Purdue sponsors employees and researchers for several different classifications of visa status, as listed generally below. For further detail about a specific visa status classification, please click the hyperlink or use the website navigation to find out more information. Requests must be submitted to International Scholar Services by the department or hiring unit, and not by the individual employee or scholar.
Note: H-1B, E-3, TN and O-1 are work visas. They authorize a person to start work "now" for a specific duration of time, and are specific to the specific details listed in the government paperwork. Permanent residence is a process intended to result in the grant of an indefinite or permanent authorization for the individual to reside in the USA and participate fully in the US Labor market.
Usually, internationals need first a work visa, and additionally permanent residence processing, either at the same time as the work visa is processed (for faculty) or after one year of employment (for everyone else).
| E-3 | TN | O-1 | Permanent Residence (PR) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary vs Permanent | Temporary / Dual Intent | Strictly Nonimmigrant | Strictly Nonimmigrant | Temporary (Dual Intent permitted) | Permanent / Immigrant |
| Type of Opportunity |
All Faculty appointments including paid Visiting Faculty Postdoctoral appointments (note - some units have unit-specific policies to not sponsor postdocs for H-1B) Staff positions that are "P" (professional) level or higher |
Non-Tenure Track Faculty including paid Visiting Faculty Postdoctoral appointments Staff positions that are "P" (professional) level or higher AND limited term (with a pre-set end date) |
Non-Tenure Track Faculty including paid Visiting Faculty Postdoctoral appointments Staff positions that are "P" (professional) level or higher AND limited term (with a pre-set end date) |
All Faculty appointments including paid Visiting Faculty Postdoctoral appointments Staff positions that are "P" (professional) level or higher |
Purdue requires PR sponsorship for tenured, tenure-track, clinical and professional faculty. Units may choose to sponsor PR for most other faulty and staff positions. Purdue does not offer PR sponsorship for postdocs, visiting faculty, visiting scholars or limited term lecturers |
| Intention to reside permanently | Permitted | Prohibited | Prohibited | Permitted | [yes] |
| Maximum Duration |
6 years, approved in increments of no more than 3 years Once the maximum duration is reached, the individual must be outside the USA for an aggregate of 2 years. |
2 years The law does not limit the number or frequency of renewals provided the individual maintains nonimmigrant intent. |
3 years The law does not limit the number or frequency of renewals provided the individual maintains nonimmigrant intent. |
3 years The law does not limit the number or frequency of renewals |
Indefinite (but extended absences from the USA can led to the government assuming there is an intention to abandon permanent residence) |
| Purdue requests |
Purdue policy limits requests to the duration of the appointment OR the maximum increment permitted by law, whichever is shorter |
Purdue policy limits requests to the duration of the appointment OR the maximum duration, whichever is shorter | Purdue policy limits requests to the duration of the appointment OR the maximum duration, whichever is shorter | Purdue policy limits requests to the duration of the appointment OR the maximum duration, whichever is shorter |
Tenured, tenure-track, clinical and professional faculty are sponsored for EB-2 permanent residence. If any other form of PR sponsorship is wanted, this must be requested and approved by the hiring unit, in coordination with International Scholar Services. The choice of PR process for other faculty and staff is determined by International Scholar Services upon evaluation of the totality of circumstances. |
| Extensions? |
Yes, permitted in 3 year increments to the maximum duration. Post-6th-year extensions are permitted if the individual has reached a specific point in the permanent residence process by the beginning of the final year of H-1B status. |
Yes, permitted until the maximum duration is reached. If continued presence in the USA is wanted after that, the visa status may be renewed. | Yes, permitted until the maximum duration is reached. If continued presence in the USA is wanted after that, the visa status may be renewed. | Yes, permitted until the maximum duration is reached. If continued presence in the USA is wanted after that, the visa status may be renewed. | n/a |
| Changing to Other Visa Status |
Permitted If moving to another work-authorizing visa status, the request to change visa status must be filed and approved before the H-1B status ends, to avoid interruptions in work permission. |
Permitted If moving to another work-authorizing visa status, the request to change visa status must be filed and approved before the H-1B status ends, to avoid interruptions in work permission. |
Permitted If moving to another work-authorizing visa status, the request to change visa status must be filed and approved before the H-1B status ends, to avoid interruptions in work permission. |
Permitted If moving to another work-authorizing visa status, the request to change visa status must be filed and approved before the H-1B status ends, to avoid interruptions in work permission. |
n/a |
| Other Rules, Policies or References |
If the individual is subject to J-1 212(e) Home Residence, then they are barred from H-1B status. The 212e obligation must be fulfilled or waived. |
If the individual is subject to J-1 212e Home Residence, then the individual cannot change from J status to O-1 status while in the USA. Instead, they must exit the country and apply for an O-1 visa once the O-1 petition is approved. | If the individual is subject to J-1 212(e) Home Residence, then they are barred from permanent residence. The 212e obligation must be fulfilled or waived. | ||
| International Scholar Services Process | See International Scholar Services Processing | See International Scholar Services Processing | See International Scholar Services Processing |
See O-1 Process for summary of how O-1 requests are processed. Because of the nature of O-1 paperwork, preparation takes not less than 3-4 months and typically takes up to 6-8 months to finalize for submission to USCIS |
Host units are responsible for initiating requests for permanent residence with International Scholar Services |
| H-1B | E-3 | TN |
| J-1 Research Scholar / Professor | J-1 Short-Term Scholar | J-1 Student Intern | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary vs Permanent | Strictly Nonimmigrant - the offer of employment must have an end date | Strictly Nonimmigrant - the offer of employment must have an end date | Strictly Nonimmigrant - the offer of employment must have an end date |
| Type of Opportunity |
Non-Tenure Track Faculty including Visiting Faculty Postdoctoral appointments Unpaid Visiting Scholar appointments |
Non-Tenure Track Faculty including Visiting Faculty Postdoctoral appointments Unpaid Visiting Scholar appointments |
Student Intern opportunities only |
| Intention to reside permanently | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Maximum Duration |
5 years Once the J program is closed in SEVIS, the individual is unable to "repeat participation" in another J program for 24 months. |
6 months Purdue policy prohibits more than two sequential Short-Term Scholar visits within a 36-month period. See also the discussion of back-to-back Short-Term Scholar visits. |
12 months Once the student internship is complete, the student must return to their home country to graduate, at which point they cease to be eligible for the student intern category. |
| Purdue requests | Purdue policy limits requests to the duration of the appointment, OR the maximum duration, whichever is shorter | Purdue policy limits requests to the duration of the appointment, OR the maximum duration, whichever is shorter | Purdue policy limits requests to the duration of the student internship (and the degree component at that home institution that the internship is statisfying), OR the maximum duration, whichever is shorter |
| Extensions? | Yes, permitted until the maximum duration is reached. | Yes, permitted until the maximum duration is reached. See also the discussion of repeat participation bars. | Extensions are limited. See the discussion of Student Intern visas. |
| Changing to Other Visa Status |
Permitted If moving to another work-authorizing visa status, the request to change visa status must be filed and approved before the H-1B status ends, to avoid interruptions in work permission. |
Not generally possible. Please consult with International Scholar Services. |
Not permitted. J-1 Student Interns may not change to F-1 student status while in the USA. J-1 Student Intern status does not authorize the start of an F-1 degree program in the USA. J-1 Student Interns must return to their home country at the completion of their internship |
| Other Rules, Policies or References |
See also
|
See also how J-1 rules interact | |
| International Scholar Services Process | Please see our general summary of J-1 processing | Please see our general summary of J-1 processing | Please see our general summary of J-1 processing |
| J-1 Research Scholar / Professor | J-1 Short-Term Scholar | J-1 Student Intern |