Applying for a Visa

If you are outside the U.S., you must either already have a valid H-1B visa, or obtain one at a U.S. embassy/consulate overseas in order to enter the U.S. in H-1B status to work at NYU. Visas are issued only by United States consulates and embassies outside the U.S.

To apply for your visa you should submit the original Form I-797, photocopy of Form I-129, photocopy of the Labor Condition Application, and photocopy of the letter of appointment, in addition to a valid passport and any other documents instructed by the embassy/consulate. We encourage you to visit the U.S. State Department’s website http://usembassy.state.gov as soon as possible for further information on procedures and timeframes for obtaining visas at embassies and consulates overseas.

If when you make an appointment to get a new visa you are asked for the PIMS (Petition Information Management Service) number of your H-1B case, please refer to the receipt number on the upper left corner of your approval notice (Form I-797).

The U.S. Department of State provides general information on visa wait times. Though you should always contact the U.S. consulate or embassy for information on processing times, you may use the U.S. Department of State's Visa Wait Times as a guide.

Dependents

If you intend for a spouse and/or dependent children under 21 to accompany you to the U.S. in H-4 status, such dependents may apply to a U.S. embassy/consulate for H-4 visas at the same time. Dependents seeking H-4 status must present a U.S. consul with your original Form I-797, as well as their own valid passports, financial documentation that verify how they will be financially supported in the U.S., and proof of relationship to you (i.e., marriage certificate and/or birth certificates). H-4 dependents should be reminded that immigration regulations DO NOT ALLOW H-4 VISA HOLDERS TO WORK IN THE U.S. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.