International Hiring and Onboarding

Any UCCS office or department interested in hiring a non-U.S. citizen or permanent resident for a paid university position must coordinate their recruitment and hiring processes with the Human Resources office at UCCS. In addition, the H-1B process is coordinated by Human Resources and the CU-Boulder International Student & Scholar Services office. Please visit the International hiring webpages on the Human Resources website for more information.

International Affairs assists departments in bringing visiting international scholars and researchers to UCCS. This page will explain the different categories in which scholars can be brought to the university, the processes involved, and the documentation needed.

All visiting international scholars, regardless of the immigration arrangements that are made for them, must have official university appointments to indicate that they have an academic relationship to the university. For those scholars who are not paid by the university, appointments such as visiting researcher without stipend are usually appropriate. Any scholar who is on the payroll of the university should consult with his or her department for an appropriate identity card. Scholars should connect with UCCS Human Resources to ensure all required documentation is on file. Scholars who are not on the university payroll can get "affiliate" identification cards.

Employing departments should be aware that there are different categories available in bringing over a visiting scholar. In brief, the most common categories used by foreign nationals at UCCS are:

J-1 Scholar

• Nonimmigrant status
• Appropriate for temporary employment (up to five years, depending on J category)
• Coordinated by the International Affairs Office

See UCCS J-1 Scholar Procedures here.

H-1b Scholar

• Nonimmigrant status
• Appropriate for temporary long-term employment (up to six years), or possibly permanent appointments
• Coordinated by UCCS Human Resources which consults with the CU-Boulder ISSS office

See the UC-Boulder/UCCS H-1B Scholar Procedures resource page for more information and procedures.

Green Card (Permanent Residency)

• For permanent employment
• Coordinated by UCCS Human Resources which consults with the CU-Boulder ISSS office.

Student Visas

It is not unusual for departments to also hire recently graduated students who are on student visas. There are two types of student visas: F-1 and J-1, and both types have mechanisms whereby the students can obtain work permission after their graduation.

F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT allows students to work in their major field of study, for a period not to exceed 12 months. F-1 students must apply for the OPT with the Department of Homeland Security, and when approved, will have an Employment Authorization card in hand with validity dates. If their EAD card is not sponsored by UCCS, (and they are from another university/institution), please have the individuals complete check-in processes with International Affairs when they arrive on campus.

F-1 OPT for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students.

Students who graduate with a major in one of the STEM fields can apply for and obtain an additional 24 months of OPT from the Department of Homeland Security. However, the employer must be enrolled in the government's E-Verify program. The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is considered an E-Verify employer and can hire for the 24-month STEM Extension for purposes of hiring an F-1 student on the STEM OPT.

J-1 Academic Training

J-1 students who complete their program of study can apply for and obtain a period of up to 18 months of work permission in their field of study. Maximum permission varies by the length of the J-1 student program.

Other Visa Types

Immigration law defines "nonimmigrants" as persons who have an intent to return to their home countries when they have completed their stated program. Departments and prospective visiting international scholars should keep these distinctions in mind in preparing documents dealing with nonimmigrant status and in all relationships with consular and immigration officers.

Visiting scholars should come to the United States on appropriate visas. The USCIS will deny most applications for change of status for people who state one intention when they enter the United States and then immediately "develop" a different set of intentions. Please contact the International Affairs Office for assistance regarding the best category in which to bring in an international scholar. 

Disclaimer: U.S. immigration laws are very complex. The information contained in these pages is designed specifically for scholars and the departments at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs; other individuals should seek assistance from immigration specialists. Immigration laws are constantly changing, and even though we will attempt to keep these files up to date, we cannot guarantee their completeness or accuracy. The information contained herein is not intended to create an attorney/client relationship, nor can it be construed as legal advice.