Maintaining H-1B Status

H-1B employees are responsible for understanding and complying with U.S federal laws and regulations governing H-1B status. Failure to do so could result in the violation and loss of your immigration status. Please contact the OIS if you have questions. Upon approval of H-1B status, all H-1B nonimmigrants must complete the “Maintaining H-1B Status E-form”.

Be Familiar with Your Immigration Documents

Passport: Keep your passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of your H-1B status – and in a safe location – at all times. H-1B employees should carry a copy of their passport with them at all times. Report a lost or stolen passport to the police, as your government may require a police report before issuing a new passport. To renew or replace your passport, contact your country’s consulate in the U.S.

Verify Information on Form I-94; Carry your I-94 at all times: Admission to the U.S. as a nonimmigrant is evidenced in most cases by a Form I-94 that reflects the date and class of admission, and the expiration date of the period of authorized stay. Each time you enter the U.S., you should print your I-94 record to ensure you were admitted in H-1B status for the correct amount of time and in the correct status. Remember to carry your I-94 at all times in the U.S. as required by immigration law. Form I-94 from your most recent entry can be printed from the Customs & Border Protection website: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home.

Form I-797 H-1B Approval Notice: This document shows that you are the beneficiary of an approved I-129 (H-1B petition) and you are authorized to work for the sponsor of the H-1B (JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY) in the capacity described in the petition for the time period indicated on the I-797. Keep the original I-797 in a safe location. It is recommended that you carry a copy of Form I-797 at all times.

H-1B Petition (Form I-129, LCA and supporting documents): Form I-129 (H-1B petition) was filed with USCIS by Johns Hopkins University on your behalf. A copy of the H1B petition was shared with you when your H1B petition was approved. When you apply for an H-1B visa at a U.S. Consulate, OIS recommends you carry a copy of the petition with you.

Included in the H1B petition is the Labor Condition Application (LCA). A copy of the LCA was shared with you when your H-1B petition was being prepared. The LCA is a formal declaration filed by the employer (JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY) with the U.S. Department of Labor stating JHU’s intention to employ you, as a non-immigrant worker in H-1B status. The LCA specifies the dates of your employment, your minimum annual salary, your job title and the address(es) of your employment. The LCA also is an attestation that JHU will meet specific H1B sponsorship requirements (e.g. wages, work conditions, etc.).

Site Visits

At any time, an H-1B employee may be contacted by an Officer in the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate [FDNS].  The purpose of this contact is to verify the employer’s existence (i.e. JHU) and confirm that the work the H-1B employee is performing is consistent with the information that was provided in JHU’s H-1B petition. These visits may occur in person, by phone or by e-mail. It is important to remember that these visits are routine and are not indicative of any problem with your H-1B status. If you are contacted by a FDNS/USCIS Officer, please contact the OIS immediately by phone 667-208-7001 or email [email protected]

Change of Address

USCIS requires that you report an address change within 10 days of the move. To report an address change you must:

1. Submit Form AR-11 to USCIS. AR-11, Change of Address Form
2. Email [email protected] with your full name, date of birth, JHED and new address
3. You also must update your address on file with JHU. JHU employees can update their address at “My JHU”: https://my.jh.edu/myJH/

Travel Outside the US

For general travel information, please review the H-1B travel page. If your H-1B status will expire soon, it is important to share your travel plans with OIS well in advance of departure. If you are working with an H-1B advisor on a change of status to H-1B, and extension of H-1B status or an application to amend your H-1B status, you must review your planned travel with a H-1B advisor before you depart. In some cases, travel can invalidate a H-1B application and have serious consequences. If you have a case in progress, email the H-1B advisor assigned to your case. If you do not have a H-1B case in progress, email your travel questions to [email protected] .

Termination of H-1B Employment by JHU/Resignation of H-1B Employee

If your employment at Johns Hopkins University is ending, please contact OIS to discuss your H1B status. When your employment ends, your H-1B status ends. There is no guaranteed “grace period” for H-1B status, so it is important that you take steps to secure an alternate status or depart the U.S. in a timely manner. You also must notify the OIS via the Notification of Departure Form.