{"id":8896,"date":"2024-07-16T08:36:43","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T12:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/?page_id=8896"},"modified":"2026-05-14T13:40:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T17:40:31","slug":"permanent-residence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/scholars-employees\/permanent-residence\/","title":{"rendered":"Permanent Residence"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":5436,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-8896","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"lead_in":"","display_title":"","subtitle":"","call_to_action":"","hero_image_placement":"no_image","hero_media":"images","hero_pattern_option":"","hero_video":"","hero_image_landing":"","hero_image_landing_two":"","hero_image_landing_three":"","content_modules":[{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion_new","anchor_id":"","classes":"pt-15 mt-0","title":"","description":"A lawful permanent resident is a foreign national who has permission to reside in the US on a permanent basis and to work, study, and travel, and otherwise live in the US without maintaining other status. Permanent residents are sometimes called \u201cgreen card holders.\u201d\r\n<h2>University sponsorship for employment-based permanent residence<\/h2>\r\nPetitions under this category are based on an active employment relationship within the US, either through direct sponsorship through your current employer or through \u201cself-petition,\u201d both of which are subject to strict eligibility criteria.\r\n\r\nThe position must be permanent in nature and full-time. Part-time positions and staff positions cannot be sponsored for permanent residence. The employee must meet the United States and Immigration Services (USCIS) criteria for permanent residence.","background":"plain","background_color":"#ffffff","style":"row_blank","expand":"no","accordions":[{"acf_fc_layout":"title","sub_heading":"Overview and background"},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Key definitions","icon":"","row_content":"The term \u201csponsor\u201d refers to the act of lending support to an application by way of a long-term job offer. An offer of a \u201cpermanent position\u201d refers to a long-term position at the University. Sponsorship for permanent residence doesn\u2019t constitute a guarantee of lifetime employment or of tenure.","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Who will the University sponsor?","icon":"","row_content":"Generally, the University sponsors people meeting USCIS requirements in:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Tenured or tenure-track teaching or research positions requiring a doctorate degree<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Research positions having no fixed term and in which the University will ordinarily have an expectation of continued employment unless there is a good cause for termination<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Eligible positions for University sponsorship","icon":"","row_content":"Positions eligible for permanent residence sponsorship by the University include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Tenure and tenure-track positions (i.e., assistant, associate, or full professors)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Research assistant professors<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Research and scientist positions requiring a PhD<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Medical doctors<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Dentists<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Physician assistants<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Nurse practitioners<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Ineligible positions for University sponsorship","icon":"","row_content":"Positions not eligible for permanent residence sponsorship by the University include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Postdoctoral researchers\/fellows, which are considered temporary and training positions<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Medical residents\/fellows, which are considered temporary and training positions<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Entry-level faculty or researcher positions that do not require a PhD<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","sub_heading":"Employment-based categories"},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Employment Based One (EB-1): Outstanding Professor\/Researcher Category","icon":"","row_content":"EB-1 is the preferred path to permanent residence by the University. To qualify for this category, the University must demonstrate that the person:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Is internationally recognized as outstanding in a specific academic field<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Has at least three years of relevant teaching or research experience<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Holds a tenure-track appointment or a permanent research position<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nA permanent research position has no fixed term and in which the University will ordinarily have an expectation of continued employment unless there is a good cause for termination.\r\n\r\nThe benefits to this designation is that the University isn\u2019t required to apply for the permanent labor certification on behalf of the international faculty\/researcher prior to filing, and in certain instances it will allow for an expedited path to permanent residence. However, the level of scrutiny and review provided to these petitions is steadily increasing and the person must be able to provide a large amount of convincing evidence that they are truly internationally recognized in a specific field.\r\n\r\nInternational recognition in a specific field may include the following documentation and evidence:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Recognition as outstanding in a specific academic field<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Receipt of major international prizes or awards for outstanding achievement in the academic field<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Original scientific or scholarly research contributions to the academic field<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Authorship of scholarly books or articles in scholarly journals with international circulation<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Participation, on a panel or individually, as the judge of the work of others in the same or allied academic field<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Published material in professional publications written by others about the person\u2019s work in the academic field<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Membership in associations in the academic field which require outstanding achievements of their members<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Employment Based Two (EB-2): Advanced Degree Professional","icon":"","row_content":"To qualify for this category, the job the person applies for must require an advanced degree and the person holding the position must demonstrate that they hold that degree.\r\n\r\nA prerequisite for this petition includes the University filing a Permanent Labor Certification with the US Department of Labor (DOL). Depending on the position, the advertisement for the position, as well as the search and selection process, must meet certain standards in order for the application to be approved by the DOL.