skip to main content
MENU
Home
About OIS
Executive Director's Welcome
Our Population
Staff Directory
Hours and Location
Emergency Information
Spotlight on Scholars
Students
Prospective Students
General Information
Graduate Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions
Obtaining an Initial I-20/DS-2019
Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF)
Estimated Expenses
Dependents
Admitted Students
Transferring to UIC
Travel & Visas
Pre-Arrival
Housing
Check-In
International Student Orientation
Current Students
Forms
Academics
F-1 Student Employment
J-1 Student Employment
Travel
Replacement of Documents
Address Updates
Change of Status
Departure
Extension
Scholarships
Peoria
Rockford
Incoming Exchange Students
Fulbright Foreign Student and Scholar (Non U.S. Citizens)
Faculty, Staff, and Scholars
Travel & Visas
J (Exchange Visitor) Information
Categories
Prospective
Funding Requirements
Insurance
Maintaining Status
Transfers
Dependents/J-2 Work Authorization
H (Specialty Occupation Worker)
Pre-Arrival
Maintaining Status
O-1 (Individuals of Extraordinary Ability)
TN (Professionals Under NAFTA)
E-3 (Australian Specialty Occupation Workers)
Other Visa Statuses at UIC
Pending LPR
Forms
Fulbright Foreign Student and Scholars (Non-U.S. Citizens)
Visitors
B-1/B-2
WB/WT
Departments
Use of Attorneys Policy
Guide to Hiring
Quick Guide to Hiring
Credential Evaluations
TN
Permanent Residency
OBFS
Forms
Planning Resources
Programs
Trade Winds
First Friends
First Friends Training Guide
Global Ambassadors
Employment Workshops and Events
International Education Week
International Student Career Week
Thanksgiving Dinner
Pumpkin Farm Trip
Other Events
Life in Illinois
Chicago
Peoria
Rockford
Alumni
Resources
Driver's License
Cell Phone
Social Security Number
Transportation
Money/Banking
Housing
Health
Insurance
Important Links
News
OIS NEWS - 1/13/2021
OIS NEWS - 1/15/2021
OIS NEWS - 1/14/2021
OIS NEWS - 6/23/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/23/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/8/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/3/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/2/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/22/2020
OIS NEWS - 11/12/2020
OIS NEWS - 10/16/2020
OIS NEWS - 10/08/2020
OIS NEWS - 10/01/2020
OIS NEWS - 9/25/2020
OIS NEWS - 7/14/2020
OIS NEWS - 6/18/2020
OIS News - 6/05/2020
OIS NEWS - 5/08/2020
OIS NEWS - 3/17/2020
OIS NEWS – 3/09/2020
OIS NEWS – 2/25/2020
OIS NEWS – 2/19/2020
OIS NEWS – 2/11/2020
OIS NEWS - 2/06/2020
OIS NEWS - 1/24/2020
OIS NEWS - 1/14/2020
OIS NEWS – 12/19/2019
OIS NEWS – 12/11/2019
OIS NEWS – 7/11/2019
OIS NEWS – 6/26/2019
OIS News - 5/24/2019
OIS NEWS – 3/1/2019
OIS NEWS – 2/19/2019
OIS NEWS – 12/13/2018
OIS News - 10/4/2018
OIS News - 10/1/2018
OIS News - 5/2/2018
OIS News - 5/1/2018
OIS News - 2/22/2018
OIS NEWS - 10/02/2017
OIS NEWS - 02/28/2017
OIS NEWS - 05/24/2017
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Updates for the UIC International Community
Home
About OIS
Executive Director's Welcome
Our Population
Staff Directory
Hours and Location
Emergency Information
Spotlight on Scholars
Students
Prospective Students
General Information
Graduate Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions
Obtaining an Initial I-20/DS-2019
Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF)
Estimated Expenses
Dependents
Admitted Students
Transferring to UIC
Travel & Visas
Pre-Arrival
Housing
Check-In
International Student Orientation
Current Students
Forms
Academics
F-1 Student Employment
J-1 Student Employment
Travel
Replacement of Documents
Address Updates
Change of Status
Departure
Extension
Scholarships
Peoria
Rockford
Incoming Exchange Students
Fulbright Foreign Student and Scholar (Non U.S. Citizens)
Faculty, Staff, and Scholars
Travel & Visas
J (Exchange Visitor) Information
Categories
Prospective
Funding Requirements
Insurance
Maintaining Status
