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WDRS > International Services > Visa Office > Current Employees

Current Employees

The Visa Office will assist employees at Fermilab whose nonimmigrant status requires change and/or extension. Before an application or petition can be filed for you, and before you can apply for a visa, Fermilab’s Visa Office usually must prepare certain paperwork for you. The type of paperwork we must prepare depends on the kind of visa status you currently hold, and will hold after the extension.

When a person changes from one nonimmigrant status to another, it is called a “Change of Status.” It usually is possible to change from one visa status to another – for example, from J-1 to H-1B, or F-1 to H-1B. There are some exceptions to this. For example, people who enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program cannot change to any status. Instead, they must leave the U.S., apply for a new visa, and then re-enter in the new visa status. NOTE: People with a pending COS petition or application cannot depart the U.S., or the USCIS will consider that you have abandoned the filing. If you want to change status to facilitate your activities at Fermilab, please email the Visa Office to discuss your situation.

Employees with term job offers must receive a new Offer Letter with an extended Term, and accept this offer. (Generally, you should contact your manager to inquire about the status of your new Offer Letter.) The Visa Office must receive both a copy of the Offer and your acceptance before we may begin processing your visa paperwork. It sometimes speeds matters if you cc the Visa Office on your acceptance, to ensure that we are aware of your situation.

Employees with non-term (indefinite) job offers need not obtain additional paperwork. The Visa Office will contact you roughly 6 months prior to the expiration of your current grant of status to begin work on the petition or application to extend/change your status.

Any employee (term or non-term) who anticipates traveling outside the U.S. during the 6 months prior to their status expiration should immediately contact the Visa Office, so that your travel needs can be accommodated. In this regard, please ensure that you are familiar with the International Service’s Travel Advisory.

Please note that this website still is under construction.  More immigration information and other visa statuses will be available soon.

Questions? Comments? Contact the Visa Office!

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