Maintaining Status and Regulatory Compliance
Immigration Services must be notified prior to any change in employment status or conditions for H-1B employees, including, rate of pay, full / part-time status, work location, job title or duty change. An amended petition may be required before any changes can be effected. The wages of an H-1B employee may not be reduced prior to notifying the Immigration Services office, and assessing whether a new petition must be filed. If the hiring department terminates the employment in advance of the approved end date, the employer must offer to pay the return airfare back to the employee’s home country. Requests for extensions of H status should be received by the Immigration Services office six months prior to the current expiration date. Please consult our caseload assignment sheet to find your H-1B immigration advisor:
Scholar Caseload Division
Government Site Visits
USCIS will occasionally send officers to inspect the work site locations and employment conditions of any H-1B sponsored employee. These visits are often random and unannounced and may occur before or after a petition approval. The officer may ask for any information relating to the employment of the international as well as proof of employment (pay stubs or W-2 forms). If an officer does visit your office please notify your immigration advisor immediately.
U.S. Permanent Residency
Employees hired under the H-1B visa sponsorship are often eligible for an additional sponsorship for US permanent residency (a.k.a. “green card”). If the hiring department is interested in a permanent residency sponsorship for an international employee they should contact our office as soon as possible after a job offer is made to the employee.