Joining UTHSC-H

International visitors pursuing clinical, research and/or academic endeavors may join us under one of the most commonly non-immigrant visa classifications used at UTHSC-H:

Timelines Chart for Visa Requests and Related Applications 12.23.2010 through the UTHSC-H Office of International Affairs

General Non-Immigrant Visa Overview Presentation (12-2009)

Visiting Scientists, Visiting Students & Observers

Reviewing and processing of applications for short-term visiting scientists, visiting students, and observers starts at the Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President for Research

This application process does not apply for Volunteers (see “Volunteer Program Process”) or Postdoctoral Fellows (see “Office of Postdoctoral Affairs”).

Approval for all paid and unpaid postdoctoral appointments for foreign nationals requiring a visa must be obtained from the Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, prior to be submitted to the Office of International Affairs.

Visitor / Observer Visas:

• B-1 Visitor for Business

• B-2 Visitors for Pleasure

• WB Visa Waiver for Business

• WT Visa Waiver for Pleasure

• J-1 Exchange Visitors and J-2 dependents

Students and Scholars

• F-1 International Students and F-2 dependents

• J-1 Exchange Visitors and J-2 dependents

Graduate Medical Trainees

• ECFMG Sponsored J-1 Physicians

Sponsored Nonimmigrant Employees

• H-1B Professional Workers in 'Specialty Occupations' and H-4 dependents

• E-3 Professional Workers in 'Specialty Occupations' for Australian Nationals only

• TN-1 / TN-2 NAFTA Professionals - for citizens of Canada and Mexico

• O-1 Foreign Nationals of 'Extraordinary Ability'

Permanent Residence:

Preliminary Information for Prospective Permanent Residence Applicants and their sponsors:

Permanent Residence General Information

• U.S. Permanent Residence General Information Sheet
• UTHSC-H Guidelines for Sponsorship of Permanent Residence
• Summary of Employment-Based Categories for U.S. Permanent Residence commonly Used in the Academic Environment
• Employment-Based Permanent Residence General Process and Estimated Time Chart for categories commonly used at UTHSC-H
• Evidence of Eligibility EB-1,and EB-2, categories
• EB-1 Employer sponsored Outstanding Professor or Researcher - eligibility and requirements checklist
• More on Employment-Based Immigration from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Permanent Residence with Permanent Labor Certification (PERM)

• Overview of the Permanent Residence Process through Alien Permanent Labor Certification -"PERM'
• UTHSC-H Flowchart of the Permanent Residence Process through PERM Labor Certification Special Handling for faculty
• List of Attorneys approved by the UT System for preparing petitions requiring Permanent Labor Certification (PERM)

Applying for Permanent Residence - Instructions and Forms:

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Whichever the visa status category, you will benefit from learning the following information prior to coming to the United States and as you are joining UTHSC-H:

• Learning abou the U.S. Higher Education System in the U.S. - Education USA: Your Guide to U.S. Higher Education
• The UT System
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• University student connections of interest to international students and useful for other visitors, about academics, administration, student services, student policies, student organizations, leisure and recreation, and other community services such as banking, transportation, bookstores, chapels in the TMC, driving in Houston, legal services, mail, and other services.

Visiting and living in Houston:

• Consult the Official Site of the City of Houston
• Become familiar with the Texas Medical Center (TMC)
• Find your way around the TMC

Click here for more resources

Last Updated 01.01.2011