Extend or Amend a H-1B: Office of International Student and Scholar Services

Extend or Amend a H-1B

The procedures for making the following changes are provided on this webpage. View Instructions for Host Department

H-1B COE (Change of Employer) hold an H-1B at another institution but will be hired by ˿��Ƶ.
H-1B EOS (Extension) hold an H-1B at ˿��Ƶ but will extend employment end-date (all other employment information remains the same)
H-1B Amend hold an H-1B at ˿��Ƶ but need to change details such as site of activity, job title, job description, salary, or hours worked.

Although the steps and materials required may vary slightly, the basic procedure is the same:

The H-1B applicant will submit required forms and documentation to the host department. The host department will complete its own required forms and submit the entire packet to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.
The applicant will receive an invitation via email to complete an online questionnaire in Docketwise.
The OISS will handle Prevailing Wage Determination and Labor Condition Application requirements.
The OISS will prepare the petition and submit it to USCIS.
After receiving USCIS Receipt Notice, the H-1B applicant may begin/continue work at ˿��Ƶ.

The OISS requests that documentation be submitted to our office 3 months in advance of the desired effective date for all requests. Consult your OISS advisor regarding cases that require an expedited timeline.

While the Receipt Notice is required for work to continue/begin at ˿��Ƶ for COE/Extension/Amend cases, the Approval Notice is required for all international travel. Please communicate with your OISS advisor about any upcoming international travel plans.

Questions? Contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services or departmental contact.

Instructions for H-1B Beneficiary

Change of Employer (COE) to ˿��Ƶ

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1. Submit the following required documentation to your host department:

Copy of passport biographical page
Current curriculum vitae (CV)
Copy of diploma(s)
Copy of transcript(s)
Credential evaluation, if you received your degree outside the U.S. Recommended evaluation companies include: (office located in Chicago), ; ; ;
Copy of H-1B visa stamp
Copy of I-94 record (If you will travel internationally between submitting your I-94 record to OISS and receipt of H-1B approval, please alert your OISS Advisor before confirming your trip.)
Copy of W2
Copies of all previous H-1B approval notices
Three most recent pay stubs from current employer (wait for your IO advisor to request these via email)
An employment letter from your current employer, including recent date and confirming employment start date
If you once held a J-1 visa: Copies of J-1 visa stamps or DS-2019 to prove J-1 status
If you were subject to 212(e): Copy of waiver recommendation and copy of 1-612 OR proof that the 2 years has been fulfilled
Optional: $2805 for USCIS Premium Processing that guarantees Receipt/Approval notices within 20 days. Check must be made to the Department of Homeland Security (payable by hiring department).

2. Complete the online questionnaire in Docketwise.

The OISS will send you an invitation via email to fill out the Docketwise questionnaire (called a "smart form") after your sponsoring department has submitted their request to the OISS. Only fill out questions you believe apply to you. Your OISS advisor will reach out if additional information is needed.

3. Both you and your department contact will receive emails when the OISS receives a request, when the OISS sends the petition to USCIS, and when OISS receives the Receipt and Approval Notices.

Please note: Your USCIS Receipt Notice is needed before you can start work at NU. If the intended employment start-date approaches and you do not have a Receipt Notice, the NU hiring department will have to delay employment.

Dependents and Form I-539

If this application includes an extension, the H-1B beneficiary will have to file the I-539 form to extend his/her dependents' status. This I-539 should be included in this H-1B extension filing. If there is no request to extend the beneficiary's end date, then an I-539 may not be necessary.

H-1B Extension

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1. Your host department must submit your forms and documents (listed below) along with its own documents as a complete package to the OISS.

