Departments wishing to hire a candidate that will require visa sponsorship from Drexel play an instrumental role in ensuring that there is enough time to complete all necessary processes. This includes receiving approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and, if applicable, securing a visa from the U.S. Department of State. These steps are essential for the candidate to begin working on the anticipated employment start date.

Early collaboration with Human Resources and ISSS is crucial. As soon as the finalist for the position has been identified, and if the candidate has indicated in their job application that they will require visa sponsorship from Drexel, the department should submit the following two forms:

1. Position Review: This form is to be completed by the hiring department.
2. Immigration Screening Questionnaire: This form is to be completed by the employee or new hire, but it must be submitted to ISSS by the department at the same time via upload to the position review form.

All questions on the forms must be answered, and all required documents must be attached. Incomplete forms cannot be accepted and may delay the process.

The submitted information will assist ISSS in determining whether both the position and the candidate are eligible for visa sponsorship. Not all positions and candidates qualify for sponsorship. If ISSS determines either the position or the candidate is not eligible for sponsorship, we will provide a clear explanation.

After an initial review, which typically takes five business days, ISSS will contact the department with a recommendation regarding the best path forward. ISSS’s recommendation will be based on immigration regulations and, if there is more than one possible immigration pathway, in the interest of the department and Drexel. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: The initial review is only to confirm that both the position AND the candidate are eligible for visa sponsorship at Drexel. The formal immigration sponsorship process, which begins after HR clears the candidate for hire, is longer and involves several steps. 

Timeline:

To allow sufficient time for processing, departments are asked to submit their requests to ISSS at least six months before the anticipated employment start date. While ISSS will accept requests submitted less than six months before the anticipated employment start date, we cannot guarantee that processing will be completed in time for the employee to have work authorization by the requested start date. The actual processing time depends on the type of visa and the employee's immigration background, both of which can significantly impact the overall processing time.

Common Visa Categories

Drexel University sponsors several types of visas, with the J-1 Scholar visa and H-1B Temporary Employee visa being the most common. In rare cases, Drexel may also sponsor an O-1 Extraordinary Ability visa or TN visa. Each of these visas has different eligibility criteria, costs, and processing times. ISSS will determine the most suitable visa type after reviewing the Position Review and Immigration Screening Questionnaire forms.

Below we provide the most common positions, and the visa type we typically sponsor for those positions:

J-1 Visiting Scholars

Exchange visitor (J) visas are non-immigrant visas designed for individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. They aim to promote international academic, scientific, and cultural exchange and foster mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries. The J-1 is typically used for scholars with official appointments at Drexel, including visiting faculty, postdoctoral researchers, short-term researchers, and graduate students from foreign institutions conducting short-term academic research at Drexel.

For detailed information on inviting J-1 scholars to Drexel, including the application process, please consult the ISSS Hiring Portal.

Incoming and current J-1 scholars can find detailed information on the DS-2019 issuance and extension processes, visa applications, arrival in the U.S., and maintaining J-1 status while participating in a program at Drexel on the J-1 Scholars page.

H-1B Specialty Workers

The H-1B Specialty Workers classification applies to individuals temporarily coming to the United States to perform services in a "specialty occupation". A specialty occupation requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a baccalaureate or higher degree (or its equivalent) in the specialty occupation as a minimum requirement. Employees must meet the minimum qualifications of the position when filing the H-1B petition.

At Drexel, H-1B visas are most commonly used for faculty positions, as well as a limited number of staff positions.

For more detailed information about sponsoring H-1B status for new incoming or current employees at Drexel, including the application process, please consult the ISSS Department Portal.

Additional information about the H-1B classification can be found on the H-1B Specialty Workers webpage. Once ISSS determines that a position and the employee are eligible for Drexel's H-1B sponsorship, the department will be instructed to complete the H-1B Request Form available in the ISSS Department Portal.

O1 Extraordinary Ability

The O1 Extraordinary Ability visa is designed for individuals who have achieved and sustained national or international recognition for their extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. These individuals are regarded as being at the very top of their respective fields.

The O-1 visa allows employers to petition the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to bring these extraordinary individuals to the U.S. on a temporary basis to work in their area of expertise.

Given that O-1 sponsorship is complex, time-consuming, and costly, it is typically pursued only when other visa types, such as J-1 or H-1B, are not viable options.

USMCA TN Professionals Visa for Citizens of Mexico and Canada

The USMCA TN non-immigrant visa classification, established under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), allows qualified citizens of Canada and Mexico to temporarily enter the United States to engage in professional business activities. Only occupations listed in Appendix 2 of Annex 16-A of Chapter 16 of the USMCA are eligible for TN employment. This appendix also specifies the minimum qualifications required for each occupation to enter the U.S.

As with any other visa sponsorship at Drexel, a request for TN visa sponsorship must be reviewed and approved by the International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS). The process is outlined in our ISSS Department Portal.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM Extension

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary work authorization benefit available to F-1 students. It allows them to work in positions directly related to their major field of study for up to 12 months. When a final candidate for a position is eligible for OPT, it is typically the preferred option for initial work authorization, as it allows departments to hire an individual without immediately sponsoring their visa status and can potentially extend the amount of time an individual qualifies to remain employed in the US.

Students on OPT or the STEM Extension are in F-1 status under the visa sponsorship of the school that issued their Form I-20. Students with questions about their eligibility for OPT or the STEM extension should consult with the school sponsoring their F-1 status regarding eligibility criteria.

Some employees may be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension of their OPT authorization, allowing them to work at Drexel for up to 36 months without Drexel's visa sponsorship. The STEM OPT extension requires the employer to complete and sign a training plan called the I-983. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify in order to hire students on STEM OPT. Drexel is enrolled in E-Verify and HR is available to advise departments on details needed to complete the I-983 training plan.

To onboard individuals on OPT or STEM OPT, incoming employees should work directly with Human Resources to complete the I-9 process. All questions about hiring and onboarding, including documentation of work authorization, should be directed to HR.

If the department plans to sponsor an individual for an H-1B or related work visa, it is common for the individual to begin working under OPT and/or the STEM Extension and later transition to a different visa status. The hiring department should reach out to ISSS to discuss post-OPT/STEM visa sponsorship options for these employees several months before the OPT/STEM OPT authorization expires.

Permanent Residency ("green card")

Permanent Residency, commonly known as a "green card," is suitable for tenure-track faculty and certain research positions for individuals who already hold another legal U.S. immigration status in the U.S. Departments interested in sponsoring a tenured or tenure-track faculty member for permanent residence should contact ISSS at isss@drexel.edu to request a meeting with ISSS and external legal counsel to discuss eligibility criteria, timelines, and associated fees. For all other positions, prior permission from the Provost's Office is required. Once this permission is obtained, the department should then reach out to ISSS.

Temporary Visitors: B-1/B-2 and WB/WT

B-1, WB, and GB visas or waiver programs are used for cases such as traveling for an educational convention, a conference, or negotiating a contract. These visas are not sponsored by the university. However, a letter of invitation from the hosting Drexel department should be provided.