Foreign National Program - Temporary Employment VISA's
The most common work authorization visas sponsored by National Jewish Health are listed below. Please click on the title of the VISA for more information:
J-1 Training and Exchange Visitors
J-1 visas are sponsored through the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the University of Colorado Denver because National Jewish Health is not qualified to maintain our own "J-1 Program."
- Work Authorization can range from 6 months up to five years total
- Non-Clinical only – no patient care allowed
- May be subject to a "home residency requirement" - must return to home country for at least two years when finished
- Dependents are issued J-2 visas and may request work authorization once they arrive in the U.S.
J-1 Sponsorship Timeframes
- New J-1 visa – allow six weeks to process
- Transfer of J-1 visa – allow six weeks to process
H-1B – Professional
Sponsorship is by National Jewish Health but the petitionis facilitatedthrough the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the University of Colorado Denver.
- Work Authorization for maximum of three years at a time for up to six years total
- Additional extensions allowed under certain circumstances
- May be used for MD's with patient care
- Dependents are issued H-4 visas and are not permitted to work in that status
H-1B Sponsorship Timeframes
- Regular Processing – allow up to four months
- "Premium Processing" – allow one month ($1000 additional fee is required)
F-1 – Student
- Dependents are issued F-2 visas and are not permitted to work in that status
CPT (Curricular Practical Training) work authorization can be granted by the University of Colorado Denver International Student & Scholar Services while the Foreign National is a current student of that University.
- Common for foreign Predoctoral Trainees
- Work authorization is granted per semester and usually requires multiple extension requests
F-1 Sponsorship Timeframes
- New F-1 visa CPT – allow three weeks to process
- Extension of F-1 visa CPT – allow three weeks to process
OPT (Optional Practical Training) work authorization can be granted after a Foreign National graduates from any University – usually for one year with additional time allowed under certain circumstances.
- Foreign Nationals with OPT can request an Employment Authorization Card issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- OPT is not employer-specific and can be used with any employer
TN - NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) Professional Criteria
- Work Authorization for citizens of Mexico or Canada for one to three years and renewable in one to three year increments indefinitely
- Canadian citizens can request the TN Visa at their border crossing into the U.S.
- Dependents are issued TD visas and are not permitted to work in that status
TN - NAFTA Sponsorship Timeframes
- New TN visa – allow three weeks to process
- Extension of TN visa – allow three weeks to two months to process
Note: If you want to request an extension of a current TN visa, this can either be accomplished by you returning to Mexico or Canada and re-entering the U.S. or it can be done through the mail via a petition to a USCIS Service Center in the U.S.
