The Office of Global Services (OGS) provides professional support and advising for Illinois Institute of Technology international employees, scholars, and visitors. We process government applications/petitions that require sponsorship by Illinois Tech, including J-1 research scholar and professor DS-2019s and employment-based H-1B, E-3, and TN.

OGS advising staff will help with questions relating to acquiring and maintaining nonimmigrant visa statuses. We also conduct orientations and workshops covering topics such as life at Illinois Tech, maintaining legal status, obtaining work permission, travel, and adjusting to life in the United States for the international student and employee/scholar community. We provide workshops and information sessions for sponsoring departments on hiring international faculty and staff.

We are responsible for insuring that the university remains compliant with immigration-related regulations and that the university’s interests are accurately represented in all immigration-related applications to government agencies.

Please see the links on the sidebar for additional information related to hosting an international employee or scholar.

Programs

F-1 Curricular Practical Training

F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is temporary employment that allows an F-1 student to gain practical experience through internships, cooperative education, or practicums. An integral part of the curriculum, CPT must be directly related to the F-1 student’s major field of study. It is either a required part of the curriculum or for credit.

F-1 Optional Practical Training

F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) is for undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degree and are permitted by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work for, at most, 12 months or up to an additional 24 months with an extension on a student visa for practical training in their field of study. The 24-month extension is an extension of the period of post-completion OPT from 12 months to a total of 36 months for eligible F-1 students. 

J-1 Exchange Visitor/Scholar Status

The Exchange Visitor non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work- and study-based exchange visitor programs. J-1 students may be employed when the employment is related to academic funding, on-campus work, or economic necessity. The J-1 Exchange Visitor status comprises various scholar categories; all employment must be authorized by OGS. Please visit the J-1 Exchange Visitors page for additional information and a listing of J-1 scholar categories.   

J-1 Academic Training

J-1 Academic Training is authorization for temporary work within a student’s field of study either before or after their completion of studies. Bachelor’s and master’s candidates are eligible for 18 months of Academic Training; doctoral candidates are eligible for 36 months. A non-degree exchange student is eligible for Academic Training equal to the length of time they have spent studying in the United States. 

H-1B Status

H-1B status is suitable for most international researchers, faculty, and staff whose position requires the minimum of a bachelor’s degree and who will perform work in a specialized skill area. The host department is expected to collect information from the prospective H-1B employee, and submit the request forms and supporting documents to OGS. The petition is filed with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for processing and adjudication. Please visit the Maintaining H-1B Status page for more information about H-1B status.  

B-1/WB Visitor Status

The B-1 and Visa Waiver for Business categories are appropriate for individuals who wish to come to the United States to engage in temporary commercial, business, or professional activities related to their employment or business abroad, provided that the U.S. activity does not constitute “employment.”

Non-Immigrant NAFTA Professional (TN) Status

The TN category was created under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to facilitate Canadian and Mexican citizens to enter the United States to engage in professional business activities on a temporary basis. 

OGS provides professional support and advising for Illinois Institute of Technology international students, employees, and visitors. OGS advising staff can help with questions related to acquiring and maintaining nonimmigrant visa statuses. Please use the links below for additional information related to your specific status.