The SHARE and BEST Visa Team assist the SHARE and BEST region with processing UC Berkeley sponsored visas for employment or research.
We work closely with HR Partners, HR Generalists, departments and incoming visa holders to help them gather complete and accurate information in preparation for BIO (Berkeley International Office) and USCIS submission.
To best ensure that visa applications are processed in a timely manner prior to the appointment start date, we ask that you please submit your requests in accordance to the recommended lead times
|
Visa Team Contacts |
|---|
H1-B Visa Timeline
|
Team/ Department |
Action |
Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Unit/Dept Consults with BIO |
Department should consult with BIO prior to submitting the SH case to make sure the employment visa will not have issues. Department should review the eligibility requirements. |
This can occur months or weeks prior to appointment being approved |
|
2. Department submits ServiceHub Case |
Department submits ServiceHub Case once the appointment has been approved and appointment letter has been issued and accepted. ** Consult your HRP if you think the visa will need to be initiated before the appointment is finalized. |
1 week |
|
3. SHARE and BEST (BRS) |
Completes the collection of all forms and documents from dept and hire. This can take more weeks if the new hire takes longer to respond. |
1-2 weeks |
|
4. New Hire |
Provides biographical/immigration information to Visa team for processing. There may be additional follow up and collection of additional documentation from hire upon review from Visa Team. |
2-4 weeks |
|
5. BIO |
If all information is complete, BIO will submit petition to USCIS for processing. |
4 weeks |
|
6. USCIS |
Issues a Receipt Notice letting the future employer know that they have received the application. This is NOT an approval for the visa. |
1-2 weeks |
|
7. BIO/USCIS |
BIO will receive one of the following from USCIS: A)Approval Notice. If approved, BIO will inform the hire and send them the original USCIS packet via FedEx. -OR- B) Request for evidence (RFE). In this case BIO will provide the list of required documentation to the hire/dept |
Premium Processing (if approved): 3-4 weeks Regular Processing: Can exceed 24 weeks |
|
8. New Hire |
Receives Approval Notice via email and original via FedEx and schedules embassy appointment (if they are overseas or changing status). This is contingent on the new hire providing documentation requested from their U.S. embassy. |
2-4 weeks (Potentially longer depending on visa embassy wait times) |
|
9. New Hire |
Attends U.S. embassy appointment. Embassy reviews visa application, if approved issues visa stamp in passport. Once visa is approved, New Hire schedules travel and secures housing. ** If additional security check is required, then turnaround times are not predictable. |
2-12 weeks |
|
10. SHARE and BEST (BRS) |
Up to 10 days prior to arrival, BRS will send the employee a DocuSign to complete. H-1B holders can only enter the U.S. up to 10 days prior to their start date. |
1-2 weeks |
|
11. New Hire |
Completes their DocuSign, I-9 and schedules onboarding session. I-9 cannot be completed until after they arrive in the U.S. |
1-2 weeks |
|
12. SHARE and BEST (BRS) |
Submits template to UCPath for generation of Employee ID. |
1 week |
|
13. UCPath |
Approves template and generates Employee ID |
1 week |
|
14. SHARE and BEST (BRS) |
Sends welcome email to new employee. |
1 week |
|
15. New Hire |
Can begin working on appointment start date or after. |
1 week |
|
Total Est, Time |
This time frame varies significantly based on all potential delays such as embassy appointment availability or regular vs. premium processing. |
22 weeks -41 weeks |
J-1 Visa Timeline
|
Team/ Department |
Action |
Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
|
1.Unit/Dept Consults with BIO |
This can occur months or weeks prior to appointment being approved. |
|
|
2. Department submits ServiceHub Case |
Department submits ServiceHub Case once the affiliate or employment appointment has been approved and appointment letter has been issued. ** Consult your HRG if you think the visa will need to be initiated before the appointment is finalized. |
I week |
|
3. SHARE and BEST (BRS) |
Completes the collection of preliminary forms and documents from dept and hire. This can take more weeks if the new hire takes longer to respond. |
1-2 weeks |
|
4. New Hire or Affliate |
Provides biographical/immigration information to Visa team for processing. There may be additional follow up and collection of additional documentation from hire or affiliate upon review from Visa Team. |
2-4 weeks |
|
5. BIO |
Receives DS-2019 via DocuSign email with instructions and schedules embassy appointment and pays SEVIS fee, if applicable for transfers. This is contingent on the new hire providing documentation requested from their U.S. embassy. |
Expedited: 5 business days Regular Processing: 10 business days |
|
6. New Hire |
Receives DS-2019 via DocuSign email with instructions and schedules embassy appointment and pays SEVIS fee, if applicable for transfers. This is contingent on the new hire providing documentation requested from their U.S. embassy. |
2-4 weeks (depending on the season and how busy the consulates are) |
|
7. New Hire |
Attends U.S. embassy appointment Attends U.S. embassy appointment. Embassy reviews visa application, if approved issues visa stamp in passport. If additional security check is required, then turnaround times are not predictable. |
|
|
8. New Hire |
Schedules travel andsecures housing. Scholar can arrive in the U.S. up to 30 days before their start date. After arriving in the U.S., Scholar completes BIO online arrival confirmation form |
This is dependent on Scholar’s start date |
|
9. SHARE and BEST (BRS) |
Up to 10 days prior to arrival, BRS will send the employee a DocuSign to complete. Scholars can only begin their appointment on their DS-2019 start date. |
1-2 weeks |
|
10. New Hire |
Completes their DocuSign, I-9, if applicable and schedules onboarding session. I-9 cannot be completed until after they arrive in the U.S. VS/VSRs are not required to complete an I-9 as any reimbursements issued to them will be through disbursements |
1-2 weeks |
|
11. SHARE and BEST (BRS) |
Submits template to UCPath for generation of Employee ID or Affiliate ID. |
1-2 weeks |
|
12. UCPath |
Approves template and generates Employee ID or Affiliate ID |
1 week |
|
13. SHARE and BEST (BRS) |
Sends welcome email to new employee or affiliate. |
1 week |
|
14. New Hire |
Can begin working on appointment start date or after. |
1 week |
|
Total Est, Time |
This time frame varies significantly based on all potential delays such as embassy appointment availability or regular vs. expedite processing. |
15 weeks -34 weeks |