- USC wants to hire me, but I need a nonimmigrant work visa…
- Who sets the strategy for my case?
- Who processes the paperwork?
- Who pays for the process?
- Can’t I just hire a lawyer to take care of it?
- When can I go on payroll?
- I am a USC student who is about to graduate. Can FSVS help me get a work visa?
USC wants to hire me, but I need a nonimmigrant work visa…
You will need to speak immediately to your hiring department about sponsorship.
FSVS works for the university. Hence, your department administrator will be our primary contact for your case. We understand that these matters are of great concern and anxiety to you, but we are a small team and demand for our time and services is high. Hence, we request that to avoid confusion, double work, etc. that you do your best to respect the chain of communication as it is currently set up.
Where extraordinary circumstances arise, we ask that you contact your department administrator and arrange a conference call with our office.
Who sets the strategy for my case?
Our office has expertise in both U.S. immigration and USC policies that will be used to determine the strategy for your case. We also work closely with expert outside immigration counsel where necessary.
While your department will ask you for copies of your documents and will ask you to fill out questionnaires, FSVS will use this to prepare the actual petition that will be submitted on your behalf.
In preparing your information and documents for the department’s request, please give as full and complete information as possible. This can prove crucial in determining strategy for your case. Incomplete information/documentation is the #1 cause of processing delays.
The university will pay for costs and government filing fees associated with USC sponsorship. However, where premium processing is required to accommodate your travel plans, or where there are dependent family members involved, those filing fees are normally the responsibility of the foreign national.
Can’t I just hire a lawyer to take care of it?
No. FSVS is the only entity authorized by USC to prepare and submit petitions and applications where USC is the petitioner or applicant. This institutional consistency is beneficial to all our people undergoing the process. You can, however, hire your own immigration attorney to advise you personally.
FSVS is happy to provide information for legal consumers on working with U.S. immigration attorneys.
Depending on the specifics of your case, this could be when the petition is approved or when the petition is received by the CIS. We will work with your department and USC Payroll Services to make sure that your payroll account can be activated as quickly as possible.
I am a USC student who is about to graduate. Can FSVS help me get a work visa?
No, only your future employer can help you with that. For information about OPT, immigration workshops for soon-to-be-graduates, and more, please visit the OIS website at: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/OIS/