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Section: 200-16
Effective: 10/25/10
Supersedes:11/6/79
Issuing Office: International Scholar Office and International Students and Programs Office

VISA SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

PPM 200-16 Policy [pdf format]

PPM 200-16 Supplement I [pdf format]

PPM 200-16 Supplement II [pdf format]

  1. INTRODUCTION

    Regulations, criteria, and procedures for obtaining visas are complex and subject to change. UC San Diego has established internal procedures to counsel departments, review and sign documents, and secure government agency approval. The International Scholar Office and International Students and Programs Office are the authoritative sources of information for all visa matters.

  2. DEFINITIONS

    For visa status terms and definitions, see U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis (Working in the US).

  3. POLICY

    The International Scholar Office has the sole authority to assist University departments and international scholars with respect to U.S. nonimmigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent) visa status. Only the Director and the Counseling Attorney of the International Scholar Office and their delegatees may sign University-sponsored nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions and applications. Departments may not expend campus funds for nonimmigrant or immigrant petitions or applications without the approval of the International Scholar Office.

    The International Students and Programs Office has the sole authority to assist University departments and international students with respect to U.S. nonimmigrant (temporary) visa status. Only the Director of the International Students and Programs Office and their delegatees may sign University-sponsored nonimmigrant petitions and applications. Departments may not expend campus funds for nonimmigrant petitions or applications without the approval of the International Students and Programs Office.

  4. PROCEDURES

    1. International Scholars

      Departments must follow appropriate campus guidelines and procedures as published on the International Scholars website. These procedures are applicable to all appointments with salary or other compensation, and certain non-salaried appointments, for international professors, researchers, or academic visitors.

    2. International Students

      All new international students (including transfer students from other US schools) must visit the International Students and Programs Office upon arrival in the USA. Failure to check in may result in the termination of the SEVIS record and loss of the F-1/J-1 status. For more information, see the International Students website.

  5. RESPONSIBILITIES

    1. International Scholar Office

      The International Scholar Office is responsible for ensuring that the University is in compliance with its legal and ethical responsibilities affecting international faculty, academic researchers, and selected research staff. The International Scholar Office is the office of record concerning all international scholars. The International Scholar Office represents UC San Diego in all regulatory matters concerning the nonimmigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent) visa status of international scholars and is exclusively authorized to represent UC San Diego in routine administrative filings with U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other relevant U.S. government agencies.

      1. Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Visa Status

        The International Scholar Office advises and assists University departments and international scholars, determines appropriate nonimmigrant (temporary) visa status, and prepares and files University-sponsored nonimmigrant petitions and applications in compliance with federal law, stated campus policy, and in collaboration with the hiring department on case-specific needs.

      2. Immigrant (Permanent) Visa Status

        The International Scholar Office advises and assists University departments and international scholars, determines appropriate immigrant (permanent) visa status, and prepares and files University-sponsored immigrant petitions and applications. Rarely, only in cases determined by the International Scholar Office and after consultation with the Office of Campus Counsel, the International Scholar Office may refer the preparation and submission of an immigrant petition to an outside attorney. Those petitions will be prepared under the supervision of the International Scholar Office and signed by the Director or Counseling Attorney of the International Scholar Office or their delegates.

    2. International Students and Programs Office

      The International Students and Programs Office is exclusively authorized to process routine administrative filings with U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other relevant U.S. government agencies on behalf of UC San Diego’s international students in academic degree and non-degree programs. Certified by U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the International Students and Programs Office, in conjunction with the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools and the Office of Graduate Studies, sponsors international students in F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrant (temporary) visa status. The International Students and Programs Office has the sole authority to assist University departments and international students, with respect to U.S. nonimmigrant (temporary) visa status.

    3. University Extension

      For international students enrolled in Extension’s full-time English Language Institute, professional certificate, and non-degree programs, the University of California, San Diego, Extension, is certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to sponsor international students in F-1 non-immigrant (temporary) visa status. Extension’s International Student Services has the sole authority to advise and assist Extension departments and international students regarding U.S. non-immigrant (temporary) visa issues pertaining to enrollment in Extension programs.

    4. Hiring Department

      The hiring department must provide timely, accurate, and complete information to the International Scholar Office and ensure that international scholars are hired in accordance with regulations by USCIS, other relevant U.S. government agencies, and University policy. Departments must maintain appropriate employment records that comply with applicable regulations and inform the International Scholar Office of any material change in the scholar’s employment status. The department must pay any costs or fees incurred as part of the application process.

    5. International Scholars

      International scholars are responsible for complying with USCIS regulations and University policy as determined by their nonimmigrant or immigrant visa status.

  6. REFERENCES AND RELATED POLICIES

    PPM 395-13 Alien Information, 3/15/1993

  7. SUPPLEMENTS

    1. Supplement I: Job Titles and Visa Selection Table

    2. Supplement II: Visa Options for Temporary and Permanent Academic Teaching and Research Appointments at UC San Diego