Many international scholars wish to gain Permanent Resident Status ("green card") to allow them to live and work in the United States for an indefinite period. The three most common ways to obtain permanent residence include:

Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) is the UC Davis department that represents the University in the third method-petition from an employer. Scholars that chose to seek Permanent Residence through family relationship or lottery should obtain the services of an immigration attorney to represent them.

UC Davis files employment-based immigrant visa petitions for international scholars holding permanent academic positions, and who have the support of their campus department. Most petitions are filed under the priority worker category, "Outstanding Professors and Researchers." However, in some cases, we may recommend that a scholar pursue permanent residence via the Department of Labor (DOL), either as an alternative to the "Outstanding Professors and Researchers" petition, or in addition to it. SISS will consult with each department in order to determine the best possible strategy to obtain permanent residency.