This section is intended for Stanford departments wanting to hire an individual in H-1B status. Please note that the I- Center works directly with Stanford departments, not the applicant, in obtaining H-1B status at Stanford.

For general information about the H-1B visa, please click here.

The hiring department is responsible for initiating the application process on behalf of the beneficiary (prospective or current employee). The Department Contact Person who is responsible in filing the application should serve as the primary and main contact for a particular H-1B application (both initial and extension). All questions to the I- Center should come from the department contact person.

Due to the time sensitivity of certain applications, the I-Center would appreciate a prompt response from the department contact person to any requests for further information or issues related to the paperwork submitted to the I-Center

Please share this guidance to prospective and current beneficiaries/employees and other staff concerned. It is our hope that this clarified process will reduce confusion and processing delays and further improve communication among the stakeholders.

The I-Center offers information sessions for department administrators and faculty once every quarter. The focus of these sessions is to delineate and clarify the roles and responsibilities of department administrators in relation to prospective employees. We will also share practical resources to assist you in the H-1B process. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding these policies.

I-Center Processing Time

To allow for sufficient government processing time, hiring departments may submit H-1B requests to the I-Center six months in advance but no later than 90 days prior to the anticipated start date.

I-Center is able to submit a H-1B petition to USCIS within three to four weeks of receiving a complete application. A complete application is the receipt by the I-Center of the workflow request and relevent checks and supporting documents. The department will be notified when the petition has been forwarded to the USCIS.

Cases are worked in the order received; volume varies significantly through the year. We process over 300 cases per year and do our best to accommodate everyone’s needs. As in all immigration procedures, planning ahead is the best strategy.

USCIS Processing Times

A department may request USCIS to process an H-1B petition under regular or premium processing.

With regular processing, it usually takes USCIS 2 to 4 months to adjudicate the petition.
With premium processing, it usually takes USCIS 15 calendar days to adjudicate the petition.

Please note that this does not include the time needed by the I-Center. The I-Center's processing time cannot be expedited.

USCIS Fees For H-1 Visa

Basic I-129 Form Fee: $325 (Must be paid by the department)

Anti-Fraud Fee for Inital H-1B Visas and H-1B holders transfering to Stanford from another employer: $500 (Must be paid by the department)

Optional Premium Processing Fee: $1225 (May be paid by the department)

I-539 Form Fee for Dependents: $290. Payment is the employee's responsibility. Maybe paid by the department. Form fee covers all dependents.

Go to the H-1B Petition Process

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