Faculty and Staff Immigrations Services (FSIS) is the University's official and authoritative source of immigration advice for all international employees requiring UM employment-based immigration sponsorship. FSIS serves the international faculty, staff, their families as well as hiring units on the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. We facilitate intercultural and international education and aim to foster a global campus community through comprehensive, high-quality immigration advisement; case preparation and case management; compliance and risk management guidance; programming; and advocacy at all levels.
FSIS is charged with the responsibility of representing all University campuses on employment-based immigration matters and managing the country's largest, academic H-1B program. As such, FSIS prepares and files all employment-based immigration petitions with the appropriate government agencies. However, note that our office does not provide legal advice. If legal advice on UM immigration-related matters is required, we will, in consultation with OGC, refer the matter to an immigration attorney outside of the University. Alternatively, FSIS may, after review and at its discretion, assign an immigration petition to outside Retained Immigration Counsel.
In addition, FSIS conducts large and small group workshops on a variety of topics for interested international faculty and staff as well as all university units; we are always happy to come to units to conduct a presentation. FSIS also serves as a resource to improve international and intercultural awareness for faculty and staff and provides consultations on a broad array of topics, including policy development and implementation pertaining to serving the international population.
When you have any question or concern, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Important News
- 12/11/2024: On 12/10/2024, the US Department of Homeland Security announced that it is permanently extending the automatic extension period for certain EAD applicants from 180 to 540 days. Note that not all EAD renewal applicants will benefit from the new temporary rule; for a list of eligible applicants, refer to the USCIS Automatic EAD Extension page.
- 12/6/2024: On 12/6/2024, the US Department of State announced that, effective 12/9/2024, it is changing the J-1 "skills list." If a country is removed from the skills list, the two-year home residency obligation is retroactively removed for individuals from that country as long as they are not also subject on a different basis, e.g. government funding or J-1 program category (Alien Physician). However, if a skill is removed but the country remains on the list, any person from that country subjected to the two-year requirement based on the previous skills remains subject to the rule.
- 9/25/2024: On 9/24/2024, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State announced that "[starting] no later than [12/1/2024], the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) online application and mobile app will be updated to allow citizens and nationals of Qatar to apply to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without first obtaining a U.S. visa," under the visa waiver program.
- 9/18/2024: Effective 9/10/2024, USCIS began automatically extending the validity of green cards to 36 months from the expiration date on the face of the current Green Card for individuals who file Form I-90 to renew an expiring or expired Green Card. USCIS is in the process of sending out amended receipt notices for individuals with a pending Form I-90. The (amended) receipt notice with an expired Green Card provides proof of employment and travel authorization for 36 months from the expiration date on the front of the expired Green Card.
- 4/8/2024: On 4/8/2024 USCIS published a new temporary final rule extending the automatic extension period for certain EAD applicants from 180 to 540 days.This rule will be effective from 4/8/2024 until 9/20/2027 and will affect extension requests filed between 10/27/2023 and 9/30/2025. Note that not all EAD renewal applicants will benefit from the new temporary rule; for a list of eligible applicants, refer to this USCIS overview.
- 3/20/2024: Effective 4/1/2024, USCIS will change its fee schedule for many petition and application types as well as its Premium Processing adjudication timeline. The Premium Processing timeline will change from calendar days to federal business days. In effect, for an H-1B petition, the Premium Processing timeline will change from approximately 2 weeks to approximately 3 weeks. For an overview of the new fees, see the FSIS Fees and Checks schedule.
- 1/10/2024: On 12/28/2023, USCIS announced that it will change its Premium Processing fees. Effective 2/26/2024, the Premium Processing fees for H-1B petitions as well as most Immigrant Petitions will increase from $2,500 to $2,805.