The H-1B status is limited to a six-year status. However, there are four exceptions to this limit. It is possible to obtain H-1B status beyond the six-year limit for the following individuals:
Current H-1B employees are required to comply with complex immigration regulations in order to ensure ongoing H-1B for employment, travel, and future immigration benefits such as adjustment of status to permanent resident. H-1B employees, as well as their hiring departments, should contact SISS with any questions regarding H-1B status requirements.
We encourage new H-1B scholars to meet with an H-1B advisor at SISS for orientations. These meetings last about 30 minutes and cover issues such as legal requirements for maintaining your H-1B status, obtaining a driver’s license, obtaining a social security number, travel while in H status, and many other issues. We will also give an orientation to the Davis or Sacramento area if H-1B employees are new to this area.
UC Davis sponsors scholars for H-1B visa status at the request of the hiring department. Generally, UC Davis sponsors H-1B employment for full-time research and teaching positions that meet the prevailing wage requirement indicated by the Department of Labor (DOL). The H-1B is an employment visa category that requires approval from DOL and the U.S.
TN Professional status is for Canadian and Mexican nationals who are engaged in temporary professional activities as defined by the U.S./ Mexico/Canada (USMCA) trade agreement (previously NAFTA). For an overview of the TN status, please visit the State Department webpage.
The O-1 classification applies to an individual who has extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim, and who is coming to the U.S. to work in the area of extraordinary ability. The services the individual will perform must involve a "temporary" event or project, such as a scientific project or academic year.
The E-3 classification is designed for Australian nationals to work in the U.S. in a “specialty occupation” under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement. A specialty occupation is one that requires a specialized body of knowledge and the attainment of a college degree. All UC Davis Departments who wish to use this category should download the E-3 package.
E-3 workers are granted status initially for two years at a time, with an unlimited number of extensions.
B-1 Visitor for Business is a visa classification that can be used by international visitors making a short visit to UC Davis. B-1 visitors are not eligible for employment in the United States and are not eligible to apply for a Social Security Number.
Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) serves approximately 2,200 UC Davis international scholars from nearly 100 countries. The scholar community includes short-term visiting scholars and postdoctoral scholars, and full-time career researchers and faculty.