\r\n\r\nLabor Certification legal fees must be paid by the hiring department, per DOL regulations. Only the authorized law firm may file a Labor Certification for the University of Rochester.\r\n\r\n<strong>Note:\u00a0<\/strong>There is a several years-long delay in the issuing of immigrant visas for the EB-2 category for people from China and India.","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Employment Based Three (EB-3): Professionals and other alternatives","icon":"","row_content":"To qualify for this category, the person must be able to demonstrate that the position requires at least a US bachelor\u2019s degree (or a foreign equivalent) and the person is a member of the professions.\r\n\r\nAn additional prerequisite for this petition is the filing by the University of a Permanent Labor Certification with the US Department of Labor (DOL). Depending upon the position, the advertisement for the position, as well as the search and selection process, must meet certain standards in order for the application to be approved by the DOL.\r\n\r\nLabor Certification legal fees must be paid by the hiring department, per DOL regulations. Only the authorized law firm may file a Labor Certification for the University of Rochester.\r\n\r\n<strong>Note:<\/strong>\u00a0There is a several years-long delay in the issuing of immigrant visas for the EB-3 category for people from China and India.\r\n\r\n<strong>Other alternatives: <\/strong>Immigration law is ever-expanding, and depending upon the person\u2019s unique situation, there may be other options available. Every case is different and each person brings with them a unique set of facts that must be considered when choosing a path toward permanent residence.","accordion_anchor":""}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion_new","anchor_id":"","classes":"pt-30","title":"<h2>Sponsorship process and procedures<\/h2>","description":"The sponsoring department at the University must:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Intend to employ the individual for at least three years<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Ensure funding for the position is guaranteed for three years<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Have the job available to the applicant at the end of the permanent residence process (which may take two to three years)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nUniversity departments interested in sponsoring an employee for permanent residence should send a short statement in easily understood terms explaining the employee\u2019s current and prior research\/teaching accomplishments, job description and CV to ISO.\r\n\r\nISO will then contact the department, review the situation and make recommendations as to the best path to permanent residence.\r\n\r\nISO makes the final determination for each individual case about whether the person can be sponsored for permanent residence by the University. Certain ISO staff have sole authorization to sign immigration petitions representing the University to USCIS. Department chairs, administrators, faculty or staff are not authorized to sign immigration documents.\r\n\r\nPermanent residence should not be guaranteed to candidates during the interview process. The University makes the final determination as to whether a specific case can be sponsored by the University, in light of its policies, practices and government criteria.","background":"plain","background_color":"#ffffff","style":"row_blank","expand":"no","accordions":[{"acf_fc_layout":"title","sub_heading":"Other Considerations"},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Legal and filing fees","icon":"","row_content":"I-140 Immigrant Petition:\u00a0 The fees may be paid by the hiring department.\r\n\r\nI-485 Adjustment to Permanent Residence: The fees should be paid for by the employee and not by the hiring department.\r\n\r\nFor the most up to date fees for these forms, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/g-1055\">USCIS<\/a>. Filing fees are subject to increases.\r\n\r\nLabor Certification: Only the authorized law firm may file a Labor Certification on behalf of the University of Rochester. The legal fees associated with filing a Labor Certification must be paid by the hiring department per US Department of Labor regulations.","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Family-based petitions","icon":"","row_content":"These immigration petitions are outside the purview of the University of Rochester and its legal abilities to offer assistance. They are varied and might include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Immediate relatives of US citizens (spouses, children, and parents)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Close family members of citizens<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Permanent residents (unmarried children of citizens; spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents; married children of citizens and brothers and sister of citizens)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","accordion_anchor":""}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"<h2>Diversity visa lottery<\/h2>","content":"Each year, the Department of State (DOS) conducts a random selection of Diversity Immigrant Visa Program applicants as part of its <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/visas\/en\/immigrate\/diversity-visa\/entry.html\">Diversity Visa Lottery<\/a>. The lottery is usually held annually in October and November. It allows foreign nationals to apply for Permanent Residence eligibility based on low immigration rates from their home country in recent years.\r\n\r\n<strong>Note:<\/strong>\u00a0Current F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors are often hesitant to apply for the Diversity Lottery, fearing that it will contradict their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/visas\/application-process\/nonimmigrant-intent\/\">nonimmigrant intent<\/a> and limit their eligibility for a visa renewal during travel. However,\u00a0<strong>entry in the Diversity Lottery is not an application for US Permanent Residence<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nFor selected applicants, the lottery only grants eligibility to apply for Permanent Residence in the future, which must be filed separately during the appropriate fiscal year. The lottery wouldn\u2019t contradict your current nonimmigrant category and you could still indicate that you had not filed an Immigrant Visa Petition on the DS-160 visa application.\r\n\r\n<a class=\"button ghost-button--blue\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/visas\/en\/immigrate\/diversity-visa\/entry.html\">Learn more about the\u00a0DOS Diversity Visa Process<\/a>","background_color":"#f4f4f4","width":"width-medium"},{"acf_fc_layout":"card_grid","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Related resources<\/h2>","description":"","background_color":"#FFFFFF","width":"width-large","columns":"3","cards":[{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Visa category comparison<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"Visa Categories","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/visas\/categories\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Nonimmigrant intent<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"Nonimmigrant Intent","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/visas\/application-process\/nonimmigrant-intent\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Contact ISO<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"Contact Us","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/contact\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""}]}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - 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