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International Faculty & Scholars Office IFSO
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  4. H-1B/E-3/TN Initial iServices Requests

Employment Based Scholar Initial Request

An employment based initial application is a new H-1B/E-3/TN or Port (H-1B transfer) request to UC San Diego.

Create a New Scholar Record

If the scholar is not currently at UCSD in a previous status (i.e. F-1/F-1 OPT, J-1/J-2) or is a transferring their program in from another institution, the department must create a new scholar profile record by completing the "Add New Person" eform. 

Begin H-1B Scholar Initial Application:

Departmental users are required to complete a series of eforms within the H-1B Scholar Initial Request group. 

NOTE: Always click the link at the top of each eform listed as MAIN PAGE| TEMPID | SCHOLAR NAME to return the to other eforms within the group INSTEAD of pressing the back arrow in the web browser.

Request Information

  • This first individual eform submission will trigger an automated email to the scholar with the access URL to the iServices portal and a login.
  • The scholar can then begin completing their eforms in tandem with you completing the departmental eforms.

Appointment Information

Appointment Data

  • Appointment Start and End Dates: If the appointment is for a staff position, the Job Description will need to be included.
  • Job Title and Appointment Letter 
  • Second Appointment Title: If the scholar has a second appointment title you may upload an additional appointment letter if applicable.
  • Minimum Position Requirements
  • RUSH Request: Any H-1B request submitted to our office with a requested start date of 3 months or less will require payment of the ISEO RUSH FEE. 

USCIS Cover Letter

  • Department: Choose the appropriate selection from the drop down lists provided.
  • Detailed information for USCIS: depending upon your department's internal policies, determine who will be providing detailed information about the prospective H-1B position, to include:
    • Duties
    • Methodologies and techniques used in performing those duties
    • Courses taught (if applicable), including course number, title, and population serving (UG or Grad)
  • H-1B beneficiary's:
    • Most recent employer or academic institution in home country
    • Most recent job title or degree program in home country
    • Most recent field of research at most recent employer/academic institution in home country

H-1B Worksite

  • Primary Worksite: A drop down selection is provided with the three most common sites of activity we see; an option exists to provide an “other” worksite and its address information
    • The name of the building is required for an H-1B request
  • Additional Worksite(s): List all additional worksites with their addresses and building names as appropriate
    • Include residential address if a hybrid schedule includes this site; use "remote" for building name
FAILURE TO INCLUDE ALL WORKSITES MAY REQUIRE AN AMENDED PETITION WITH ALL ASSOCIATED COSTS

Actual Wage Rate

The actual wage rate is that wage paid to employees in similar positions.
  • When establishing a salary range for a job category, please compare employees in similar positions; if you don't have multiple positions for comparison from department level data, please expand the comparison to include school level data
  • Identify any job-related reasons for why this employee is being placed where they are within the overall range
  • If the employee holds more than one appointment title, you will need to complete a second Actual Wage Rate e-form with the other appointment title after completing this one
    • Return to "Department Services" home page and select the "Additional Actual Wage Rate for Multiple Appointment" request under TASKS.

Export Control Certification

Certify that the research agreement (e.g. contract or grant) on which the nonimmigrant employee will be working:
  • does not restrict or prohibit the participation of foreign persons in the project
  • does not restrict or prohibit the research team’s right to publish any of the data or research results;
That in performing the work under the visa, the beneficiary will not:
  • be working on any research project that is or should be subject to a Technology Control Plan (such a plan may be required if there is access to export controlled technical information, materials, software, or encryption code, which could be received in the form of confidential or proprietary information transmitted by a sponsor or third party)
  • be working on any service agreements
  • be given access to equipment specifically designed or developed for military (ITAR) or space applications; and
That the beneficiary will not have any IT administrator responsibilities or access

Certification and Submission to ISEO

Final eform in this request process; depending upon your departmental internal policies, determine if you have a final signatory who must review and sign off on the submission; if so, indicate who they are; if not, you will certify the submission to our office.