Copy of passport biographical page
Current curriculum vitae (CV)
Copy of diploma(s)
Copy of transcript(s)
Copies of all previous H-1B approval notices
Three most recent pay stubs from ˿��Ƶ (wait for your IO advisor to request these via email)
Copy of visa stamp
Copy of I-94 record (If you will travel internationally between submitting your I-94 record to OISS and receipt of H-1B approval, please alert your OISS Advisor before confirming your trip.)
If you once held a J-1 visa: Copies of J-1 visa stamps or DS-2019 to prove J-1 status
If you were subject to 212(e): Copy of waiver recommendation and copy of 1-612 OR proof that the 2 years has been fulfilled
Optional: $2805 for USCIS Premium Processing that guarantees Receipt/Approval notices within 20 days. Check must be made to the Department of Homeland Security (payable by hiring department).

2. Complete the online questionnaire in Docketwise.

3. Both you and your department contact will receive emails when the OISS receives a request, when the OISS sends the petition to USCIS, and when OISS receives the Receipt and Approval Notices.

Please note: Your USCIS Receipt Notice is needed before you continue working at NU. If your current H-1B end-date passes and you do not have a Receipt Notice the NU hiring department will have to delay employment.

Dependents and Form I-539

The H-1B beneficiary will have to file the I-539 form to extend his/her dependents' status. This I-539, including the following documents, should be included in this H-1B extension filing.

Completed form I-539 and I-539A (if there is more than one dependent, each additional dependent needs to complete an I-539A)
Copy of dependent(s) visa stamp page
Copy of dependent(s) passport biographical page
Copy of dependent(s) previous H-4 approval notice(s)
Printout of dependent(s) I-94
$470 fee check made payable to The Department of Homeland Security (payable by your or your department)
Copy of marriage certificate for spouse and/or birth certificate(s) for children. Include both original and English translation.

Amended H-1B

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If the only change will be an increase/decrease in salary, please contact your assigned OISS Advisor so that we can evaluate if an H-1B Amendment is necessary.

If your position will change (e.g. new job title, new job description, new site of activity, promotion, transfer to another NU department, different hours per week), you are required to submit H-1B Amendment paperwork and receive a USCIS Receipt Notice before any change occurs.

1. Your host department must submit your forms and documents (listed below) along with its own documents as a complete package to the OISS.

Copy of passport biographical page
Current curriculum vitae (CV)
Copy of diploma(s)
Copy of transcript(s)
Three most recent pay stubs from ˿��Ƶ (wait for your OISS advisor to request these via email)
Copies of all H-1B Approval Notices
Copy of visa stamp
Copy of I-94 record (If you will travel internationally between submitting your I-94 record to OISS and receipt of H-1B approval, please alert your OISS Advisor before confirming your trip.)
If you once held a J-1 visa: Copies of J-1 visa stamps or DS-2019 to prove J-1 status
If you were subject to 212(e): Copy of waiver recommendation and copy of 1-612 OR proof that the 2 years has been fulfilled
Optional: $2805 for USCIS Premium Processing that guarantees Receipt/Approval notices within 20 days. Check must be made to the Department of Homeland Security (payable by hiring department).

2. Complete the online questionnaire in Docketwise.

3. Both you and your department contact will receive emails when the OISS receives a request, when the OISS sends the petition to USCIS, and when OISS receives the Receipt Notice and Approval Notices.

Note: The USCIS Receipt Notice is needed before the change proposed in the petition can take place.

Dependents and Form I-539

If this application includes an extension, the H-1B beneficiary will have to file the I-539 form to extend his/her dependents status. This I-539 should be included in this H-1B extension filing. If there is no request to extend the beneficiary's end date, then an I-539 may not be necessary.

˿��Ƶ Processing Times

H-1B requests can be submitted up to 6 months before the start date, but no earlier. Please keep in mind OISS and USCIS processing times are subject to change based on processing volume.

Internal processing at the OISS (before sending to USCIS) for Extensions, Change of Employer and Amended H-1B petitions require 3 months, and no less than 4 weeks. Anything less might require a delay in the start date, and/or a break in employment. All initial H-1B requests will require 3 months.
External processing (once petition is sent to USCIS) requires 3 weeks to issue a receipt notice. Regular processed petitions will take up to 6 months for an Approval notice to be issued, or the department can pay for a Premium Processed request, which will result in adjudication within 15 business days.

Please see Visas, fees and Processing Times page for further details.

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