs, such as citizens of India or China.
If the department chooses to sponsor permanent residence, they must request this; the faculty member may not initiate the process.
If the department declines but the faculty member still wants to pursue permanent residence on their own, there are two categories of permanent residence that permit self-sponsorship by the individual. These are-
International Scholar Services is aware that temporary work status such as H-1B (or O-1) can have adverse impact on faculty activities in that certain government agencies limit funding to temporary visa holders.
These limits are why International Scholar Services makes every effort to prioritize the permanent residence processes of arriving tenure-track faculty. Nonetheless, because of backlogs that have developed within the US immigration structure, tenure-track faculty might face tenure-clocks that are shorter than the anticipated timeline to acquire permanent residence.
Visiting faculty may be sponsored by Purdue University for
US immigration law limits permanent residence to individuals who have indefinite or permanent offers of employment. Employment where there is a fixed end date (regardless of whether renewals might be available temporarily) are not eligible for employer-sponsored permanent residence. Purdue policy also prohibits permanent residence sponsorship for visiting faculty.
Lecturers (including Short-Term Lecturers) may be sponsored by Purdue University for
It is the department's choice as to whether to pursue permanent residence for Lecturers. In general, if permanent residence is pursued, the best path to permanent residence is usually the "EB-2" labor certification-based path to permanent residence specifically intended for university teachers.
E, F, J, or TN status are strictly nonimmigrant - in other words, the pursuit of permanent residence violates E, F, J and TN status. For this reason, Lecturers who remain in E, F, J or TN status must eventually move to H-1B or O-1 status before the final step to the permanent residence process is taken.
If the department chooses to sponsor permanent residence, they must request this; the faculty member may not initiate the process.
US immigration law limits permanent residence to individuals who have indefinite or permanent offers of employment. Employment where there is a fixed end date (regardless of whether renewals might be available temporarily) are not eligible for employer-sponsored permanent residence. Purdue policy also prohibits permanent residence sponsorship for short-term lecturers.