Department Administrators

In general, Clark University will sponsor all tenured and tenure-track faculty for permanent residency.  The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) works with departments, faculty, and their families on a case-by-case basis. Please note that the ISSO will typically pursue a short-term immigration solution such a J-1 or H1-B visa before initiating the permanent residency process.

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) takes a variety of factors into consideration when making a determination regarding the most appropriate visa category for international faculty and researchers employed by Clark. The most common visa categories for this population are indicated below:

• J-1 Research Scholar or Professor: The J-1 visa program is a U.S. Department of State exchange visitor program. J-1 status is often used for postdoctoral fellows. J-1 status cannot be used for a candidate for a tenured or tenure track position.
• H1-B Temporary Worker: The H1-B visa program is a nonimmigrant classification for individuals performing services in a specialty occupation managed by (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS). H1-B status is granted for an initial period of up to three years with the possibility of extension for another three years. This is the status that Clark will pursue for tenured or tenure-track faculty.

Clark also sponsors researchers and visiting scholars who are not employed by Clark University but have an academic appointment that provides access to privileges such as working with specific faculty, a department, and/or a research center or institute and access to Clark facilities. Before the ISSO can process any visa documents for a visiting scholar, the department needs to obtain an appointment letter from the Provost’s Office.

Please note that international scholars who are unpaid by Clark and are visiting for more than six months will be required to pay a $200 international scholar fee upon arrival unless the scholar is receiving funding from Clark University.

The ISSO uses the ISSO Portal to facilitate the visa sponsorship and document issuances process. Each department at Clark has been assigned a department administrator with access to the ISSO Portal.

Contact the ISSO if you are not sure who the departmental contact is for the ISSO Portal in your department.

1. Department hires a new international employee or receives approval for a visiting scholar.
2. Department admin submits a sponsorship request in the ISSO Portal.
3. The ISSO reviews the request and makes a determination regarding which visa category is most appropriate.
4. Depart administrator completes a department intake form in the ISSO Portal and uploads an appointment letter.
5. ISSO contacts the international employee or scholar to submit additional information and documentation.
6. If eligible, the ISSO will either issue a DS-2019 for the J-1 visa category or submit a petition to USCIS for an H-1B. In some cases, other visa categories will be used.
7. The employee or visiting scholar may not begin their appointment until they are in receipt of all required immigration documents and approvals.