Information for WHOI Sponsors

Procedures

WHOI Policy

It is the Institution's position that the USCIS criterion of eligibility is most appropriately defended at the Scientific Staff level.

It is Institution policy to not sponsor permanent residency petitions for members of the Technical, Administrative and Graded Staff unless there are special circumstances surrounding a particular employee.

Scientific Staff seeking Institution sponsorship of permanent residency petitions should make their requests known through the Foreign National Advisor who will obtain the endorsement of the Department Chair and the Executive Vice President and Director of Research .

The document process for permanent residency submission normally takes more than the initial appointment year and will include the first year performance evaluation.

The Institution will provide financial, administrative and legal assistance in support of the petition. Institution employees, particularly those with hiring authority, are reminded that the petitioner of the permanent residency petition is the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Processing

There are two steps in the process of obtaining permanent residence in this category:

The first step is the submission of the "Outstanding Professor/Researcher" 1-140 Petition to USCIS. This is the petition by the Institution to sponsor an employee for permanent residence based on an offer of employment.

The second step is after approval of the I-140 petition, the alien must apply for adjustment of status. This can be done in one of two ways:

• By applying for an Immigrant Visa at the U.S. Consulate in the country of last residence.
  
• By applying for Adjustment of Status inside the U.S. through the USCIS Service Center having jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence in the U.S. This procedure is only available to individuals who are in the U.S. and who meet certain additional requirements.
  

The Institution's Immigration Attorney currently processes all Permanent Residence petitions working directly with the foreign national and the Foreign National Office.

The length of time required for immigrant visa applications to be approved varies from case to case; the total length of time can be from 12 to 24 months.