Maintain Status2

Communicate with the ISSO advisor PRIOR to:

• Making any international travel plans
• If you have applied for an immigrant visa (filed an I-140 or I-130)
• If you expect any change that may effect your current immigration status (any significant change in employment including promotion, salary increase other than standard annual raise, work site, marriage, or interest in bringing dependents to the U.S.)
• Notify the Scholar Advisor of new mailing address and contact information in a timely fashion

H-1B Temporary Workers
Employees must comply with the following regulations to maintain lawful H-1B status:

• Maintain a valid passport
• Complete your stay by the date specified on Form I-797 or work with the ISSO to apply for an extension up to 6 years, generally at least 90 days prior to the expiration.
• Accept employment only from the employer for whom USCIS approved an H-1B petition and adhere to the terms and conditions specified in that H-1B petition.
• Work only during the period of validity listed on the I-797.
• Notify USCIS of any change of address using the AR-11 form within 10 days of any change of address.

An H-1B Temporary Worker who does not comply with these and all other USCIS regulations could be considered by USCIS to be out of status. An H-1B alien who becomes out of status does not have a legal status and may have to leave the United States.

TN Temporary Workers
Employees must comply with the following regulations to maintain lawful TN status:

• Maintain a valid passport
• Complete your stay by the date specified on the I-94 Arrival/Departure record (normally up to 1 year from the date of entry) or work with the ISSO to apply for an extension, generally at least 90 days prior to the expiration.
• Accept employment only from the employer listed on the TN I-94 card and adhere to the terms and conditions specified in that offer of employment.
• Notify USCIS of any change of address using the AR-11 form within 10 days of any change of address.

Important documents:

• I-797 approval notices (keep copies beyond the end of the H1B/TN period in case they are needed at some future point.)
• Passport (passport must be valid throughout the period of stay) Passports can be renewed by foreign embassies in Washington D.C. and foreign consulates in other cities. For information about embassies, see http://www.embassy.org.
• Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (small white card stamped by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry).