Virginia Commonwealth University
 

Immigration services

Immigration services

The VCU Global Education Office’s immigration services works with international students, scholars, faculty, researchers and their dependents to help them maintain their various visa statuses. We issue and process the necessary immigration documents and advise immigrants on the regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as well as the U.S. Department of Labor.

Immigration services currently advises students (F-1), scholars, researchers, visitors (J-1), temporary specialized employees (H-1B and TN) and their dependents.

Important updates

USCIS processing fee increases

USCIS processing fees for applications and petitions for benefits will change on Nov. 23, 2010. Therefore, all applications and petitions filed on or after Nov. 23, will need to include the new fee. While a few fees will go down (see change of status application fee), most are increasing. For a chart with comprehensive information please check the NAFSA website.

The primary fee changes that will affect the VCU international population are:

Application to replace I-94 card
I-102
 from $320 to $330
H-1B and TN initial or extension petition filing fee
I-129
 from $320 to $325
Permanent residency petition for alien employee
I-140
 from $475 to $580
Application to adjust to permanent residency
I-485
 from $930 to $985
Change of nonimmigrant status application fee
I-539
 from $300 to $290
Waiver of the two year home residency requirement
I-612
 from $545 to $585
Employment authorization card application
I-765
 from $340 to $380
H-1B premium processing
I-907
 from $1,000 to $1,225

USCIS processing time increases

USCIS processing times have increased for most applications and petitions for benefits. In spite of USCIS website estimates, GEO-IS experience indicates that the following procedures are taking these times:

  • Changes of nonimmigrant status: approximately three months
  • Applications for employment authorization: approximately four months
  • H-1B initial and extension petitions without premium processing: approximately five months

Please keep these time frames in mind when submitting your applications and petitions to our office.

Part-time H-1B employees
VCU student

All VCU employees on part-time H-1B visas and their employing departments must keep exact, written documentation of the hours the H-1B employee has worked on a weekly basis.

The original records must be kept in the employing department’s personnel file and a copy must be sent to the address below on March 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Dec. 31 each year. For more information, please call immigration services at (804) 828-0595.

Virginia Commonwealth University GEO – Immigration Services
817 West Franklin Street
P.O. Box 843043
Richmond, Virginia 23284-3043

ESTA approval

Starting Jan. 20, 2010, international citizens planning to visit the U.S. using the Visa Waiver Program will need a valid ESTA (electronic system for travel authorization) approval. ESTA will collect the same information included on the I-94W — the form that travelers complete on the airplane en route to the U.S. ESTA applications are online and may be completed any time before the planned travel, though it is recommended to start as soon as travelers begin their trip planning. ESTA approval is generally valid for two years and for multiple entries to the U.S.

Additional resources

The following resources provide additional information that may prove useful during your stay at VCU.

Back to top