No other status is appropriate for a permanent employee who is not a U.S. citizen. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to obtain immigrant status for a particular individual because of immigration regulations. It is important to determine a potential foreign faculty member's eligibility for permanent resident status before the individual is hired. It is relatively simple and appropriate for our office to determine if there are common barriers to permanent residency. If our office can be brought into the hiring process early, we try to solve any problems that may arise.
Early planning is the key.
There may be times when it is necessary to make a change of nonimmigrant status for what seems like a short period of time in order to make sure that the alien is eligible to become a permanent resident from inside the United States or to assure that the alien will have no trouble travelling outside the United States while the application for permanent residency is pending. We apologize in advance for these applications but remind applicants that we operate in the interests of the University and that we deal with visa matters in a very conservative manner. In applying for immigrant status for a prospective foreign faculty member or researcher, the University undertakes a considerable responsibility under immigration laws. Departments must exercise care to use the employment authority of the University to obtain immigration benefits for aliens only when that is consistent with the University's goals, programs, and standards and within the intent of the immigration law. Doubtful or borderline cases will be referred to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for determination as to whether or not the University should undertake the petition for permanent residency for any particular alien.