EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUESTING AN H-1 PETITION

For initial H-1 petitions and extensions of previous ECU petitions:

• Request for H-1 petition form I-129 to be completed by hiring department (not employee).
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae of prospective employee
• Check or money order for the correct amount payable to Department of Homeland Security. To calculate amount needed, see Fees on the following page.
• If employee is currently in the U. S. and will not be leaving the U.S. before beginning or continuing ECU employment, the following items are required:
• • Photocopy of both sides of employee’s I-94
    (Arrival/Departure Record)
  • Photocopy of employee’s passport
  • If employee’s dependents will be applying for or extending  H-4 status:
  • 1. Copy of dependent I-94(s)
    2. Copy of dependents passport
    3. 3I-539 Form (Completed in name(s) of dependent(s) only)
  • If employee is currently in F-1 status, copies of all SEVIS I-20 forms
  • If currently in J-1 status, copies of all previous DS2019  forms.  If any of these forms indicate that employee was subject to two-year residency requirement, one of the following is also required:
  • 1. Copy of letter from State Department recommending waiver of requirement or stating that employee was never subject to requirement.
    2. Copy of letter from USCIS granting waiver of two-year requirement
  • If currently in H-1 status, copies of all previous H-1 petition approvals.  (If petitions were for ECU employment, the International  Affairs Office will have this documentation in its files.)
  • Copies of any other USCISemployment authorizations (such as laminated Employment Authorization Document card)

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For initial H-1 petition only (for those without a previous ECU H-1 petition):

• Copy of  diplomas and transcripts
• Letters of reference from former employers or colleagues
• Copies of articles that were published
• Copy of letter of employment to prospective employee from Vice Chancellor.  Letter should include the following information:
• • Job title
  • Beginning date of employment
  • Job duties (If professional nature of position is not obvious  from Job Title, responsibilities should be outlined in detail. If INS doubts that the position is a professional level one, H-1 petition will not be approved.)
  •  Salary   
    

FEES

• If employee is not in U.S. and will be applying for an H-1 visa at an U.S. Consulate or border, the total fee is $320.       
• If employee is in U.S. and is not currently in H-1 status, the fee  is $320.
• If employee is in U.S. with H-1 status and is applying for an extension, the fee is $320.   
• f employee is in U.S. and his/her dependents wish to obtain H-4 status, there is an additional fee of $300.
• Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee for all new H-1B Petitions $500.
• Premium Processing Fee (Optional) $1000.

IMPORTANT:  BECAUSE OF THE MANY STEPS AND MANY UNIVERSITY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES INVOLVED.  DEPARTMENTS SHOULD ALLOW 3-4 MONTHS FOR PROCESSING OF AN H-1B PETITION.