There are numerous nonimmigrant employment-based visa categories. In all cases, the foreign national must meet specific requirements related to the occupation and position they would hold at OU. Departments must work in consultation with the Office of Immigration Services (OIS) to complete the process for bringing a foreign national to OU.
Under no circumstances should the OU hiring department make any guarantee of sponsorship to a foreign worker for any immigration benefit. Because of the complexity of employment-based sponsorship, it is impossible for any employer to guarantee that its efforts to secure USCIS employment authorization will be successful.
OU departments can review the visas available for different kinds of work on the OIS Nonimmigrant Classification Reference Guide in the Resources section of this website. After reviewing this information, departments should contact OIS to determine the proper visa.
OU departments must notify OIS as soon as possible when planning to bring a foreign national or continuing the authorization of current workers. Follow the notification timelines in the right columns of the OIS Nonimmigrant Classification Reference Guide in the Resources section of this website. Failure to follow these notification timelines may result in the inability to authorize a new worker in time for their start date or to renew their authorization before their previous employment authorization ends.
All requests for the employment of foreign nationals at the University of Oklahoma must be processed through OIS. Only the OIS staff is authorized to sign the legal documents and forms required to sponsor international scholars and staff.
Departments can review the visas available for different kinds of work in the OIS Nonimmigrant Classification Reference Guide in the Resources section of this site. After reviewing this document, departments should contact OIS to determine the proper visa.
Information about fees and who is responsible for fee payment is available on each program's specific page.
The length of time for the visa process depends on a variety of factors. It is highly recommended that departments follow the timelines set out in the OIS Nonimmigrant Classification Reference Guide in the Resources section of this website. See the far right columns for the Preferred Length of Notice to give OIS when you're attempting to bring an international person to OU.
Processing time depends on the visa type, current status, current location, government processing times, and when information is given to OIS, among other factors. Keep in mind that OIS processing precedes the embassy processing and both steps can be affected by unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.
An international person's start date at OU depends on a variety of factors including the visa type, current status, current location, government processing times, and when information is given to the OIS, among other factors. Contact the OIS as early as possible in your recruitment process of an international person.
