Teaching Positions

Step 1: Labor Certification

The Labor Certification (LC) is filed by WVU on the faculty member's behalf with the Department of Labor (DOL) to obtain certification verification demonstrating the unavailability of better qualified U.S. workers for the position. Please note this is a prerequisite step any U.S. employer must take before filing actual petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of the foreign national.

To begin this process, please first submit DRAFTS of the documents to the case manager:

1. A Recruitment Report signed by the Chair of the search committee outlining the steps leading to the selection
2. A memo outlining the recommendation of the foreign national by the search/recruitment committee
3. A memo outlining the foreign national's educational, professional, and academic qualifications and achievements
4. Notice of Filing on department letterhead must be posted for 10 (ten) consecutive business days (weekends and WVU holidays excluded) at the worksite(s)

Step 2: Immigrant Petition

This is the WVU petition on the faculty member's behalf asking USCIS to allocate a permanent residency visa number. Important: WVU has only 180 days from approval of 1st Step/Labor Certification to file this petition.

Please Note: The case manager will reach out to you with a partially completed support letter template. Please complete the template and send a DRAFT to the case manager.

Fees associated with this step are borne by the faculty member and are not paid by the university.

Step 3: Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

This is the faculty's personal application. Its purpose is to request a change of status from their current temporary work visa (e.g. H-1B, TN, etc.) to Permanent Residency status. The department does not need to provide anything for this step.

Fees associated with this step are borne by the faculty member and are not paid by the university.