For Departments

Yale’s immigration sponsorship policy supports the University's mission  to admit talented students regardless of citizenship and immigration status and to hire and retain a world-class faculty and researchers. OISS oversees nonimmigrant visa sponsorship for eligible students, full-time faculty, and research scholars, as well as permanent residence sponsorship for tenure-track and tenured faculty. Requests for permanent residence sponsorship for full-time senior research staff are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

OISS represents Yale in the administration of F-1 Student and J-1 Exchange Visitor program and the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) ensuring that all DHS and DOS federal reporting requirements are met.

OISS staff have the authority and responsibility to submit to USCIS (and DOL) all employment-based immigration petitions (E-3, H-1B, O-1) and employment-based permanent residence applications (EB-1B and EB-2) sponsored by Yale University.

OISS is the only entity authorized to sign immigration petitions and applications on behalf of the University.

The use of outside counsel for Yale-sponsored immigration matters is not permitted without OISS review and approval.

Supporting non-immigrant and immigrant petitions for M&P staff positions is pursued only for the most senior positions and only after review and approval from Human Resources (HR) and Office of General Counsel (OGC). As the J-1 scholar category cannot be used for staff positions, if approved, the new hire must be able to qualify for the H-1B status, including a credentials match between the individual’s degrees and the position requirements, as well as the prevailing wage requirement.

Requests for permanent residence sponsorship for professional staff positions (M&P) are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and again require approval from HR and OGC. If approval is extended, OISS will work with the hiring unit on determining the appropriate outside counsel. While these cases are not done by OISS, OISS oversees the process to ensure institutional compliance.

Individuals in C&T or casual positions are not eligible for Yale visa sponsorship. They may be hired if they have their own work permission (J-2 EAD, F-1 OPT) as long as the position conditions comply with the visa's work permission rules (if any) and the job offer does not exceed the work permit validity.

Navigating U.S. immigration regulations is complicated, subject to delays and changes, and requires the full attention and participation of the hiring department, the scholar and OISS. At the outset, working with the department and the scholar, OISS will review the many factors and determine the most appropriate status for each individual.

OISS works with departments and scholar to identify the most appropriate visa and then works with both parties to acquire the status, as well as any extensions, including the preparation of any employer-based petitions to USCIS and DOL. In addition, OISS, will collect all relevant data necessary to meet all federal reporting requirements for both non-immigrant and permanent resident statuses.

OISS also provides training and updated information on employment-based related topics to host departments.

The faculty host and department administrator play a key role in the process of acquiring the correct visa status for a new scholar, as well as ensuring the scholar maintains a status that permits Yale employment and/or affiliation throughout the appointment period. Specifically, the department will:

• Ensure that all institutional protocols for hiring and appointment are followed, including ensuring the scholar has received information about the terms of appointment.
• Determine if immigration sponsorship is required and work with OISS as soon as the appointment is confirmed to identify more appropriate visa status.
• Initiate the process creating an OISS Connect record and provide all required information and documentation until the visa document is prepared and the individual has arrived.
• Monitor arrival dates and inform OISS of any delays and no-shows.
• Assist with onboarding and ensure the new arrival completes the OISS check-in.
• Report to OISS any change in the Yale appointment (e.g. title, funding, location and duties).
• Initiate well in advance any extension of the original appointment.
• Notify OISS if scholar leaves before the expiration date on the current visa document.