New Visa (H1B, TN, E3, O1)

The purpose of this eForm is to request visa sponsorship on behalf of a foreign national AFTER the Visa Inquiry/ New Offer Notification eForm has been submitted and/or IFA has provided a visa recommendation. The designated departmental contact and the foreign national must complete their portions of the eForm. The system will prompt the foreign national only after the department has submitted all required eForms.

General Summary of eForm Process:

  • Position Information
    • Upload: C.V., Offer letter, Workday Recruiting job posting
    • Second Approver is supervisor (if applicable)
  • Actual Wage List
    • Second Approver is HR strategic partner
  • Departmental Visa Compliance Certification
  • Second Approver is department head
  • Submit Request for Visa Sponsorship
    • Upload: USCIS Support Letter for H-1B requests only (Research) (Teaching) or Support Letter for TN requests to change status while in the U.S. (PDF)
    • The foreign national will receive an automatic email with instructions 24 hours after submission
    • The foreign national will not be able to see anything in iStart until the departmental contact submits all required eForms (Position Information -> Submit Request for Visa Sponsorship)
    • IFA will not be able to take any action on a case until the request is complete (i.e. all second approvers have submitted their portions)
    • This is the last step/eForm in the group in terms of initiating the request for visa sponsorship
  • Faculty Advising: Update Record (Non-UP campuses only)
    • Upload: Signed and dated H-1B Restrictions Memo

Foreign National

  • Employee Information/Documentation
    • Within 24 hours of the Dept. contact submitting the “Submit Request for Visa Sponsorship” eForm, iStart will email the foreign national instructions for how to access the system as a client user and access his/her checklist and complete his/her required steps/eForms
    • The foreign national will not be able to see anything in iStart until the dept. contact initiates the appropriate eForm/checklist in iStart - Faculty Advising: New Visa (H1B, TN, E3, O1)
    • The following is a list of potential documentation the foreign national may be asked to upload: Applicant Checklist (PDF)
    • Second Approver is Export Compliance Office
  • Dependent Information/Documentation
    • This is an optional eForm and will only be completed when the foreign national requires visa sponsorship for a dependent spouse or child
  • Upload Additional Documentation
    • This is an optional eForm that the foreign national can use to provide documentation not readily available at time of initial eForm submission (e.g., English Translation, Education Evaluation, 212e approval, etc.)
  • Online Document Check-in
    • Upload: Passport, Visa/Port of Entry Stamp from passport, visa documents (e.g., I-797 receipt/approval notice), and I-94
  • Online Spouse/Dependent Check-in
    • This is an optional eForm that a foreign national can use if s/he would like us to review his/her dependent documentation if also sponsored by Penn State
  • Faculty Advising: Update Record (Non-UP campuses only)    
    • Upload: Signed and dated H-1B Restrictions Memo