Transfers
Dependents/J-2 Work Authorization
H (Specialty Occupation Worker)
Pre-Arrival
Maintaining Status
O-1 (Individuals of Extraordinary Ability)
TN (Professionals Under NAFTA)
E-3 (Australian Specialty Occupation Workers)
Other Visa Statuses at UIC
Pending LPR
Forms
Fulbright Foreign Student and Scholars (Non-U.S. Citizens)
Visitors
B-1/B-2
WB/WT
Departments
Use of Attorneys Policy
Guide to Hiring
Quick Guide to Hiring
Credential Evaluations
TN
Permanent Residency
OBFS
Forms
Planning Resources
Programs
Trade Winds
First Friends
First Friends Training Guide
Global Ambassadors
Employment Workshops and Events
International Education Week
International Student Career Week
Thanksgiving Dinner
Pumpkin Farm Trip
Other Events
Life in Illinois
Chicago
Peoria
Rockford
Alumni
Resources
Driver's License
Cell Phone
Social Security Number
Transportation
Money/Banking
Housing
Health
Insurance
Important Links
News
OIS NEWS - 1/13/2021
OIS NEWS - 1/15/2021
OIS NEWS - 1/14/2021
OIS NEWS - 6/23/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/23/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/8/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/3/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/2/2020
OIS NEWS - 12/22/2020
OIS NEWS - 11/12/2020
OIS NEWS - 10/16/2020
OIS NEWS - 10/08/2020
OIS NEWS - 10/01/2020
OIS NEWS - 9/25/2020
OIS NEWS - 7/14/2020
OIS NEWS - 6/18/2020
OIS News - 6/05/2020
OIS NEWS - 5/08/2020
OIS NEWS - 3/17/2020
OIS NEWS – 3/09/2020
OIS NEWS – 2/25/2020
OIS NEWS – 2/19/2020
OIS NEWS – 2/11/2020
OIS NEWS - 2/06/2020
OIS NEWS - 1/24/2020
OIS NEWS - 1/14/2020
OIS NEWS – 12/19/2019
OIS NEWS – 12/11/2019
OIS NEWS – 7/11/2019
OIS NEWS – 6/26/2019
OIS News - 5/24/2019
OIS NEWS – 3/1/2019
OIS NEWS – 2/19/2019
OIS NEWS – 12/13/2018
OIS News - 10/4/2018
OIS News - 10/1/2018
OIS News - 5/2/2018
OIS News - 5/1/2018
OIS News - 2/22/2018
OIS NEWS - 10/02/2017
OIS NEWS - 02/28/2017
OIS NEWS - 05/24/2017
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Updates for the UIC International Community
O-1 (Individuals of Extraordinary Ability)
Work Authorization
Immigration Documents
O-1 Validity Period
O-3 Dependents
Address Changes
Travel and Visa Process
Effect of Prior 212e
Change of Employers
Legal Permanent Residence (LPR)/Green Card
Grace Periods
Departure
Unlawful Presence
Work Authorization
Work only in the authorized place(s) of employment described in the I-129 petition filed with USCIS and for the period approved on your I-797.
Do not accept additional employment or work at an additional location without consulting with OIS in advance.
You can have more than one O-1 sponsor, but this requires a separate I-129 filing.
Have the department notify OIS if significant changes in duties, responsibilities, or work site are expected during your authorized employment. An amended petition may be necessary.
Immigration Documents
Maintain a valid passport at all times, valid for at least six months into the future.
Retain copies of all immigration documents including: current and expired passports, Forms I-797, I-94, etc.
The I-797 approval notice is your property; there is a fee to request a duplicate I-797 approval notice, if lost.
If you changed from another immigration status or employer, notify your last institution of your UIC O-1.
I-94
:
Always review and save your new I-94 after reentry at:
www.cbp.gov/I94
.
Form I-94 must indicate "Admitted as: O-1" and “Admitted until date” matching your I-797 O-1 approval notice, or with an additional 10 days.
Incorrect end date: If your I-94 indicates any other expiration date, contact OIS. Passport expiry within six month is a common reason for a shortened I-94. If this occurs, your work authorization and status are shortened to this date and we must work to re-extend your status as soon as possible.
O-1 Validity Period
No maximum allowable time in O-1, though you must continue to meet the standards for the classification.
