Process for Applying for Permanent Residency

The International Services office will contact the foreign national, department head and dean that the time has come that the foreign national is eligible for permanent residency. It is then up to them to discuss with the foreign national if the department/college is willing to sponsor the foreign national for permanent residency. Once that decision is made, the department head must contact the International Services office to let them know what that decision is and what the next steps are.

If the decision is not to sponsor the foreign national for permanent residency

If the foreign national is in their first 3 years of H-1B status, they will have one extension for another 3 years available to them before they would be required to leave the U.S.

If the decision is to sponsor the foreign national for permanent residency

then the department must fill out the Permanent Residency Department Form and supply the required documents to International Services. These documents will go to the Permanent Residency Approval Committee (PRAC) for review and vote if the university also agrees to sponsor the foreign national. Once the PRAC have met and made a decision, the foreign national, department head and dean will be notified of the decision.

If PRAC decided that the university would sponsor the foreign national for permanent residency, then the foreign national contacts one of the attorneys from the approved attorney list to get things started.

Once permanent residency has been approved by USCIS, the International Services office needs a copy of the green card (front and back).