Tufts Permanent Residence Sponsorship Policy

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Tufts University sponsorship of international employees for U.S. permanent residence is governed by several factors, including U.S. federal regulations, University policy, and individual school policies and hiring decisions. International employees often start at Tufts in a temporary “non-immigrant” status such as O-1, H-1B or J-1 (see relevant I-Center pages on each of these categories). In situations in which employment is expected to be long-term, departments may seek the required approvals (or act upon their school’s pre-existing sponsorship policy) to pursue permanent residency for an international employee.

Any Tufts-sponsored permanent residence process must be approved under either a general school sponsorship policy covering the employee's position (e.g., a tenure-track sponsorship policy), or if a general policy does not exist, on a case-by-case basis by the individual employee's school Dean (or VP). Tufts will not offer sponsorship to any employee in the absence of a school policy or without the approval of the employee's school Dean (or VP).

Roles and Responsibilities

• The International Center: Responsible for coordinating approval processes and outsourcing sponsorship requests to an approved immigration attorney. The International Center does not have any role in determining who can or should be sponsored for permanent residence beyond ensuring that any sponsorship offers are in conformity with federal regulations and University or school-based policies. In addition, the International Center may provide guidance regarding optimal timing and other matters relating to the sponsorship process.
• Sponsoring Department or Unit: Responsible for designating a department manager responsible for collecting materials (e.g., recruitment files) and processing any immigration related invoices. The sponsoring department must also initiate the request and obtain the appropriate signatures from the Dean or VP.
• Schools and Divisions: Responsible for creating policy for determining which employees are sponsored or for approving any one-off sponsorship cases. The school is also responsible for ensuring that any University-covered costs are supported and paid. They are also responsible for notifying the International Center in the event they intend to terminate or discontinue sponsorship for employees due to employee termination, departure, or resignation, or any other reason that removes the need to continue sponsorship processes.
• Sponsored Employee: Responsible for providing information and documents related to the permanent residency application. In certain sponsorship categories, the sponsored employee is also responsible for gathering professional references and compiling detailed research summaries with the assistance of the Tufts-approved immigration attorney.
• Tufts-Approved Attorney: The attorney will work with the International Center, the beneficiary, and the sponsored employee’s host department to compile necessary documentation for the petition. The attorney will also file the petition to the U.S. government on behalf of Tufts University and work to resolve any audits or requests for further evidence as related to the case.

Attorney Use

The International Center requires the use of a Tufts-approved immigration attorney or law firm for any process involving sponsorship of a Tufts employee for U.S. permanent residence, where Tufts is required to act as a petitioner. Generally, firms are assigned by school and have pre-established fee schedules. For more information about Tufts-approved immigration firms, please contact internationalcenter@tufts.edu.

Employees who pursue sponsorship categories that do not require Tufts to serve as the petitioner (for example family-based sponsorship, EB-1A Extraordinary Ability, or EB-2 National Interest Waiver categories) and that do not have financial support from Tufts University may use an immigration attorney of their choosing. However, if Tufts provides any financial support for these non-University related options on an extraordinary basis (subject to approval by a school Dean), use of a University-approved attorney is required.