Office of International Services (OIS) Procedures

Sponsor an H-1B Exchange Visitor

Human Resources, Office of International Services  |  Approved July 1, 2026

Purpose

File petition to employ a non-U.S. citizen in a specialty occupation.

Applicability

Departments seeking to hire a specialty occupation and sponsor an employee under an H-1B visa. A specialty occupation is one that requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge in a field of study. The position must require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a specific field of study.  

For additional information contact the Office of International Services (OIS).

Instructions

1. Someone in your department will require access to Sunapsis, the online system for submitting visa sponsorship requests. Email ois-info@umaryland.edu to inquire if there is already a Sunapsis user in your department.
2. Determine employment status:
   1. For individuals already employed and/or appointed in your department, proceed to step 4.
      • For individuals already employed by UMB, but not in your department, see Internal Transfer of International Scholar.
   2. For individuals not currently employed by UMB, conduct recruitment as required by university policy and issue an offer letter to the prospective employee.
   3. For new scholar fellow or faculty hires, follow appropriate procedures in your department or school to request an academic appointment.
3. Log into Sunapsis and follow the instructions to Add a New Person in Sunapsis.
4. In Sunapsis, select the H-1B Employee Request under New/Extension/Transfer. If you need the Sunapsis/University ID for the employee, contact ois-info@umaryland.edu with the name of the employee. (The Sunapsis/University ID is NOT the employee ID in HRIS).
5. Submit all required forms in the H-1B Employee Request.              
6. Once OIS receives the alert for the complete request, the office will:
   1. Conduct a Prevailing Wage Analysis.
   2. The OIS will draft a Labor Condition Application (LCA) for posting and conduct an electronic posting for work locations on the UMB campus.
      • For work locations off-campus, the OIS will email the employing department's contact with a LCA posting and instructions.
7. Upon receipt of a certified LCA from the Department of Labor, the OIS will prepare and file an H-1B petition with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (UCSIS).
8. OIS will send the employee and department a copy of the UCSIS receipt and approval notices and indicate when employment is authorized.