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H-1B Visa Information for UConn Hiring Departments and Employees

H-1B Packet - UConn Admin Log-in (NetID Required) H-1B Packet Information for UConn Admins and Beneficiaries

**UCONN Hiring Departments - You will need your NetID and password to access the H-1B packet. Beneficiaries will not need a NetID to access their portion of the packet. If you have trouble logging in please contact arthur.galinat@uconn.edu in the DISP office.

H-1B Guidelines

The information on this page has been prepared for the use of University of Connecticut (UConn), international employees and their hiring departments, and it is for general information only.  It does NOT constitute legal advice. Please contact the Department of International Services & Programs (DISP) for appropriate advice and guidance regarding your specific international employment situation since each prospective employee’s circumstances are unique.  Any advice or course of action must be tailored to the individual employee’s circumstances and the University department’s needs.  Also note that immigration laws may have changed since this information was compiled.  Therefore it must be your best interest to obtain the most updated information from DISP to make an appropriate decision for your case.

Description of H-1B Visa

The H-1B is a nonimmigrant classification used by a foreign national who will be employed temporarily in a specialty occupation.  A specialty occupation is one that requires a specialized body of knowledge and usually requires at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the profession.  The employer is responsible for petitioning the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to obtain permission to hire a particular foreign employee for a particular position.  An employee cannot obtain H-1B status on his or her own.

The H-1B status is employer-specific and job-specific.  This means that a new H-1B petition must be filed and approved before an employee can move from one employer to another (e.g. the similar position in a different department), change from one job to another (e.g. different position within the same department or in a different department) while working for UConn.  Any changes in the position title, duties, or salary may also require a new H-1B petition. The H-1B duration is a maximum of 6 years (granted in increments of up to 3 years.)

Qualifying Criteria for H-1B

Any petition for H-1B status must meet minimum criteria:

  1. The position must require theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and require a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in the specific specialty as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States.
  2. The prospective employee must have received the required degree before the petition is submitted.  The employee must have a diploma or other certification from the institution that all degree requirements have been met.
  3. The wage for the position must meet the requirements of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and Department of Labor (DOL) regulations.  DISP will facilitate this process, but should not be viewed as setting the wage.
Application Process

The government agency process for obtaining an H-1B for an employment position has three phases:

  1. The Connecticut Department of Labor must issue a prevailing wage determination.
  2. The U.S. Department of Labor must review a Labor Condition Application (LCA), to determine that the wage requirement is satisfied.  DISP submits the LCA to the Department of Labor for approval.
  3. DISP submits the petition and approved LCA to USCIS.  USCIS reviews the H-1B petition and the approved LCA, and determines whether to grant the H-1B status.

USCIS sends the approved H-1B petition directly to DISP.  DISP will notify the department contact person.  The department is responsible for keeping copies of the approved petition and accompanying documents as part of the employee’s records.

Summary of H-1B Fees
Amount Description Charged by

Paid by
$150 H-1B Administrative Fee* DISP Must be paid by Hiring Department
$320 H-1B Petition Fee USCIS Must be paid by Hiring Department
$500 H-1B Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee for initial H-1B petitions only. USCIS Must be paid by Hiring Department
$1000 Premium Processing Fee (Optional)** USCIS Paid by either the Hiring Department or the employee

* H-1B Administrative Fee is imposed for every H-1B request made to DISP including multiple requests for one petition.
**Premium processing fee guarantees a response (not necessarily approval) from the USCIS within 15 calendar days.

Processing Time

The entire process - from the request submission to DISP to the H-1B approval by USCIS - ordinarily takes 4 to 6 months in two phases:

  1. DISP Processing – 2 months, including working with the Connecticut and U.S. Departments of Labor
  2. USCIS Adjudication – 3-4 months

Please note that DISP starts processing a request only if it is complete with ALL necessary materials and information attached.  Incomplete H-1B request packets will result in longer processing times. Inconsistent processing times in U.S. Government Agencies, requests for more information issued by DOL and USCIS, or unexpected problems arising during the process will also lengthen the time needed. 

In addition, if the international employee is abroad and he/she needs to apply for an H-1B visa to enter the U.S. upon the approval of the H-1B petition, additional time to 4-6 months must be considered before he/she starts his/her employment at UConn. For these reasons, DISP always recommends that the hiring department begin the H-1B process as soon as possible.

If the employee is... With Standard Processing With $1000 Premium Processing Fee* Comments
Outside the U.S. 8 months before the employee will begin work 5 months before the employee will begin work Total time will depend on the time needed to obtain a visa at the U.S. Consulate. (Varies according to Consulate adn country of employee's citizenship)
In the U.S. in a different immigration status (such as J-1 or F-1 with Practical Training) 5 months before the employee will begin work or before the current work permission ends. 3 months before the employee will begin work or before current work permission ends. If employee plans to travel outside the U.S. before getting final approval of the H-1B petition, more time may be needed. Contact DISP immediately to discuss.
In the U.S. in H-1B Status and currently employed by another employer 3 months before leaving current (non-UConn) employment. Not usually necessary or recommended. If employee plans to travel outside the U.S. before getting final approval of the H-1B petition, more time may be needed. Contact DISP immediately to discuss. Employee must remain employed by original employer until UConn's petition is mailed to USCIS.
Already employed at UConn in H-1B status 3 months before the end of the current H-1B approval or I-94 Not usually necessary or recommended. If employee plans to travel outside the U.S. before getting final approval of the H-1B petition, more time may be needed. Contact DISP immediately to discuss.

*Premium processing can be requested either before or after the petition has been filed with USCIS

Termination Notification

If H-1B employment is terminated for any reasons before the H-1B status end date, the hiring department MUST notify DISP of the termination.  The employer is obligated to report the termination to USCIS and DOL.  Failure to do so results in continuous payment to the terminated employee.

H-1B Petition Packet

UCONN Hiring Departments click here to access the H-1B Hiring Packet. You will need your NetID and password to access the H-1B packet. If you have trouble please contact arthur.galinat@uconn.edu in the DISP office.

Department must complete and submit these forms:
- H-1B UConn Department Request Form (DISP 418)
- H-1B Packet Checklist (DISP 419)
- UConn Hiring Department Statement of Responsibility (DISP 420)
- H-1B Wage Determination (DISP 421)
- Letter H-1B Support from Department (SAMPLE-DISP422)
- Department Authorization Authorization of Administrative Fee (DISP 423)

Employee must complete these forms:
- H-1B Beneficiary Request Form (DISP 424)
- Beneficiary Checklist (DISP 425)
- Document Certification Statement (DISP 426)