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

An H-1B Specialty Workers classification applies to an alien who is coming temporarily to the United States to perform services in a specialty occupation that meets the requirements of that position and who will be paid the appropriate wage of that position. 

O1 Extraordinary Ability

The O1 Extraordinary Ability visa category is reserved for individuals who have risen to the very top of their fields and can provide documentation that substantiates their extraordinary ability. This visa grants the bearer permission to work in the United States.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a work authorization benefit of the F-1 visa that allows F-1 students to work in their major field of study. It is limited to one year after degree completion. An extension is available for majors within STEM fields.

Permanent Residency

Permanent Residency, also called a "green card," is appropriate for tenure-track faculty and certain research positions who already have another legal status (visa, etc.) in the U.S.

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. 

TN Professionals

The TN visa is an employment visa for Canadian and Mexican citizens in certain fields.