Renewals
:
Your department will need to initiate the O-1 extension process at least 4-6 months prior to your O-1 expiry date. Extensions may only be filed for one-year increments. You may continue to work for 240 days while the O-1 extension is pending with USCIS.
Extensions cannot be filed once an adjustment of status application has been submitted.
O-3 Dependents
Dependents are not eligible to work, paid or unpaid. They may attend school as long as they are not paid (such as receiving an assistantship).
Address Changes
Report any change in residential address, within 10 days of moving, to USCIS (
Form AR-11
), to OIS by email
ois@uic.edu
, and via UIC’s
My Profile
page. If your O-1 is pending at USCIS, print AR-11 or call 1-800-375-5283.
Travel and Visa Process
Schedule an appointment with the
U.S. Consulate/Embassy
and complete Form DS-160 with fee.
Review consulate/embassy website for guidance about required documents. We suggest bringing:
Passport (valid for six months beyond reentry date)
Original O-1 Approval Notice
Copy of Form I-129
Employment offer or recently dated sponsoring department letter
Copies of most recent earnings statements
Former J-1 Exchange Visitors: copies of all prior Forms DS-2019. If you were subject to the 212(e) 2-year home residency requirement, and you are no longer subject, bring your original I-612 Approval Notice or Advisory Opinion letter.
O-3s
:
In addition to the above, they should bring proof of marriage, or birth, when applying for a visa. If they are traveling independently from you, they should carry
your
original I-797 approval notice, or their own original O-3 I-797 approval notice, if they have one.
Automatic Visa Revalidation exception
:
O-1s (and O-3s) may travel to Canada and Mexico with an expired visa for less than 30 days. Other exceptions may apply, please see our
website
for additional travel details.
Effect of Prior 212e
If you are subject to the two-year home country physical presence (212e), due to prior J status, you may not change status in the U.S. Similarly, you may not file for a green card, L-1 or H-1B status until you have waived or fulfilled the two-year requirement.
You may fulfill the requirement by returning to your home country for an aggregate of two years or by obtaining a
U.S. Department of State
waiver. You may seek outside counsel for assistance.
Change of Employers
If you seek to change employers, your new employer must file a petition with USCIS. You may not begin work for the new employer until the O-1 petition is approved.
Legal Permanent Residence (LPR)/Green Card
O-1 status allows for "dual intent," meaning that the filing of a Labor Certification Application and/or an immigrant petition will not be the basis for denying an O-1 petition, a request for an extension of stay, a change of status, or admission to the U.S. An O-1 extension cannot be filed once an I-485 Adjustment of Status for Legal Permanent Residency (LPR) petition has been filed. Please discuss any LPR filing with OIS in advance to avoid gaps in work authorization or difficulties traveling.
For more information, see our
Use of Attorneys Policy
and
UIC Sponsorship of Permanent Immigrant Visas.
If you obtain a green card, please send a copy to OIS as soon as possible to close your OIS record.
Grace Periods
You have a 10-day grace period after the end date of your I-797 approval notice. You may not work during this period; it is time to prepare to leave the U.S., change status, etc.
DHS may, in its discretion, recognize up to a 60-day grace period (or until the end of the petition, whichever is
shorter
) per validity period, if employment ends before the petition end date.
Departure
You must submit a
Departure Verification Form
upon completion of employment. This form is required regardless of your departure reason: leaving the U.S., changing employers, or changing immigration status.
Unlawful Presence
This occurs when you stay beyond the ending date of your I-94 or upon determination by Department of Homeland Security. Consequences include a 3-year bar from reentering the U.S. if you have stayed unlawfully in the U.S. for 180 days or more, and a 10-year bar if you remain unlawfully in the U.S. for 360 days or more. Violation of your O-1 status makes you ineligible for any immigration benefits. This does not apply if a timely, non-frivolous petition to extend your stay has been received by the USCIS prior to the end date of your I-94.
Skip Nav
UICOIS Navigation Menu
Home
About OIS
Students
Faculty, Staff, and Scholars
Travel & Visas
J (Exchange Visitor) Information
H (Specialty Occupation Worker)
O-1 (Individuals of Extraordinary Ability)
TN (Professionals Under NAFTA)
E-3 (Australian Specialty Occupation Workers)
Other Visa Statuses at UIC
Pending LPR
Forms
Fulbright Foreign Student and Scholars (Non-U.S. Citizens)
Visitors
Departments
Programs
Life in Illinois
Alumni
Resources
News