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H-1B

H-1B Visa Overview

To qualify for H-1B sponsorship, a position must require at least a bachelor's degree. Any position accepting extra work experience to substitute a bachelor's degree requirement will not qualify for H-1B sponsorship.

To sponsor an H-1B, the Office of International Affairs will:

  • Work with the hiring department to obtain an appropriate salary from the Department of Labor for the position.
  • File the H-1B petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

There are generally two initial H-1B processes:

  • Change of Status (for those who are already in the United States)
  • Consular Processing (for those who are currently overseas)

Jump to: Change of Status vs Consular Processing

Steps to Get an H-1B Visa

The sequence of steps to take to acquire an H-1B visa are:

  1. Learn about the job description and requirements.

  2. Follow the H-1B checklist to prepare and submit your H-1B application.

  4. Submit required documents on the checklist.

Degree Requirement and Specialization

  • The position needs to qualify as a "specialty occupation" and the applicant must hold the required degree in the field of employment. (For example, an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering should have a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering or a related field.)
  • Compensation for the position must be paid by UT Southwestern and be at least the prevailing wage set by the Department of Labor (DOL).
  • The H-1B is an employer-specific visa and allows compensation only from the employer for the work described in the petition.

Notify OIA of any changes to your employment terms (such as change in end date, employment location, title, duties, or source of funding). An H-1B amendment may be required.

UT Southwestern must receive export clearance in the petition whether or not an export license is required for the H-1B position.

Outside attorneys are generally not permitted to file UT Southwestern H-1B petitions.

Change Of Status Vs Consular Processing

A change of status is appropriate for individuals who are currently in the United States. Consular processing is used for those who are overseas or those who will be traveling overseas while the application is pending. Travel outside the United States while a change of status is pending will abandon that change of status.

If you change to H-1B status while in the U.S., OIA will provide you with the forms necessary to apply for an H-1B visa stamp prior to your first trip outside the U.S.

Warning: Travel outside the United States while a change of status is pending will abandon that change of status.

If your H-1B petition was filed for consular processing, you are required to obtain an H-1B visa at a U.S Embassy of your choice once you are notified of the approval. Please visit the embassy website for detailed visa application instructions.

Security Checks

Security checks during application for a visa stamp are very common for all people studying or working in scientific fields. They are even more common in specific locations, such as China, India, Korea, and Middle Eastern countries.

While these checks are usually completed within three weeks, a few have taken as long as six months. UT Southwestern cannot shorten the review process. Please plan accordingly and let your supervisor know about this possibility.

Other Useful H-1B Information

  • You will not be permitted to enter the U.S. in H-1B status more than 10 days prior to the effective date of that status.
  • You are required to start your position no later than 30 days after your arrival.
  • H-1B visa is employer- and position-specific; any changes in employment should be reviewed by OIA advisers.
  • Please find estimated wait times for interview scheduling.

Positions that Qualify for H-1B Sponsorship

  • UT Southwestern Medical Center may sponsor H-1B status for full-time positions such as:
    • Postdoctoral researchers
    • Faculty members
    • Specialty occupations that require a minimum of a baccalaureate degree (no substituting experience for education requirement)
  • We do not usually sponsor H-1B visas for clinical residents or fellows.
  • A person may hold H-1B status for a maximum of six years, granted in three-year increments.

H-1B Visa Fees

UT Southwestern policy requires that these fees always be paid by the sponsoring department. A separate check must be requested for each fee. As documentation for the check request (CKR) sent to Accounting and provide a copy of the supervisor's letter.

Potential Fees

  • $460 Processing fee payable to the Department of Homeland Security
  • $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection fee payable to the Department of Homeland Security (required for first H-1B visa petition for employment with UT Southwestern only)
  • $2,805 Premium Processing fee, if desired, payable to the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that the USCIS will process the case in 15 working days.
  • $470 Processing fee payable to the Department of Homeland Security (Required for spouse and children currently in the U.S. and applying for change of status or extension of H-4 dependent visa classification; fee covers all dependents.)

Sponsoring departments should submit check requests to Accounting as early as possible. Expedited check services may be requested for urgent H-1B cases.

Checks are delivered to OIA in Pegasus Park on Thursday mornings.

For more information on, see the USCIS Fee Schedule.

Submitting H-1B Request To OIA

An H-1B petition must be filed with USCIS for adjudication before you apply for an H-1B visa. In the case of a new H-1B visa classification, employment may not begin until the petition is approved and the original approval notice is received.

If your H-1B extension petition is filed in a timely manner, you will be granted automatic extension of employment authorization for an additional 240 days while the extension petition is pending.

To facilitate prompt completion of preliminary steps, please scan and email copies of the required documents on the H-1B checklist as early as six months before the H-1B start date or H-1B expiration date.

Checklist for H-1B Visas
(New, extension, amendment, or transfer)

View the checklist (DOC)

Physicians applying for H-1B will also be required to have:

  • USMLE (steps 1, 2, and 3) or FLEX (parts 1 and 2), or National Board of Medical Examiners (parts 1, 2, and 3)
  • Successful completion of ECFMG English test
  • Unrestricted license to practice in your country
  • License to practice medicine in Texas from the Texas Medical Board.

UT Southwestern does not usually sponsor H-1B visas for the purpose of clinical training.

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