This nonimmigrant status may be used to employ an individual in a professional or teaching position at °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ. The position offered must require a bachelor's degree or higher degree with a specific educational background and/or experience. The regulations define a "specialty occupation" as requiring theoretical and practical applications of a body of highly specialized knowledge in a complex field of study. Generally, the University uses H-1B status only for those faculty members in tenure track or other permanent positions or those employed in extended research assistant positions.
H-1B status allows employment for a specific employer and position. A person in H-1B status at another university or institution must have a new petition prepared by Old Dominion before employment here can begin. PLEASE NOTE: It is the employee's responsibility to provide the requested documents in a timely manner and to ensure the ability for their continued status at °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ.
The VISA office should be notified immediately once a candidate for hire is identified as needing visa sponsorship, or 6 months in advance of the H1B expiration date for extensions.
Please Note: As part of the processing for the H1B visa requests, the Office of Research will be conducting a review of applicants before final application submission to US Citizenship & Immigration Services. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Research.
H-1B Application Overview
- Step 1: Employee must receive an offer letter from °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ or °¼Í¹ÊÓƵ Research Foundation
- Step 2: The sponsoring department must fill out the H1B Employer Forms and Export Control Forms and email them to intlstu@odu.edu
- Step 3: The Employee must fill ouot the H1B Employee form and collect all required documentation and email them to intlstu@odu.edu
- Step 4: A VISA Advisor will be assigned to your case and follow up with any other forms and requirements
- Step 5: Your H1B petition will be submitted by VISA
According to stricter federal requirements:
To qualify as a specialty occupation, a position must meet one of the following criteria:
- A baccalaureate or higher degree or its equivalent is normally the minimum requirement for entry into the particular position
- The degree requirement is common to the industry in parallel positions among similar organizations or, in the alternative, an employer may show that its particular position is so complex or unique that it can be performed only by an individual with a degree
- The employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position, or
- The nature of the specific duties are so specialized and complex that knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a baccalaureate or higher degree.