II. Processes and Costs

  1. The International Scholar Services team within the Office of International Students and Scholars manages all immigration processes-
    • For Purdue University’s West Lafayette or Northwest campuses, Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) and Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI)
    • Where the Purdue entity is the petitioner or applicant in the immigration process, and
    • The requested immigration benefit is employment-based or utilizes Purdue’s J-1 program designation
  2. The International Scholar Services team may either directly process Requests or assign Requests to the University’s outside immigration law firm under the team’s oversight.
  3. International Scholar Services is responsible for making the final determination as to the most appropriate Sponsored immigration benefit for a particular situation, considering all circumstances and emphasizing risk and expense control. The business needs of the University take priority in this evaluation, but the wishes of the International Scholar/Staff Member also will be considered.
  4. Requests by Host Units
    1. Host Units and Hosts are responsible for timely submitting Requests relating to prospective and current International Scholars / Staff Members to the International Scholar Services team. 
    2. Delays in submitting a request for extension may result in interruptions to the Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Member’s ability to engage in professional/scholarly activities.
    3. For Sponsored International Scholars and Staff Members who are employed: Please note that Purdue I-9 policy mandates that if there is an interruption of authorization to engage in employment, that the individual’s employment must be temporarily terminated. For further information please contact the business office for the Host Unit in question, or see https://www.purdue.edu/hr/buspur/I9/index.php and https://www.purdue.edu/elist39/documents/2022/i-9-employment-eligibility-verification-process-change.php.
  5. Types of Requests
    1. Initial Requests. The first request by the University for “this” Sponsored immigration visa status and “this” International Scholar/Staff Member
    2. Change of Status. A request for a new Sponsored visa status that is different than the current immigration visa status held by the International Scholar / Staff Member
    3. Amendment of Status. An alteration of the Sponsored International Scholar / Staff Member’s Authorized Activities within the same immigration visa status they already hold
    4. Extension of Status. A request for a change in the Authorized Duration of a Sponsored International Scholar / Staff Member’s Authorized Duration or Stay, such that the end date of the Authorized Duration or Stay is further in the future. If the end date is shifted to one that is earlier than the current end date, this is considered an Early Termination. See the discussion of Temporary Interruptions.
  6. Request Processing
    1. Relevant information on all Sponsored immigration benefits and requests is posted to the International Scholar Services website at https://www.purdue.edu/IPPU/ISS/ under “Scholar Services”, including the legal purpose and limits of different visa status types, the duration of approved increments and the maximum duration of total stay, restrictions on changes to circumstances or other visa statuses, and more. Hosts and Host Units are encouraged to review this information prior to submitting Requests, and to refer Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Members to these webpages.
    2. Processing times. The total time involved in University-Sponsored immigration requests are posted on the ISS website, and will affect appointment start times. In deciding when to submit a Request, Host Units should allow for sufficient processing time ahead of the desired appointment start dates whenever possible.
    3. ISS Fees. Host Units must pay ISS Fees for each University-Sponsored immigration request. Host Units may not pass this fee (either directly or indirectly) onto the Sponsored International Scholar/Staff Member. ISS Fees are reviewed periodically through appropriate University systems and posted on the ISS website. ISS Fees are paid through the University’s iLab system.
  7. Government Filing Fees and Legal Services Fees
    1. If the University-Sponsored immigration request is essential for the appointment or employment to begin (in other words, if a business need drives the request), Host Units must pay all required fees; they may not pass required government fees on to the International Scholar/Staff Member. Examples include the USCIS filing fees associated with H-1B, O-1, TN, E-3 work visa petitions, or EB-2 Labor Certification permanent residence requests.
    2. The Host Unit may ask the Sponsored International Scholar/Staff Member to share in paying government filing fees or the legal services fees of Purdue’s outside immigration law firm if the University-Sponsored immigration request in question is (1) in addition to other required University Sponsorship, or (2) primarily at the request of the Sponsored International Scholar/Staff Member. Examples include the attorney legal services fees or government filing fees associated with EB-1A, EB-1B or EB-2 NIW requests.
    3. Host Units and International Scholars/Staff Members may not independently (separate from the International Scholar Services unit) hire or process University-Sponsored immigration requests, including self-preparing immigration paperwork, or hiring independent attorneys or law firms to prepare the immigration paperwork on their behalf.
    4. The US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) provides expedited (“premium”) processing for certain immigration requests. See https://www.uscis.gov/i-907. If the timeframe of a candidate’s starting/continuing appointment requires premium processing (in other words, if a business need drives the need for premium processing), then the Host Unit must request and pay for this service. If the International Scholar/Staff Member prefers premium processing for personal reasons or to facilitate personal travel, then the Host may choose to ask the International Scholar/Staff Member to pay for this service.
  8. Self-Sponsored Immigration Requests
    1. Sponsored International Scholars/Staff Members often must make additional Self-Sponsored immigration requests to the US government, despite receiving University-Sponsored work visas and/or permanent residence. Examples include but are not limited to-
      • Applications for visas from US consulates abroad,
      • Applications for dependent visa status for accompanying family,
      • Requests for EB-1A permanent residence on the basis of extraordinary ability, or EB-2 permanent residence on the basis of National Interest Waiver (NIW), or
      • Applications for Adjustment of Status from a work visa holder to a lawful permanent resident, at the end of a permanent residence process.
    2. International Scholars/Staff Members have the right to self-file or hire their own attorneys or law firms for Self-Sponsored immigration requests.
    3. International Scholars/Staff Members are responsible for any legal services fees or government filing fees arising from their Self-Sponsored immigration requests. Host Units may not directly pay any costs, fees or expenses associated with an International Scholar/Staff Member’s Self-Sponsored immigration request. Host Units can choose to reimburse certain costs or expenses associated with Self-Sponsored immigration requests incurred on or after the International Scholar/Staff Member began their appointment at the University, provide their business office approves these transactions. Host Units cannot reimburse any costs, fees or expenses incurred by International Scholars/Staff Members prior to beginning their appointment at the University.
    4. Purdue’s International Scholar Services office does not support Self-Sponsored Non-US Persons at this time.