Hiring H-1B Workers
H-1B temporary worker visa status is used for employment in specialty occupations. A specialty occupation is defined as a position that requires at least a Bachelor’s degree in a specific field and theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge in order to perform the job duties. Jobs that require any Bachelor’s degree do not qualify.
The H-1B Visa is employer and- job-specific and requires an employer to file applications with the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) and U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to sponsor an employee. This visa allows for an individual to work for up to six years.
The entire H-1 process can take six months or more to complete. Therefore, please allow ample processing time.
University H-1B Sponsorship Policy
Georgetown University sponsors certain faculty, researchers, and specialized staff for H-1B Temporary Worker status. The following criteria must be met for an individual to be sponsored:
- The position must require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a specific field and specialized training or knowledge, and the employee must meet the minimum requirement at the time of application. Positions which require any Bachelor’s degree or no degree at all do not qualify.
- The position cannot be a temporary position. The benefits offered to employees in H-1B status must be the same as those offered to other employees in similar positions.
- The position must be full-time. Exception: Part-time positions that are paid hourly do qualify for sponsorship if the employee works at least 20 hours per week. Salaried part-time positions (including adjunct faculty) do not qualify for sponsorship due to the requirement to keep track of the actual number of hours worked each week.
- Employees need to maximize their initial work status (OPT, STEM OPT, J-1, etc.) before being considered for H-1B sponsorship. H-1B sponsorship will only be initiated 6 months prior to the expiration of the OPT/STEM OPT, 5 years in J-1 status, or expiration of another type of work authorization. Requests for exceptions need to be submitted in writing by the hiring Department to Sandra Galib with a valid reason for the exception.
- Similarly, if a candidate offered a position at Georgetown is outside the United States and qualifies for J-1 status (NTL Professor, Postdoctoral Fellow, etc.) and the scholar is not subject to any sort of bar on repeat participation as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor, then OGS will sponsor a J-1 rather than an H-1B visa. Requests for exceptions need to be submitted in writing by the hiring Department to Sandra Galib with a valid reason for the exception.
- The Department must cover all USCIS fees relating to the application. Exception: If the request for premium processing is for the employee’s personal reasons, the premium processing fee can be paid by the employee.
- The approval of the Department Chair, supervisor and Department Administrator must be obtained. Although general information may be discussed beforehand, the Office of Global Services (OGS) will not initiate Georgetown-sponsored H-1B applications until approval is received from the Department.
- The Department agrees to pay the reasonable costs of the foreign national’s return transportation to their home country should the Department terminate their employment before the expiration of the employment approved by USCIS.
Please note that Human Resources and/or Faculty policies with regard to employment apply, and nothing in this policy implies otherwise.
All paperwork related to Georgetown-sponsored H-1B petitions must be filed by OGS to ensure accuracy and consistency of University information that is sent to the U.S. government. Use of outside attorneys is not permitted.
Initiating Sponsorship Procedures
The hiring Department and the employee each complete portions of the request form, and each submits their form to OGS per the form’s instructions.
The Sponsorship Process
There are three steps in applying for H-1B temporary worker status.
This information is intended to provide basic, general information only and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice from qualified immigration specialists.