Method 1: Sponsorship Through ISO
Review the international scholar’s eligibility for a sponsorship on our EB-1B Outstanding Researchers and Professors page. In rare cases, ISO may suggest EB-1B sponsorship for a certain faculty candidate; however, ISO encourages sponsors to contact us at any stage to inquire about potential EB-1B sponsorship for a position or employee.
Fill out the EB-1B Sponsorship Request (with assistance from the candidate, as necessary) and route it for approval by the appropriate parties (usually the chair and dean), and then send it to ISO at acadvisa@uw.edu, along with the candidate’s CV.
ISO will review the request to determine whether the candidate appears eligible for EB-1B sponsorship, and make a recommendation to the Vice Provost for Academic Personnel & Faculty, who will make a final decision. ISO will communicate the decision to the unit.
If the request is approved, ISO will reach out to schedule an initial work-planning meeting, provide a list of supporting documents, and request worktags for hourly billing.
ISO will work with the candidate to draft and procure signed letters of support and other supporting evidence regarding their contributions to the field. This step often takes several months and is dependent on the candidate’s ability to fully participate and support in framing and documenting their eligibility for EB-1B sponsorship.
Once most of the evidence is prepared and assembled, ISO will work with the candidate to draft an “employer letter” that fully explains the candidate’s qualifications and eligibility for the EB-1B sponsorship.
ISO will route the draft “employer letter” for review with the unit head, S/C/C leadership, and the Vice Provost. Once the letter is reviewed and approved, ISO will work with the unit and S/C/C to obtain signatures, and will prepare a complete I-140 petition for the Vice Provost’s signature. ISO will then file the complete signed petition with USCIS.
ISO will send the I-140 petition to USCIS for processing. ISO will send a scan of the finalized petition to the unit; provide this to the scholar for their records. USCIS will issue a receipt notice within a week with a tracking number; ISO will send this to the unit as well.
USCIS will take action (meaning approval, request for evidence, or notice of intent to deny) within 15 business days of filing. In the event of a request for evidence or notice of intent to deny, ISO will contact the unit to obtain any additional information or evidence necessary to respond.
Note: If the scholar is not subject to a per-country backlog, they may be eligible to file their I-485 Application to Adjust Status at this point. See Step 8 below and contact ISO for more information.
Please note: UW requires payment of the USCIS premium processing fee for all EB-1B petitions.
Upon approval, USCIS will mail an approval notice to ISO. ISO will forward a scan of this notice on to the unit and the scholar.
Upon approval of the immigrant petition, the scholar (and any spouse and children applying for permanent residence) must file an I-485 Application to Adjust Status with USCIS. A list of suggested contents for this application is available upon request; however, ISO cannot assist with preparation and filing of this application. Scholars who desire legal assistance with this application should consult with a private immigration attorney.
Method 2: Sponsorship Through Outside Counsel Pilot Program
Please note that this process is subject to change. We will update this process as the pilot program progresses.
Review the international scholar’s eligibility for sponsorship on our EB-1B Outstanding Researchers and Professors page.
Contact ISO to request outside counsel assistance. ISO will schedule an initial meeting to discuss timeline and process, and gather any necessary information/documentation to support handoff to outside counsel, including completion of an Assignment Letter setting the terms of the representation.
ISO will hand the case off to outside counsel, who will work directly with the scholar to document and assemble the case. This step often takes several months and is dependent on the candidate’s ability to fully participate and support in substantiating and documenting their eligibility for EB-1B sponsorship.
Once most evidence is prepared and assembled, outside counsel will provide ISO with a draft “employer letter” (explaining the candidate’s qualifications and eligibility for the EB-1B sponsorship) and draft I-140 petition forms for ISO to circulate for review.
ISO will route the draft “employer letter” for review with the unit head, school/college/campus (S/C/C) leadership, and the Vice Provost. Once the letter is reviewed and approved, ISO will work with the unit and S/C/C to obtain signatures on the letter and the I-140 petition forms, and send them back to outside counsel. Outside counsel will then file the complete, signed petition with USCIS.
Outside counsel will send the I-140 petition to USCIS for processing. Outside counsel will send a scan of the finalized petition to ISO and/or the unit, and the scholar; provide this to the scholar for their records. USCIS will issue a receipt notice within a week with a tracking number; outside counsel will send this to ISO and the unit as well.
USCIS will take action (meaning approval, request for evidence, or notice of intent to deny) within 15 business days of filing. In the event of a request for evidence or notice of intent to deny, outside counsel will contact ISO, the unit, and/or the scholar to obtain any additional information or evidence necessary to respond.
Note: If the scholar is not subject to a per-country backlog, they may be eligible to file their I-485 Application to Adjust Status at this point. See Step 8 below and contact ISO for more information.
Please note: UW requires payment of the USCIS premium processing fee for all EB-1B petitions.
Upon approval, USCIS will mail an approval notice to outside counsel, which they will forward to the unit.
Upon approval of the immigrant petition, the scholar (and any spouse and children applying for permanent residence) must file an I-485 Application to Adjust Status with USCIS. A list of suggested contents for this application is available upon request; however, ISO cannot assist with preparation and filing of this application. Scholars who desire legal assistance with this application should consult with a private immigration attorney.
Which Method Should I Choose For EB-1B Sponsorship?
Processing through outside counsel costs more, but can take less time and provide a smoother and lower-effort experience for the candidate; see below for more details. ISO encourages units to discuss these options with candidates prior to making a decision.
| Key Considerations | ISO | Outside Counsel |
| Fees for processing sponsorship request | Generally between $2500-$6000 depending on complexity | Fees start at $8000 |
| USCIS fees | $3520 | $3520 |
| Sponsorship request to APF required? | Yes. ISO will review for whether candidate has a strong case; some requests may not be approved | No, but outside counsel may advise against sponsorship for some candidates who do not appear eligible |
| How long does it take? | 5+ months | 3+ months |
| Level of individualized support throughout process | ISO provides petition processing and general sponsorship support | Outside counsel may be able to provide more tailored support based on scholar’s needs and immigration history |
Fees
See the Visa Fees page for applicable information.
For More Information
Contact ISO for assistance with the permanent residence process.