Recharge Fee and USCIS Checks

Processing Fee Submission Form (Aventri)

ALL H-1B/E-3 fees MUST be paid by the employing department; fees are NOT rechargeable to the scholar. There are two sets of fees ISEO (recharge) and USCIS fees (physical checks).
  • Breakdown of fees
    • The breakdown of recharge and check fees required for H-1B requests can be found on ISEO’s website.

USCIS Checks

 Review and Submission

 Underneath the title of the H-1B Initial Request e-form group page, clicking the link listed as  View/Save/Print E-Form Group will open a PDF to view all data submitted by the department user and scholar. 

Scholar Required Documentation

Passport Bio Page: The Passport Biographical page must be from Scholar’s current unexpired passport (expiration date must be more than 6 months in future).
Degree/Diploma: To qualify for H-1B/E-3/TN status, a position must be in a specialty occupation, requiring at least the level of a Bachelor’s degree and the beneficiary must meet the minimal educational/experiential requirements of the position.
  • Scholar should have uploaded diplomas for all relevant degrees.
  • Any document not in English will require a translation and translator’s certification.
    • Translation does not need to be completed by an official translation company
    • Translation statement cannot be signed by PI, scholar or family member as it could be seen as biased by an officer.
  • If the diploma does not specify a particular field, then transcripts must be submitted that indicate in which field the diploma was obtained. If a diploma is not available, transcripts can be used instead, as long as the transcript indicates the degree issued.
  • E-3 is only available to Australian citizens; TN to Mexican/Canadian citizens. The TN must be for a USMCA approved occupational classification (see Appendix 2). E-3 requests for visa application at consulate will not need this documentation.
Foreign Credentials Evaluation: If the relevant degrees are not from a U.S. institution, then a foreign credentials evaluation certifying the U.S. degree equivalency must be submitted (exception: Clinical Care appointments do not need evaluations of foreign MD degrees. 
  • The evaluation should include field of study, a detailed description of the material evaluated, rather than conclusions, and a brief description of the qualifications and experience of the evaluator. 
  • TN requests will not need evaluations for Mexican or Canadian degrees.
Curriculum Vitae: Scholar should not include immigration, personal, or volunteer information on this document. 
  • E-3 requests for visa application at consulate will not need this documentation.
Documentation needed for scholar currently in the US:
  • I-94 arrival/departure record for most recent entry into U.S.
  • Visa stamp used for most recent entry to the U.S.
  • Earnings statements: If currently in a paid position, the three most recent statements are required.
  • If ever in J status: All DS-2019 forms issued scholar and, if applicable, a copy of their I-612 Waiver approval notice if subject to 212(e)
  • If ever in H-1B status: Copies of all I-797 approval notices
  • If ever issued an Employment Authorization Document (EAD): Copies of all EADs
    • E-3 requests for visa application at consulate will not need this documentation.
Clinical Care Documentation: For H-1B/E-3 requests only; TN not allowed.
  • Graduates of International Medical Schools
    • ECFMG Certification (unless a graduate of a Canadian medical school)
      • S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1-3--or--National Board of Medical Examiners (NMBE) examinations – Parts 1-3--or--FLEX examination
      • CA Medical License documentation
  • Graduates of Accredited U.S. Medical Schools
    • Internationals with a medical degree from an accredited U.S. institution need only provide IFSO with their U.S. MD diploma and, starting 1/1/2020, the Postgraduate Training License (PTL).
  • Required if the UCSD appointment/job advertisement has as a requirement
    • Medical Residency completion certificate
      • Clinical Fellowship completion certificate
      • Board Certification
      • Documentation establishing Board Eligibility (UC San Diego issued documentation is not acceptable)
  • Required for ALL Clinical Training programs through ECFMG
    • GME exception to policy allowing for H-1B sponsorship

ISEO Review and Approval

  • Standard Processing:
    • 60 days from submission of complete request
  • RUSH Processing:
    • Requested start date under 90 days from submission of complete request
Once the form is submitted, upon approval by advising staff we will work on the petition request and submit it to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and notify the sponsoring department and scholar of its submission. 
Should you have any additional questions during this process, please reach out to ischolars@ucsd.edu 

Department Processing Frequently Asked Questions