Faculty Staff Immigration Services (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 the University's official and authoritative source of immigration advice for all international employees requiring employment-based immigration sponsorship and, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel (OGC), 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 immigration-related matters is required, FSIS will, in consultation with OGC, refer the matter to an immigration attorney outside of the University. Also, 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
- 1/21/2021: On 1/20/2021, the Biden adminsitration issued a Presidential Proclamation (Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States) withdrawing the Trump administration's Executive Order 13780 (Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), and Proclamations 9645 (Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats), 9723 (Maintaining Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats), and 9983 (Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats).
- 1/19/2021: On 1/18/2021, the Trump administration issued a proclamation ending the COVID-related travel restrictions for individuals who were physically present in Brazil, Ireland, the UK and the Schengen Area within the 14 day period before seeking admission to the US, effective 1/26/2021. However, the incoming Biden administration has stated that it will reverse this new proclamation and retain the existing travel restrictions.
- 1/14/2021: The Department of Homeland Security will extend the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico until 2/21/2021.
- 1/13/2021: On 1/12/2021, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) issued an order requiring all air passengers arriving in the US from a foreign country to be tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. This order will go into effect on January 26, 2021, and the CDC has posted an FAQ page which explains the new requirement. This new requirement is in addition to the existing physical presence bans limiting travel.
- 1/4/2021: On 12/31/2020, the Trump Administration, extended until 3/31/2021 the June 22, 2020 proclamation limiting entry of certain applicants into the US, which was set to expire on 12/31/2020. Please note that there is a wide range of exceptions to this proclamation. For an overview, please refer to the US Department of State.
- 12/22/2020: The Department of Homeland Security announced that the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico has been extended until 1/21/2021.
- 12/22/2020: On 12/14/2020, in a legal challenge - which the University of Michigan joined as a plaintiff - against the Department of Labor's (DOL) Interim Final Rule (IFR) that substantially raised prevailing wage determinations, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted the plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgement. As a result, the DOL IFR has been set aside.
- 12/9/2020: As a result of several court challenges, the recently promulgated interim final rules regarding the minimum eligibility standard for H-1B petition as well as prevailing wage determinations have been set aside. The Department of Homeland Security regulation, which was scheduled to take effect on 12/8/2020, will not take effect. The Department of Labor will revert to its previous prevailing wage determination calculation methodology.
- 11/23/2020: The Department of Homeland Security announced that the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico has been extended until 12/21/2020.