The following eForm groups/checklists are International Faculty Advising’s updated processes for assisting departments and foreign nationals who will be employed via H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1 and employment-based permanent residency.

Visa Inquiry / New Offer Notification

FIRST STEP AFTER AN OFFER HAS BEEN MADE

The designated departmental contact must notify International Faculty Advising (IFA) as soon as an offer of employment is made to a foreign national applicant, if there is any expectation that visa sponsorship may be required. Departments may also contact International Faculty Advising (IFA) earlier—prior to extending an offer—if they would like assistance evaluating potential visa options for a candidate under serious consideration

QUICK OVERVIEW

A copy of the foreign national’s passport must be used when completing this eForm to ensure that the name is recorded identical to it.
The designated departmental contact must enter basic information into iStart to notify International Faculty Advising (IFA) that assistance is required.
After the submission of this eForm, but before International Faculty Advising (IFA) receives notification, the system will automatically send an email to the foreign national to complete a second section of the eForm.
After International Faculty Advising (IFA) has received both completed portions, the request will be forwarded to an adviser for review.
The International Faculty Advisor (IFA)will then conduct a full review and provide both the designated departmental contact and the Foreign National with a visa recommendation, an estimated timeline, and additional specific instructions on next steps.
If the offer is for a tenure-track/tenure hire, the request will also route to Talent Acquisition to provide documents regarding the recruitment effort.

DOCUMENTATION TO BE UPLOADED

For all Applicants

All Offer Letters (original, revised), if applicable
Copy of Workday job posting

For Tenure-Line Applicants (to be uploaded by Talent Acquisition)

Copy of a national job advertisement

New Visa (H1B, TN, E3, O1)

The purpose of this eForm is to request visa sponsorship on behalf of a foreign national AFTER the Visa Inquiry or New Offer Notification eForm has been submitted AND INTERNATIONAL FACULTY ADVISING (IFA) has provided a visa recommendation. The designated departmental contact and the foreign national must complete their portions of the eForm as soon as possible. The system will prompt the foreign national only after the department has submitted all required eForms.

General Summary of eForm Process for Departments:

General Summary of eForm Process for Foreign Nationals:

After the Dept. contact submits the “Submit Request for Visa Sponsorship” eForm, iStart will email the foreign national instructions for how to access the system as a client user and access his/her checklist and complete his/her required steps/eForms.

The foreign national will not be able to see anything in iStart until the dept. contact initiates the appropriate eForm group in iStart - Faculty Advising: New Visa Request (H1B, TN, E3, O1)

The following is a list of potential documentation the foreign national may be asked to upload: Applicant Checklist (PDF)

The eForms include:
- Biographical Information
- Education and Experience
- Dependent Information
- Current and Previous Visa History
- Permanent Residency
- Emergency Contact
- Employee Final Submit
  - Second Approver is Export Compliance Office
- Employee Upload Additional Documentation
  - This is an optional eForm that the foreign national can use to provide documentation not readily available at time of initial eForm submission (e.g., English Translation, Education Evaluation, 212e approval, etc.).

Extension-Amendment Request (H1B, TN, E3, O1)

The purpose of this eForm group/checklist is to initiate the extension/amendment process for a foreign national employee currently sponsored by Penn State in H-1B, TN, E-3 or O-1 status. The designated departmental contact and the foreign national must complete their portions of the eForm. The system will prompt the foreign national only after the department has submitted all required eForms.

The eForms mimic what is presented to department contacts in the “New Visa Request (H1B, TN, E3, O1)” group. Please reference the descriptions above under that request.

PERM / Special Handling Request

The purpose of this eForm is to notify International Faculty Advising (IFA) of the department’s intent to sponsor a tenure-track teaching faculty member for permanent residency. You will be prompted to complete this eForm if we will be pursuing permanent residency on behalf of the faculty member.

To access this eForm, the designated department contact will access iStart and click on the Special Handling eForm group

eForm MUST BE SUBMITTED within 1-2 weeks of being prompted by International Faculty Advising (IFA).
The Department Head will receive an email that they must respond to confirm that Penn State is sponsoring the individual for permanent residency.
The foreign national will also be sent an email and asked to complete an eForm (but only after the department completes their portion).

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