Auburn University will sponsor, at the discretion of the hiring department, tenure-track and certain permanent faculty positions for Permanent Residency.
All permanent residency petitions filed by Auburn University must be processed by, or directed by, the Office of International Programs (OIP). Hiring departments may not prepare or sign any documents related to the permanent residency petitions. Only the Immigration Attorney approved by the OIP may file applications on behalf of Auburn University. Requests to use an outside attorney must be submitted in writing to the OIP and will be approved at the discretion of the Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
Permanent residency sponsorship must be initiated by the Chair or Department Head by submitting an email request to the Director of ISSS.
Permanent residency applications must be facilitated by the OIP and their designated immigration attorney. Payment of all fees associated with permanent residency petitions must be made in writing by the hiring department and employee prior to the initiation of the petition.
Hiring departments may not commit to sponsor any prospective non-tenure track employee for permanent residency without the appropriate approval by all required offices, including the Office of the Provost.
NOTE: AUBURN UNIVERSITY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ESTABLISH INTERNAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SUBMISSION, ADJUSTMENT AND MODIFICATION OR WITHDRAWAL OF ANY EMPLOYER BASED PETITIONS AT ANY TIME.
A petition for permanent residency may be filed for an employee in a permanent, full-time professional position. "Professional" is defined to be any position which clearly requires a four-year Bachelor's Degree or higher. "Permanent" is defined to be a tenure-track or tenured faculty position or any regular position that is expected to continue indefinitely, and in which the employee intends to remain indefinitely. "Visiting", "Acting", or "Interim" faculty positions do not meet the definition of permanent. [Note that Post-doctoral positions are not considered permanent.]
For persons employed as teaching faculty, the permanent residency application process should begin no later than 10 months from the date the official job offer was made (date on the job offer letter). For all other positions (including research appointments), the condition below must be satisfied before the University begins any paperwork related to a permanent resident petition. For all AU sponsored permanent residency petitions, there must also be a commitment on the part of the faculty member employee to remain indefinitely at Auburn University.
The University will pursue “Special Handling” Labor Certification for teaching positions. This requires meeting the 18 month “Special Handling” deadline, which starts on the day the official job offer is made (date on the job offer letter).
Note: Employees may independently file permanent residency petitions for EB-1A “Extraordinary Ability” or “National Interest Waiver”. Department heads, professors, and other employees may write recommendation letters in support of these petitions, but they may not sign any U.S. Government forms on behalf of Auburn University in relation to these petitions.
The hiring department is responsible for paying the PERM/Labor Certification portion of an employee’s permanent residency petition. The costs associated with the I-140 petition or I-485 Adjustment of Status petition may be paid by the employee or the hiring department.
The hiring department is responsible for paying all costs for advertising and recruitment, as required by U.S. labor law.
Hiring departments may utilize state funds to cover all costs associated with the permanent residency petition for the employee only. The cost associated with the employee’s dependents (spouse and children) must be covered by the employee.
Auburn University may not pay or reimburse an employee the costs of independently filed permanent residency petitions.
The hiring department must initiate permanent residency sponsorship for employees in qualified positions. At the final approval of the Office of the Provost, the OIP and their designated immigration attorney will notify the hiring department and employee.
To initiate sponsorship the Chair or Department Head must submit an email request to the Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
Obrad Budic
NOTE: Once the permanent residency process is initiated, any material change in employment or physical location must be communicated with the OIP and the designated immigration attorney prior to implementation of the change. Permanent residency petitions are filed based on the employee’s position, job duties, and location and any change may impact the permanent residency petition.
Auburn University will sponsor the following categories for permanent residency:
Auburn University generally pursues permanent residency for faculty or staff who hold positions with teaching responsibilities using the EB-2 category. This category requires the employer document that a fair search was conducted and that the most qualified individual was hired for the position. The EB-2 category allows for “Special Handling” Labor Certification for teaching positions. This requires meeting the 18 month “Special Handling” deadline, which starts on the day the official job offer is made (date on the job offer letter).
Auburn University may sponsor faculty who hold tenure-track positions for permanent residency using the EB-1B category. However, rarely will a new international faculty member qualify for the EB-1B category due to the high standard of experience and achievements needed to demonstrate the individual has risen to the top of his/her profession. The EB-1B will only be pursued at the recommendation of the Office of International Programs (OIP) designated immigration attorney. Should the faculty member qualify for an EB-1B, the faculty member will be responsible for providing the evidence and documentation to meet the required standards.
All permanent residency petitions sponsored by Auburn University will be reviewed and submitted to the USCIS through the OIP designated immigration attorney. Employees and their hiring departments will be responsible for all legal fees. All Auburn University employment based permanent residency petitions are for the employer (Auburn) and may be withdrawn at any time.
Be reminded that ALL Auburn University sponsored permanent residency petitions require specific internal procedures to assure that the paperwork is in compliance with not only U.S. immigration regulations, but also with University policies and procedures.
Should the OIP approve the use of an outside attorney, the OIP will have all documents reviewed by their designated immigration attorney and there will be an additional fee charged (minimum of $300) for review of all documents prior University approval or submission to the USCIS.
Sponsorship for administrative and professional (A&P) positions require the approval of Auburn University Human Resources. Departments must submit a Request for Determination of Support for Sponsorship form to the Department of Human Resources/Compensation and Classification.
Instructions and a link to the form can be found on the Human Resources Procedures page under the tab “Requesting Determination of Support for the Sponsorship of Temporary Work or Permanent Residency Petitions for Administrative and Professional Positions”.
Auburn University's policy for employment-based immigration status sponsorship for Administrative and Professional positions can be located on the Office of the General Counsel's website.
Instructions for renewing or replacing a green card can be found on the USCIS website:
All foreign nationals, including Permanent Residents, in the U.S. are required to notify the USCIS of any change in address within 10 days of moving. The address reported must be a physical U.S. address of residence – P.O. Box or office/university address in not acceptable.
File change of address online: USCIS Address Change Information
