Employees

Costs, Fees, and Timeline

EBVS cases incur USCIS filings fees and legal fees based on the type of case.  USF departments can review the current fee schedule at the following Box link Employee Sponsorship Fee Schedule.

Special notes:

  • There is no USCIS filing fee for TN cases, if the employee is traveling to Canada or Mexico and if the E-2 is traveling to Australia.
  • The Office of International Services currently pays the H-1B legal fees for Tampa campus academic departments under Academic Affairs.

Case Processing TimelineCase Processing TimelineNOTE:

  • Regular Processing - Typical total time from case initiation to approval received – 4-9 months. Processing times vary – USCIS case processing times
  • Premium Processing - Typical total time from case initiation to approval received – 6-8 weeks. 

When can my employee begin working?

  • If the employee is in the US and changing status, the case must be approved and the employee needs the hard copy approval notice for employment authorization.
  • If the employee is outside the US, the case must be approved, the employee needs to obtain a visa stamp, and then enter the US. They use the I-94 for employment authorization.
  • If the employee is changing employers and transferring their status, they may begin employment once the USF H-1B petition is received by USCIS. The employee would use the USCIS receipt notice and their current H1B for work authorization.
  • If the employee is extending their USF H1B, they can continue working if the case was filed prior to the current expiration date. They would use the receipt notice for extending work authorizatio for 240 days past their expiration date.