H-1BTemporary Worker Process

TASKS / TIME TO COMPLETE
Step 1
Department Initiation / Hiring Unit:
Department gathers information from temporary worker and fills out HVisa Request at
/request-process/h1b-request/, submitsto ISO/AHR. / 1 week
to submit request to ISO/AHR
Step 2
ISO& AHR Review / ISO & AHR:
ReviewH Visa Request and contactunit to resolve any errors or discrepancies.
Send approved H Visa Request to unit. / 1 week
to review H Visa Request
Step 3
Department Submission / Unit:
Prints out PDF of approved UW H Visa Request Form.
Gathers supporting documents, signatures from relevant parties in Department and school.
Submits visa request packet to ISO at Campus Mail Box 351245. / 1 week
to submit request packet to ISO
Step 4
Prevailing Wage Request and Determination / ISO:
Reviews supporting documents for sufficiency.
Submits Prevailing Wage Request to Department of Labor(DOL).
DOL:
Adjudicates Prevailing Wage Request and requests more information as necessary.
Issues Prevailing Wage Determination. / 1-2 weeks
to submit Prevailing Wage Request
45-120 days
to issue Prevailing Wage Determination
Step 5
Labor Conditions Application / ISO:Drafts Labor Conditions Application (LCA), sends to unit.
Unit: Posts LCA and notice documents for 10 business days.
ISO:Submits LCA to DOL.
DOL: Certifies LCA within seven days.
Unit: Returns posted notice verification to ISO. / 2-3 weeks
To complete posted notice and receive certified LCA
Step 6
Filing with USCIS / ISO:
Drafts and files I-129 Petition for Temporary Worker with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). / 1-2 weeks
to draft forms and file with USCIS
Step 7
USCIS Processes I-129 Petition / USCIS:
Issues I-797 Receipt Notice with receipt date and tracking number.
Adjudicates petition and requests more information or evidence as necessary.
Sends I-797 Approval Notice with dates of validity. / 2 weeks* to 8 months
to issue approval notice
*2-week processing time for premium processing requests
Step 8
Visa Application by Worker / TEMPORARY WORKER:
Receives the Approval Noticeand reviews it for errors.
If outside of US, pays visa fees and schedules a visa appointment (except Canadian citizens) with US embassy or consulate.
Enters US once visa is approved. / 2-8 weeks
depending on the consulate
When may the employee start working at the UW?
For new H-1Bs or changes of status: The temporary worker may start working on the requested start date or the date that the I-797 approval notice arrives, whichever is later.
A new H-1B or change of status may take five to twelve months, depending on whether the worker is in the US and whether the Department is willing to pay for premium processing. / For extensions and changes of employer: The temporary worker may start working on the requested start date or the date that petition is filed with USCIS, whichever is later.
An extension of H-1B status or change of employer may take three to six months,depending on administrative processing times.

Updated02/05/2018