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Inviting Internationals to Work at UT
Departments
who would like to invite international visiting professors, researchers,
or certain classified staff to UT may request work authorization
documents for the visitor’s visa application and entry to the
U.S. or for an in-country change of status.
J-1 Exchange Visitors
The majority of temporary visiting researchers and scholars
come to lecture or conduct research as J-1 Exchange Visitors. Information
on how to invite individuals to the US in this status can be found
on the J-1 Exchange Visitor website.
F-1 OPT / J-1 Academic Training
Some new international employees will already have a work authorization
such as F-1 OPT (Optional Practical Training) or J-1 Academic Training.
Many departments find it a fairly simple process to hire these individuals
in full-time position.
F-1 OPT
An international student in F-1 status may apply for a temporary
employment authorization known as Optional Practical Training
(OPT) to be used during a degree program or after the completion
of course requirements. Once the authorization has been approved
by BCIS, the F-1 Nonimmigrant receives a card known as the Employment
Authorization Document (EAD). Departments at The University of
Texas at Austin may employ F-1 OPT students for a period of time
within the one-year validity of the EAD. [Procedures
for hiring an individual on OPT]
J-1 Academic Training
An international student in J-1 status may apply for a temporary
employment authorization known as Academic Training (A/T) to be
used during a degree program or after the completion of course
requirements. Once the authorization has been approved by the
student’s J program sponsor, the J-1 Nonimmigrant receives
a Letter of Authorization and extended DS-2019 (if necessary).
Departments at The University of Texas at Austin may employ J-1
A/T students for a period of time within the 18-36 month validity
of the Letter of Authorization.[Procedures
for hiring an individual on Academic Training].
H-1B, O-1, TN and other Nonimmigrant Classifications
Often,departments will be interested in changing the status of these
employees to a longer status such as H-1B at a later date. It is
important to consult the Provost's
Policy on Hiring International Employees to determine if the
position is eligible for this status. Tenure-track faculty members
and permanent researchers should primarily be brought into the U.S.
on H-1B visas.
H-1B applications require approximately 6-8 months to process.
Certain outstanding employees that have received and sustained national
and international acclaim can qualify for an O-1 visa. Furthermore,
many employees from Canada can work based on a TN visa.
The University of Texas
at Austin uses these visa classifications to legally employ professors,
researchers, librarians, and other international employees. Importing
personnel in one of these temporary employment classifications
usually requires a case specific submission of a petition to BCIS.
The hiring department must initiate the H-1B and O-1 petitions.
Neither the international employee nor an immigration attorney
acting on behalf of the alien or department can file these petitions
for UT employment. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor has
requirements that need to be met before work at The University
of Texas at Austin is authorized.
Permanent
Residency Pending
Occasionally, a department may choose to hire an international employee
that is in the process of obtaining a “green card”. A
departmental representative should contact either the Director of
International Student and Scholar Services or the Immigration Employment
Specialist to determine how to proceed
with the paperwork for someone who has a Permanent Residency application
pending.
The International Student and Scholar Services
advisors will be pleased to help you determine the right visa for
the international employee you plan to invite to The University
of Texas at Austin.
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