Immigration

Welcome to Human Resources — Immigration. We are here to provide support services for faculty and staff in need of immigration assistance. For more information, please contact Amy Garrett-Cowan (206) 667-4460 or Stephanie Otis (206) 667-5818.

  • Dept of Homeland Security (DHS) Launches Traveler Redress Inquiry Program
    DHS TRIP provides a central gateway for travel-related issues.

  • U.S.-Visit Entry/Exit Mandatory Procedures
    Applies to all visitors (with some exceptions) entering and exiting the US Details can be found on the following website: US-Visit

  • ECFMG Policy on "Moonlighting"
    In the past, we have received inquiries regarding "moonlighting" options for foreign medical graduates. The ECFMG does not allow this type of work authorization. Any individual engaged in such employment will face serious consequences (termination of J-1 program). For your convenience, the section regarding moonlighting for foreign graduates is below. This statement also addresses other frequently asked questions intended to clarify the ECFMG's interpretation of the guidelines related to training in US medical education programs. http://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/usiastmt.html. For other concerns not addressed in the policy statement, please review the Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program Reference Guide, which can be found on the ECFMG website at: http://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/evspcont.html.

  • The new USCIS Seattle Office is located at:

    12500 Tukwila International Blvd., Seattle, WA 98168.

    All Application Support Services (i.e., fingerprinting and other security related issues) are also located at this address. For more information, please go to: USCIS Seattle Office


  • The H-1B quota does not impact the Center's ability to hire new individuals requiring this visa status.


  • Dept of Homeland Security Travel Tips for J-1 Exchange Visitors

    • Travel Documents

    If you will be traveling outside of the U.S. temporarily, you must carry specific documentation for re-entry. Requesting an employment verification letter for your travel is not necessary, but it can be helpful if a Port of Entry officer is requesting evidence of current employment.

    J-1 Visitors should have the following:

    1. Valid Passport
    2. Valid J-1 visa stamped in your passport
    3. Form I-94 Departure/Arrival Card (should be stapled into your passport)
    4. Valid Form DS-2019 (with a valid signature from the Responsible Officer or Alternative Responsible Officer)

    H-1B Visitors must have the following:

    1. Valid Passport
    2. Valid H-1 visa stamped in your passport
    3. Valid Form I-797 Notice of Approval or Extension of Nonimmigrant Visa Petition.

    F-1 Students on Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training:

    1. Valid Passport
    2. Valid F-1 visa stamped in your passport
    3. Valid signature on page 4 of your Form I-20 from your school (Employment Authorization Document alone does not allow re-entry)
    4. Dependents in F-2, J-2, or H-4 status must also have valid passports and visas. If they are traveling alone, they must also have the appropriate form with them (e.g. DS-2019 or I-797, I-20).

    E-3 Visitors must have the following:

    1. Valid Passport
    2. Valid E-3 visa stamped in your passport
    3. Valid Form I-797 Notice of Approval or Extension of Nonimmigrant Visa Petition

    If your visa stamp has expired or if you have changed your status while in the U.S., you will need to go to a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the U. S. to apply for a new visa.

    O-1 Visitors must have the following:

    1. Valid Passport
    2. Valid O-1 visa stamped in your passport
    3. Valid Form I-797 Notice of Approval or Extension of Nonimmigrant Visa Petition

    If your visa stamp has expired or if you have changed your status while in the U.S., you will need to go to a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the U. S. to apply for a new visa.

    Trips to Canada, Mexico

    For trips (fewer than 30 days) to Mexico, Canada or adjacent islands, you do not need a valid visa to re-enter the U. S. However, you must carry all of the other items listed above and an unexpired Form I-94 (white card). If you have any questions, please contact Amy Garrett-Cowan.

    Visa Issuance

    Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than ever before. If you intend to travel internationally and plan on applying for a new or extended visa, please consider purchasing a plane ticket with flexible return dates.

    For many applicants, a personal appearance interview is now required as a standard part of visa processing. Individuals subject to an interview will be informed of this at the time they submit their application. Individuals will be advised to expect delays, as adjudication of the visa is completely unpredictable.

    In addition to the interviews, individuals engaged in advanced research or studies involving any of the scientific/technical fields listed in the Technology Alert List (TAL) may be required to go through a Security Advisory Opinion (SAO). The SAO can take several weeks before it's issued to the US Consulate. Details regarding the TAL can be found at: Technology Alert List.

    It is recommended that you prepare ahead of time in case you're subject to the SAO. In writing, state your research interests, current position, employer name, address and phone number. Also, list your US point of contact, specifics of your advanced (doctoral, postdoctoral or research scholar) research or studies in the US. They will want to know if you'll be returning to work in a country that sponsors terrorism or to an entity that is under sanctions and how, and where, does the applicant plan to use the knowledge acquired. Letters of recommendation from US sources are also helpful.

    Any questions should be directed to Amy Garrett-Cowan, (206) 667-4460 or Stephanie Otis, (206) 667-5818.

    J-1 Visa Request Forms

    (revised 06/16/06)

    Immigration Forms

    AR-11 Address Change Forms

    Department of State Nonimmigrant Visa Application Forms

    Helpful Links


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