New Sponsorship Request

This page provides field-by-field instructions to create a new OISS Connect record for departments to request visa sponsorship.

Important: Click Submit!

OISS connect does not automatically save data as you enter it--click on submit button to avoid losing dataOISS Connect does not automatically save as data is entered in the form. You must complete all fields and click the Submit button at the bottom of the page to avoid losing entered data.

Before You Begin

Before starting the process you should have the following information on hand:

  • Appointment Title
  • Appointment Start and End Dates
  • Scholar's name, email, and date of birth
  • Evidence of scholar's work authorization, if applicable Change Alert! Unlike the process in ISD, if the scholar will use their own work authorization, you must also have this documentation (e.g. for OPT a scan of EAD card) when creating the OISS Connect record.

Change Alert! Unlike the process in ISD, if the scholar will use their own work authorization, you must also have this documentation (e.g. for OPT a scan of EAD card) when creating the OISS Connect record. Change Alert! Unlike the process in ISD, if the scholar will use their own work authorization, you must also have this documentation (e.g. for OPT a scan of EAD card) when creating the OISS Connect record.

Step 1: Create a 'New Sponsorship Request'

After logging into OISS Connect, click on the + New Sponsorship Request button at the top left:

Click on New Sponsorship request after logging in

Step 2: Search Scholar Name and Email

Search for scholar by name, email or family name

A: To see if the scholar is already in our database, enter their personal email address and click the right-side magnifier icon to search. If no results are returned, click ‘OK’ and try again with their Yale email (if created). If the scholar is found, double-click on their name to populate fields B through C. If they are not found, fill out B and C as follows.

B: Enter scholar’s email address. Use the scholar's Yale email address if known.

C: Enter scholar’s Family Name and Given Name. If you have a copy of the scholar's passport, enter names as they appear in the passport MRZ.

Step 3: Enter Appointment Information


Fill out all the appointment information in required formats explained below

D: Enter Proposed Start and End Date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

E: If known, select Visa Type from drop down menu - “J-1”, “H-1B”,  “F-1 OPT/STEM” (use for any OPT or non-Yale sponsored visa status, as well as for F-1 CPT), “JO” (use for J-1 Academic Training or Non-Yale sponsored J-1, e.g. Fulbright), etc.

F: Select Hiring Authority and enter name of Supervising Faculty or PI.

G: If scholar will be paid by Yale, click Yes. If not, click No. If not yet determined, click Unspecified.

H: Enter hours per week for appointment (e.g. 40, 37.5).

I: Leave as Unspecified. OISS will later collect this information from the scholar.

Step 4: F-1 OPT/STEM (or other Employment Authorization Documents / EAD)

This section only appears if 'F-1 OPT/STEM' was chosen for Proposed Visa Type (E).

Fill out Work authorization dates for F-1 OPT/STEM

J: If on OPT, enter I-20 dates above.

K: Enter start and end date of the scholar’s work authorization (found on EAD card, on I-20 for CPT, or on DS-2019 for AT).

Step 5: Scholar's Biographical Details

Fill out biographical information. Only the Date of birth is required. Be careful to enter it in the right format(Month, Day, Year)

L: Only Date of Birth is Required: Be aware that the scholar's passport may list the DOB with the day first. You must enter it in MM/DD/YYYY format here.

Step 6: Enter Department Contact Information

Enter Department Contact information

M: Select scholar’s Host Department.

N: Select your name from the dropdown and fill in your Phone, Email and Campus Address. In the future, these fields will populate based on the selected Contact Name as entered on your Departmental Configuration page.

Step 7: Enter Appointment Title

Fill out sponsorship requests

O: Enter scholar’s Appointment Title.

Step 8: Review and Submit Record

Help Us Help You!
Please be sure to submit all the information and documents in the scholar request as completely as possible and review your work before you submit it to us. This makes the process much faster and easier for all parties!

After checking that information is correct, click submit

P: Check to make sure all information is correct and complete then click the Submit button at the bottom right.

Step 9: If F-1, Please Upload Documents

Next Steps

Once all required information and documentation has been submitted, OISS will review the request and contact you with any questions.

When OISS approves the new sponsorship request, OISS Connect will automatically notify the 'Department Contact' listed in the New Sponsorship Request via email. OISS Connect will also email the scholar an invitation to create an account and access their record.

J-1 Scholars: Next Steps

H-1B: Next Steps

Please email your OISS Adviser to proceed with H-1B document collection.