Temporary Work Authorization (“Non-Immigrant Status”)

UO files for temporary immigration status (e.g. E-3, F-1 OPT, H-1B, J-1, TN, etc.) for positions that are eligible. Immigration limits the duration of temporary immigration status, typically 5 – 7 years total.

J-1 Exchange Visitor

J-1 immigration status facilitates the exchange of scholarly expertise. The Department of State considers any employment while in J-1 status to be merely incidental to the primary goal of exchanging scholarly expertise. This means that any employment at UO while in J-1 status should be a means of facilitating the exchange of research & instructional ideas and expertise.

UO offers J-1 sponsorship for temporary research and instructional positions that have a collaborative exchange component.

Positions typically sponsored for J-1 status include the following:

• Courtesy faculty*
• Post Doctoral Scholars
• Pro Tempore faculty*
• Visiting faculty*

*excluding Research Assistants who are considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the researcher’s expertise, level of collaboration, and level of education.

H-1B Employee in a Specialty Occupation

H-1B immigration status enables employers to hire highly-skilled workers. To be eligible, a position must be a “specialty occupation”, meaning it requires at least a specialized bachelor’s (or its equivalent) and for which a specialized bachelor’s is standard for similar positions in the labor market.

Positions typically sponsored for H-1B status include the following:

• Career faculty
• Tenure track or tenured faculty

On a case-by-case basis, UO may sponsor Pro Tempore faculty, Officers of Administration, or SEIU employees. Sponsorship decisions are based on UO’s standard decision-making factors, which include: likelihood of success, immigration requirements, position duties, employee retention, current capacity, and university-wide equity/consistency.

Country-Specific Immigration Statuses (E-3, TN)

Whenever possible, UO sponsors employees in country-specific immigration status, including E-3 (Australian citizens) and TN (Canadian & Mexican citizens).

Positions typically sponsored for E-3 status include the following:

• Career faculty
• Tenure track or tenured faculty
• Post Doctoral Scholars
• Pro Tempore faculty
• Visiting faculty

Positions typically sponsored for TN status include the following:

• Post Doctoral Scholars
• Pro Tempore faculty
• Visiting faculty

UO is willing to consider sponsoring immigration statuses that are not listed here. In determining whether UO will sponsor another immigration status, UO will apply its standard decision-making factors, which include: likelihood of success, immigration requirements, position duties, employee retention, current capacity, and university-wide equity/consistency.

Permanent Work Authorization (“Permanent Residency”)

UO files for permanent residency in parallel to its filings for temporary work authorization. Permanent residency is a long, multi-stepped process, which typically takes at least 2 years. An employee must maintain temporary work authorization while the permanent residency process is ongoing.

Labor Certification (EB-2)

Labor certification is one path to permanent residency. In UO’s portion of this permanent residency process, the US Department of Labor certifies that the UO has not detrimentally impacted US workers by hiring our employee.

UO offers labor certification sponsorship for tenure-track and tenured faculty positions. On a case-by-case basis UO may sponsor Career faculty positions (excluding Research Assistants). On rare occasions, the UO may also sponsor Career Research Assistants Officers of Administration, or SEIU employees. Sponsorship decisions are based on UO’s standard decision-making factors, which include: likelihood of success, immigration requirements, position duties, employee retention, current capacity, and university-wide equity/consistency.

Outstanding Professor or Researcher (EB-1)

Outstanding Professor/Researcher is one path to permanent residency. In UO’s portion of this permanent residency process, the Immigration Service confirms that the employee is recognized internationally as outstanding in the academic field.

Labor certification is UO’s preferred method of filing for permanent residency for our employees; so only on rare occasions the UO may sponsor Outstanding Professor/Researcher for tenure-track and tenured faculty positions, Career Clinical Professors, Career Professors of Practice, Career Research Associates, and Career Research Professors. Sponsorship decisions are based on UO’s standard decision-making factors, which include: likelihood of success, immigration requirements, position duties, employee retention, current capacity, and university-wide equity/consistency.