Policy Rationale
Syracuse University has a long-standing commitment to bringing the best faculty from around the world to our campus and to helping our students develop global perspectives on the key issues of our time. International faculty have played foundational roles in our efforts to meet both commitments. This policy on permanent residence (“green card”) sponsorship for full-time faculty is designed to strengthen our ability to recruit and retain our best international faculty. Enhancing the retention of international faculty not only contributes to a richer student experience and stronger research contributions but also reduces faculty turnover, thus lightening administrative burdens in departments, schools/colleges, and Academic Affairs. Additionally, this policy supports Syracuse University’s internationalization efforts and our overall commitment to teaching and research excellence.
Policy Scope
This policy applies to faculty in full-time, renewable positions at the Syracuse University campus with the following titles: tenure-track assistant professor, tenured associate professor, tenured full professor, assistant teaching professor, associate teaching professor, teaching professor, and professor of practice.
Policy
With the recommendation of the relevant academic dean, Syracuse University will offer permanent residence sponsorship to full-time faculty, including tenure-stream faculty (i.e., tenure-track and tenured faculty), teaching professors at all ranks, and professors of practice, who have renewable appointments and who are expected to be long-term employees (defined here as more than 6 years). For eligible faculty, Syracuse University will normally sponsor a single pathway to permanent residence. Available pathways will depend on individual eligibility criteria. A positive recommendation from the faculty member’s academic dean initiates the process. The costs associated with permanent residence sponsorship will be covered by the University.
Although the University may consider a faculty position “permanent” for immigration processing purposes, this definition does not change the University’s standard terms of employment as expressed in university policies or (re)appointment letters.
Permanent Residence Sponsorship Eligibility
Positions designated “post-doctoral,” “visiting,” or “faculty fellow” are not eligible for permanent residence sponsorship.
To be eligible for green card sponsorship, faculty must meet the following criteria:
- Written recommendation for green card sponsorship from academic dean, with department chair/school director concurrence (where relevant), within the first year of credited service.
- Selected through a competitive search process. Faculty hired on search waivers are ineligible for green card sponsorship through the PERM Labor Certification program. There is no such search requirement for the EB-1 Outstanding Researcher/Professor process.
Exceptions to this policy and faculty appeals of dean recommendation decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, based on a clear University need, by the Vice Chancellor, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer.
Permanent Residence Sponsorship Process
There are multiple pathways available for permanent residence sponsorship, including the labor certification (PERM) process, an EB-1 Outstanding Professor/Outstanding Researcher petition, and an EB-2 National Interest Waiver petition. Syracuse University will generally support sponsorship through one single pathway. Faculty members interested in sponsorship through additional pathways are welcome to explore and pursue these options on an individual basis.
- Once a position is confirmed as “permanent” under this policy and once the dean’s written recommendation has been submitted to the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, Syracuse University will engage outside counsel to commence the sponsorship process. Outside counsel will meet with relevant parties and recommend a sponsorship pathway based on eligibility criteria, individual circumstances, department need, government timelines, and other factors.
- The Office of University Counsel shall make the final decision to approve a particular pathway for permanent residence sponsorship.
- Faculty seeking permanent residence should expect variance in government processing times and plan accordingly with respect to travel and their job duties. The University cannot guarantee the timing or success of a particular sponsorship filing.
Procedures for Requesting Permanent Residence Sponsorship
- The dean forwards the name and curriculum vitae of the eligible faculty member to the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, along with a letter detailing the recommendation for green card sponsorship and the specific need/demand that green card sponsorship for the faculty member will address.
- The Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs reviews the submission and approves/rejects the request, informing the nominating dean in writing about the approval/rejection decision.
- Approved requests are moved to University Counsel and the immigration law firm handling such cases.
Cost Arrangements
- The University pays legal fees and relevant government filing fees, including premium processing, if determined to be necessary.
- The faculty member requesting permanent residence sponsorship is fully responsible for the costs related to all medical examinations, photographs, fingerprints, vaccinations, and obtaining biographic documents and translations; the costs for obtaining employment or travel authorization for their dependents; and travel costs to obtain a non-immigrant or immigrant visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad.
- When filing an I-485 adjustment of status application, the applicant may apply for optional work and travel authorization. Unless specifically approved by the sponsoring unit, the University will not cover the legal or filing fees for these applications. Employees may choose to cover these fees individually
- The University does not cover legal fees or USCIS filing fees for dependent family members.
Approved by Chancellor’s Executive Committee: 2022
Revisions approved by Provost: January 12, 2026