To the H1-B Holders at Purdue University Calumet
The staff in the International Students and Scholars Office welcomes you to Purdue University Calumet. We hope that your time at Purdue will benefit you academically and personally. As an office staff we are here to be of assistance to you in visa matters as well as other areas. If you have questions concerning your H-1 B/H-4 non-immigrant status or other matters feel free to call our office at 219-989-2559 and to speak with an H-1 counselor. We will be glad to assist you with your questions. Please contact Director of International Students and Scholars Services, International Programs Office and Purdue University Calumet Liaison to ISS in West Lafayette for H-1B visa processing (located in CLO 176).
Immigration Documents (I-797 and I-94 card)
You have been provided with a copy of your I-797 approval notice indicating that the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has given you H-1B status for the time period indicated on the form. (Your dependents have been given H-4 visa status with the same dates) The original upper portion of the I-797 approval notice is kept in your file in our office. If you have traveled and used this original please return it to our office upon you return. You will have a new I-94 departure record form either given to you on the airplane as you entered the US or an attachment to the I-797 approval notice. This is an important card as it allows you to work and be paid in the US. The expiration date on this card should be the same as the ending date of the I-797 approval notice. If it shows a different date, bring it to the attention of the H-1 Counselor in ISS.
Important things to keep in mind about H-1B visa status:
- The H-1B visa status is site-specific, which means that it may only be used for employments in the Purdue department that has invited you. Your position’s location and salary have been specified on the Labor Condition Application and cannot change from that without a new petition being filed with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. If there are proposed changes to the location or salary please contact your departmental liaison who will work with the ISS to help you.
- If you change employers while holding H-1B status you may begin employment with the new employer once they have received the USCIS receipt for your application. This is known as portability.
- The H-1B is limited to a maximum period of six aggregate years. This may be extended in one year increments for certain individuals in the permanent residence process. Check with your employer to see if this applies to you.
- Unlike the F-1 and J-1 visa statuses the H-1 B does not have an official grace period. The officer at the port-of-entry may give an extra 10 days beyond the expiration of the I-797 approval notice. The ten days after the petition is not automatic, and only exists if USCIS has recorded it on the I-94 card.
Extension of Stay
If the hiring department decides to keep you beyond your current I-797 H-1B expiration we will need to start the extension process 4-6 months before that expiration date. Please speak with your department liaison to get the process started. If you have traveled outside of the country during your current H-1 please supply the liaison and ISS with a copy of your H-1B visa stamp and your new I-94 card. The liaison will need that to complete the application process. You dependents H-4 visa status will be extended at the same time. It is important that you check with ISS before traveling outside the US while an extension application is pending.
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