The H-1B Specialty Occupation category is the standard professional visa for temporary nonimmigrant faculty or, in case-by-case instances, staff who will be employed at the University of Oregon. The maximum duration for H-1B sponsorship is six years. Please contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at ischolar@uoregon.edu to determine if an employment opportunity meets H-1B Specialty Occupation eligibility.
Pre-Screening Request | Fees | H-1B 100K Fee | New H-1B Application | H-1B Extension | Processing Timeline | Eligibility | Required Notification
Departments can log in to iConnect with their UO login credentials to submit applications to sponsor a new H-1B employee or extend a current employee’s H-1B status.
H-1B employees will receive an email invitation from their department to access iConnect.
Training: Review the PowerPoint trainings (below) or watch the Teams recording
Request access to iConnect by completing this Qualtrics form.
Pre-Screening Request
Departments should use this form in iConnect to begin the process of hiring a new foreign national employee.
Department steps:
- Collect
- New H-1B hire’s email address
- Copy of new H-1B hire’s passport
- Position Requisition
- Employment Contract or RTO
- Add new H-1B hire to iConnect using Add New Person - Fill this form with new H-1B hire's details from passport
- Submit H-1B Pre-Screening Request
H-1B New Hire Steps
- Receive an email request to complete your portion of the application
- Email ischolar@uoregon.edu with availability for a 20-minute Zoom call
ISSS will send a calendar invite with a Zoom link to the department and new hire to discuss plans for visa sponsorship.
H-1B Fees
Complete this form to authorize payment and provide the index to be charged for the following fees (note: we are no longer accepting checks!):
- $500 Anti-Fraud Fee
- Only paid once for the first H-1B petition UO submits
- $460 I-129 Application Filing Fee
- Paid every time UO submits an H-1B petition - new requests and extensions
- $2,965 Premium Processing Fee (RECOMMENDED)
- This fee is optional, but guarantees adjudication within 15 business days. Please contact ischolar@uoregon.edu to discuss whether it's advisable for your case.
*As of November 2026, regular processing times are approximately 10-12 months.
100K H-1B Fee
On Friday, September 19, 2025, the US federal administration issued a proclamation announcing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas, effective September 21, 2025. The proclamation is currently set to expire on September 21, 2026; several legal challenges have been filed against it.
The new $100,000 H-1B fee only applies to new employees who are coming from outside the US.
The fee does NOT apply to:
- Current UO employees
- New employees who are currently in the US (working elsewhere in the US or studying at a US university, for example).
- These employees may continue to work and travel without impact ($100k fee not required).
- UO international students who are changing their status to H-1B in order to work in the US following graduation.
If you have a question about hiring an international candidate and whether the fee would apply, please contact ischolar@uoregon.edu.
For more information:USCIS H-1B Specialty Occupation
New H-1B Application
Department Steps
After completing the Pre-Screening Request and the initial Zoom call: Departments can log in to iConnect with their UO login credentials to begin the H-1B - New Application
- Login to iConnect and select My Current Cases
- Click on the name of the new H-1B hire
- Select H-1B - New Application and complete all forms
- Submit Department Final Submit once H-1B hire has completed their portion of the application.
Employee Checklist
You will receive an email invitation to complete the New H-1B Request Form in iConnect once your department initiates the process. Please prepare to upload the following documents:
- Copy of entry stamp OR most recent I-94 entry record
- Copy of current visa sticker in passport
- Copy of identity page of passport
- Copy of diploma for highest degree earned
- Copy of transcript for highest diploma
- Completed credential evaluation for highest degree completed outside the United States (from Silvergate or other reputable credential evaluator). Please contact ischolar@uoregon.edu with questions
- Updated CV
Additional documents needed depending on current visa type
- F-1:
- Copy of all previous I-20s, including I-20 with OPT Recommendation or Approval
- Copy of EAD card (if applicable)
- Copy of paystubs (if working on OPT)
- J-1:
- Copy of all previous DS-2019s (front & back)
- Copy of J-1/J-2 Sticker
- Copy of 212e waiver (if applicable)
- H-1B:
- Copy of all previous I-797 or I-171C (H-1B Approval Notices)
- Copies of 3 most recent paystubs
- W-2s form from previous years of H-1B employment
If you have dependents who will change to H4 visa status
For those dependents currently in the US in another status, you may file form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status either through a paper filing or online using the H-1B receipt number provided by ISSS after filing the petition.
For those dependents who are currently outside the US and will be applying for an H-4 visa at a US embassy or consulate, they may use the H-1B's I-797 Approval Notice to apply for a visa at the consulate, and need not file the form I-539.
H-1B Extension Application
Department Steps
H-1B employment authorization is automatically extended for 240 days if the extension petition is filed prior to the current H-1B expiration date. If the employee is planning to travel outside the US and obtain a new H-1B visa, however, they must have the original approval notice in hand. Please e-mail ischolar@uoregon.edu with questions regarding H-1B extensions or employee travel.
- Login to iConnect and select H-1B - Extension Application
- Enter the H-1B employee's 95# and DOB, select "Find Record"
- Select H-1B - Extension Application and complete all forms
- Submit Department Final Submit once H-1B hire has completed their portion of the application.
Employees Checklist
You will receive an email invitation to complete the H-1B - Extension Request Form in iConnect once your department initiates the process. Please prepare to upload the following documents:
- Updated CV
- Copy of entry stamp OR most recent I-94 entry record
- Copy of current visa sticker in passport (if available)
- Copy of identity page of passport
- Copy of all I-797 (H-1B Approval Notices)
- Copy of any I-140 Immigrant Petition approval notice (if applicable)
- Copies of 3 most recent UO pay statements (available on Duckweb)
- Copy of diploma for highest degree earned
- Copy of transcript for highest diploma
- Completed credential evaluation for highest degree completed outside the United States (from Silvergate or other reputable credential evaluator). Please contact ischolar@uoregon.edu with questions
- If previously in J-1 status:
- Copy of all previous DS-2019s (front & back)
- Copy of J-1/J-2 Sticker
- Copy of 212e waiver (if applicable)
If you have dependents who will extend their H4 visa status
For those dependents currently in the US, you may file form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status either through a paper filing or online using the H-1B receipt number provided by ISSS after ISSS files the petition and before the end of the current H-1B validity.
For those dependents who are currently outside the US and will be applying for an H-4 visa at a US embassy or consulate, they may use the H-1B's I-797 Approval Notice to apply for a visa at the consulate, and need not file the form I-539.
Processing Timeline
- ISSS receives completed department application and all required documents in iConnect
- 3 week ISSS processing/preparation time to filing date of H-1B petition with USCIS
- USCIS Premium processing: 15 business day guaranteed processing time
- USCIS Regular processing: 10+ month processing time (no guaranteed timeline)
- 1-2 week mailing time for original approval notice to arrive at ISSS
*Please check with ISSS to determine if USCIS approval is necessary prior to start date for material changes to position
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for H-1B Specialty Occupation sponsorship, the applicant must meet the following:
- Possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific specialty (or its equivalent)
- Have theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge
- The offered wage must meet or exceed the prevailing wage for the position
Please email ischolar@uoregon.edu to determine if a position is eligible for visa sponsorship.
If you have recently been hired as a UO employee and require visa sponsorship, please have your department complete the H-1B Pre-Screening Request.
Required Notification
In compliance with Department of Labor requirements for employers petitioning for H-1B visas, the following notice of positions for which the University of Oregon intends to hire H-1B/E-3 employees is provided. Candidates have already been selected to fill the positions; the notice is not a posting for an open position.