H-1Bs can cost between ~$5-7k, depending on the complexity of the case. Due to long USCIS processing times, an additional $2,965 is required for premium processing. This can be paid by the department/PI or the beneficiary (employee), depending on the circumstances.

The fee is one time for a three-year H-1B and may need to be repeated for an extension. There is not an annual fee.

1. However long it takes to gather documents from the department.
2. 3-4 weeks for the LCA with the Department of Labor (DOL).
3. USCIS processing times fluctuate with demand. It can be ~4-9 months or 15 days with premium processing.

The job requires specialized knowledge and typically requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. The candidate must generally possess a bachelor's degree or higher in a field directly related to the position. The degree should align with the job's specialized requirements.

Federal law requires employers to pay the required wage for the position and provide working conditions and benefits comparable to similarly employed U.S. workers.

To qualify for Permanent Employment Certification (PERM/faculty labor certification) sponsorship, the University must demonstrate to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) that the search committee selected the foreign national faculty candidate after a “good faith” effort to recruit “U.S. workers” through a “competitive recruitment and selection process” and the foreign national candidate “was found to be more qualified than any of the U.S. workers who applied for the job.” See 20 CFR § 656.18. 

The term “U.S. workers” includes U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens with long-term work authorization (e.g., individuals with U.S. permanent resident status a.k.a. “green card,” refugees/asylees, etc.).

The term “non-U.S. workers” means non-U.S. citizens who need USC sponsorship for work authorization.  

Review Position Eligibility

The position must be a tenure-track/tenured faculty appointment with primary teaching duties and requiring a terminal degree. See policy HR 1.25.

Prepare Advertisements

Limit description of qualifications to those necessary for the position. Avoid referring to “preferred” / “desired” / “ideal” qualifications, as USDOL considers those to be equivalent to minimum requirements.

• For ABD applicants to meet advertised requirements, the ad must include a statement such as “The position requires a PhD in [field/s] by start date of employment (ABDs considered at time of application).”
• Open rank searches must refer to rank-specific requirements aligned with academic policy.
• Avoid conditional tense (“should”) when describing requirements (“must”).
• The advertisement must include the word “teaching.”
• If the search intends to attract applicants with a specific teaching or research specialty, use the term “expertise” instead of “experience.”
• Avoid a conditional deadline (e.g., “for full consideration, apply before…”). Best practice is to use a hard deadline (“applications due by [date]…”) or to leave open until filled. 
• Avoid referring to citizenship or immigration status unless the position duties are restricted by law, regulation, executive order, or government contract (e.g., a faculty appointment requiring eligibility for access to federal facilities that requires U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status).

Post ad in a national professional print journal (or alternatively, the corresponding e-journal), such as Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (or https://diversejobs.net), The Chronicle of Higher Education (or https://jobs.chronicle.com), or similar outlet. The ad may include one or more available positions in the Department/College/School, and must:

• summarize minimum requirements (e.g., “PhD in [field/s] by employment start date (ABDs considered at time of application) with potential for excellence in teaching and research”);
• refer to USCJobs application link and include EOE/AA statement; and
• be published for at least 30 days before the application deadline or selection of interviewees
• not be pointer ad (lacking required details).

Keep all evidence for other ads (for online ads, receipts/emails with dates posted/removed/ad text details, listserv messages, emails sent to colleagues at other institutions, conference job board postings etc.). 

Print to PDF the full text of each ad while “live” online, both on the first day and on the last day of posting period. Avoid “screen shot” – provide entire page with URL and date in the margins. Commonly referred to as tearsheets.

Wait at least 30 days from national journal ad publication date before interviewing candidates, as evidence of a good faith effort to allow qualified U.S. applicants adequate time to apply and be considered. USC requires posting of at least 45 days.

If non-U.S. citizen becomes a finalist for campus interview, do not ask the candidate to discuss his/her immigration status; instead, contact immigration@sc.edu.

If non-U.S. citizen will receive an offer, share with immigration@sc.edu, as well as all addenda or amended offers. Avoid use of “instructor” contingency paragraph (e.g., if PhD is not completed by start date…).

Prepare a hiring proposal in PeopleAdmin and use the offer letter template provided in the system, which includes contingency (“If you are a non-U.S. citizen…”).

Please do not assign PeopleAdmin onboarding to non-U.S. citizens. HR-OIS is responsible for onboarding. If employment start date is within the next few months, prepare for possible delays due to DOL and USCIS processing times (subject to change). 

Close USCJobs posting timely to avoid submission of additional applications after offer/acceptance.

Retain all search materials for 6.5 years from offer letter issuance date.

HR-OIS facilitates onboarding process at the appropriate time. 

The Exchange Visitor Program at USC will cost the department $100.

However long it takes to gather information (offer/appointment letter, eligibility questionnaire, document collection). We can create the DS-2019 quickly in SEVIS when we have everything we need.

Extensions will take longer starting September 15, 2026.

We will not approve an affiliate who is in any way paid by USC.

Visit our International Affiliates page > For Departments section.

There are a few, depending on the guest's situation.

Reimbursements, honoraria, prizes, awards, and fellowships are determined and processed through the Controller's Office.

Payments to Foreign Nationals Matrix