H-1B Visa Processes
The University recognizes that faculty whose employment is contingent on a visa feel additional stress and anxiety, whether joining the institution for the first time or waiting for renewal, and we seek to make this a good experience for our employees.
The Office of Human Resources and the Office of the Provost work together to make this process as smooth as possible. UMW retains specialized counsel to provide legal services in support of visa processes and provides the financial resources to expedite the process as needed.
For new employees, the process begins immediately after the Board of Visitors approves hiring and a contract letter is extended (generally in May).
For continuing employees the renewal process begins about six months prior to visa expiration and employees can expect to hear from the Office of Human Resources once the window for renewal is open and the matter has been approved by the Office of the Attorney General.
In all cases, there is a great deal involved that is not immediately apparent and we recognize that employees may have questions and concerns. In these cases, please reach out to the Executive Director of Human Resources (Beth Williams, bwilli22@umw.edu) and the Senior Administrative Coordinator in the Office of the Provost (Martha Link, mlink@umw.edu).
Employees with pending cases may check their status at the USCIS website (https://www.uscis.gov/tools/checking-your-case-status-online) by creating an account using their case number received from the Office of Human Resources when the petition was filed.
Additional information can be found in UMW policies outlining the procedures for H-1B applications.