UK POSITIONS ELIGIBLE FOR H-1B SPONSORSHIP
UK sponsors all full-time positions requiring a master’s degree or Ph.D., including faculty and staff positions. Sponsorship for many bachelor-level positions is also possible. For most post-doctoral positions, a J-1 visa is sought; however, in some situations the H-1B is needed.
Positions Requiring a Bachelor’s Degree
Departments seeking an H-1B for a position that requires a bachelor’s degree must first appeal to the Immigration Advisory Committee (IAC). To begin this process, contact Charlene Leach, Director of International Student & Scholar Services at charlene.leach@uky.edu or H-1B Advisor Teresa Keller at teresa.keller@uky.edu . If the appeal is denied, the H-1B process may not be sought through any other means. If the appeal is approved, the H-1B application will require the services of an attorney.
Once the IAC approves the request for sponsorship, the department will be notified and informed about how to proceed with the attorney.
Positions Not Sponsored by UK for H-1B Status
- Part-time Positions: UK does not sponsor H-1B status for part-time positions. The record keeping requirements for such applications are burdensome for the hiring department, and experience has shown that part-time workers often leave as soon as full-time employment is found. Additionally, a part-time position often does not warrant the high cost of the H-1B application.
- Medical Residents: Residents are normally sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and are given J-1 status. When there are extenuating circumstances for which an H-1B visa might be warranted for a medical resident or for any other resident managed by the Graduate Medical Evaluation office, approval from the Provost's office must be sought. The program director should contact the Director of Graduate Medical Education in advance of either ranking the resident application (for a “Match” position) or offering a position (if not a “Match” position), for assistance in preparing the paperwork to request the needed approval.
- J Visa Holders: J-1 scholars or J-2 dependents who have been in J status for fewer than two years are not eligible for UK sponsorship for the H-1B.
NOTE: These are UK guidelines, not immigration regulations.