Entering the U.S. as an H-1B Temporary Worker

We look forward to your visit to the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS).  Please read the instructions below to help you prepare for your stay in Worcester.

Your H approval notice, Form I-797 will enable you to apply for an H-1B visa stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate and enter the United States as an H-1B Temporary Worker.  Dependents of H-1B workers (spouse and unmarried children under age 21) can enter the United States in H-4 status; approval notices for dependents are not required.

You can schedule your entry to the United States up to 10 days before the start date listed on your Form I-797.  If you are unable to arrive at UMMS by the start date listed on your Form I-797, please notify your sponsoring department and the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) so that we can update your records and change any new employee appointments that have been scheduled for you.

In order to enter the United States as an H-1B Worker, you must:

STEP ONE:  Review the Form I-797. 
Carefully review the Form I-797 H approval notice and if any information is incorrect, contact the ISSO immediately.  Please note that the spelling of your name and your date of birth must be exactly the same as reflected in your passport. 
            
STEP TWO:  Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to obtain your H-1B visa. 
To make an appointment at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy, go to the U.S. Department of State’s website. Please keep in mind that it may take a few weeks to schedule an appointment, so you should initiate your visa application as early as possible. 

To apply for the H-1B visa stamp, you will need to submit the following documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

  • Non-immigrant visa application form(s) - Appropriate forms and instructions can be found on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply for your H-1B visa.
  • Application fee and reciprocity fee (if applicable) - Check with the Consulate for the fee amount and how it must be paid or visit the the Department of State website.
  • One photograph (2 inches square [51 x 51 mm], showing full face, without head covering, against a light background.  Photo specifications.
  • Passport (must be valid at least six months beyond the date you plan to enter the U.S.)
  • Original form I-797 Approval Notice.
  • Photocopy of your H-1B application, which includes following information:
    • Form I-129 (H-1B petition to USCIS),
    • Labor Condition Application,
    • Letter from your department stating that you are employed temporarily, your annual salary, dates of employment, and stating, in non-technical terms, what type of research and/or teaching you are doing,
    • Educational credentials (diploma, medical license, etc.),
    • Up-to-date curricular vitae (CV)
    • Waiver of the two-year home residency requirement (if applicable).

If any dependents will be accompanying you to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a visa application, we recommend that you also bring proof of the relationship (ie. birth or marriage certificate).

It is also advisable that you check with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you will be applying for your H visa stamp ahead of time to determine whether any other documents are required. You may also be able to get an estimate about the length of time that is needed for H-1B visa issuance at that location.

STEP THREE:  Travel and Admission to the U.S.
Once you have obtained your H-1B visa stamp, you are ready to travel to the U.S.  You are allowed to enter the U.S. no earlier than 10 days prior to the start date indicated on your H approval notice.  Be sure to carry all the documents listed above with you at all times during your travel.  During your trip to or upon entry to the United States, you will complete a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure record. Using a pen, print the information requested on this form, making certain to spell your name exactly as it is spelled in your passport and on your Form I-797. 

When you arrive at the airport or border, present your H-1B approval notice along with your I-94 card, passport and H-1B visa stamp to the immigration examiner, and request to be admitted in H-1B status. The immigration examiner may ask you a few questions and then should mark your Form I-94 with the notations “H-1B” as well as the date in which your current H-1B status is due to expire.

CANADIAN CITIZENS - Canadian citizens are not required to carry a Canadian passport (although it is advisable) unless they are entering the United States from outside the Western Hemisphere, and are never required to obtain a visa stamp from a consular officer. However, they are admitted in a specific visa classification and must present the H approval notice I-797) at the border or port of entry in order to be admitted in H-1B status and be given a Form I-94 with the correct notations. Canadians are typically asked to pay a $7 border-crossing fee related to the Form I-94.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT UMMS - You must report to the International Students & Scholars Office before your employment can begin. Typically your appointment with the ISSO will be made prior to our arrival at UMMS.  If it is not, please contact us upon your arrival to arrange a meeting. Bring your passport, I-94 card, and DS-2019 to the ISSO and the orientation. Please see information about other steps to take upon your arrival at UMMS.

Important Information for H-1B Visa Holders

Screening procedures and potential issues for all U.S. entry or re-entry visa applicants
Maintaining your status
Change of address 
Travel out of the United States during the Validity of Your H-1B Status