The H1B visa type is a non-immigrant visa category especially used by employers or businesses that are located in the United States and want to bring workers from foreign countries to occupy job vacancies that meet the specialty occupation standards.
All specialty occupations performers such as assistant professors are eligible for H1B visas, they usually require certain requirements such as a specific level of education mainly a bachelor’s degree in a field directly related to the job position, as well as other criteria that involve the applicants high skills and expertise.
Therefore, in order to apply for an H1b visa, the applicant must meet the eligibility requirements and the job vacancy itself must fulfill the specialty occupation standard that are imposed by the USCIS. We will be exploring more details in this article, keep reading to know more.
H1B Visa For Assistant Professor Entry Requirements
As mentioned above assistant professors are already defined as specialty occupations, however in order to be eligible to apply for an H1B visa for assistant professors, the following important requirements, among others, must be satisfied:
- A bachelor’s degree, higher, or its equivalent, are normally the minimum entry level condition into the teaching position as an assistant professor.
- The applicant must possess at least a bachelor’s degree or higher or its equivalent in a field that is related to the job position that they are applying for.
- The applicant’s educational course must be the equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
However, one thing that is worth knowing and keeping in mind is the fact that when evaluating a foreign degree, the U.S regulations allow the consideration of the applicant’s experience, by substituting 3 years of progressive and relevant experience in that specific field as an equivalent of one year of college.
- The foreign applicant must possess the necessary license in jurisdictions or institutions where it is demanded. However, in case the applicant is unable to provide the licensure before coming to the U.S. or obtaining a social security number, he or she can present proof from the licensing board documenting that he or she has met all of the requirements for the license but for status in the U.S. or a social security number.
- Before finally submitting the H1B petition at the USCIS, the employing party, in this case usually an institution will have to apply for and obtain a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the Department of Labor that included the terms and conditions of their contract with the new employee. Which also implies that by getting the Labor Condition Application, the employer guarantees, among other things, that:
They are responsible for paying the H1b applicant’s (assistant professor) wage. which have to be similar to the wages paid by other employers to employees working on the same positions in similar industries, therefore the same prevailing wage in the area of employment.
They will provide to the foreign assistant professor with working conditions that will not adversely affect the working conditions of U.S. assistant professors similarly employed in the area.
Assistant Professor H1B Sponsorship Data
| Year | Approval Rate | Denial Rate |
| 2022 | 99.8% | 0.19% |
| 2021 | 99.94% | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 99.98% | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 99.41% | 0.59% |
| 2018 | 98.77% | 1.23% |
| 2017 | 98.85% | 1.15% |
| 2016 | 98.72% | 1.28% |
| 2015 | 97.96% | 2.04% |
Average prevailing wages and top employers for Assistant Professor in the U.S
Even though the national U.S average salary for assistant professors in 2022 was estimated at $98,669. That estimation is subject to significant variations based on the location as well as the employing institute. Below are some of highest paying institutions for Assistant professors in the United States as well as their median average salaries.
| Institution Name | Average Median Salary for H1B Assistant Professors |
| University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center | $150,822 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | $99,333 |
| The Univ. Of Ala. At Birmingham (Uab) | $216,001 |
| Purdue University | $112,318 |
| University Of Wisconsin-System | $122,976 |
| University Of Alabama Health Services Foundation, Pc | $229,340 |
| Board Of Regents Of The University Of Nebraska | $80,061 |
| Rutgers, The State University Of New Jersey | $148,176 |
| Emory University | $195,791 |
| Medical University Of South Carolina | $175,878 |
Assistant Professor top-hiring Cities
There are many assistant professor vacancies in the U.S, a large number of highest paying institutions for those vacancies are located in the regions shown below.
| Rank | City | Average Salary |
| 1 | New York, NY | $135,381 |
| 2 | San Francisco , CA | $153,056 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $137,843 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $147,643 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $117,909 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $111,267 |
| 7 | Sunnyvale, CA | $154,276 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $105,984 |
| 9 | Mountain View, CA | $162,028 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $105,542 |
| 11 | Irving, TX | $105,663 |
H1B visa for Assistant Professor Basic Processing Information
H-1B petitions are much more complicated than other type of visas, that is mainly because they involve multiple different government agencies for processing, that includes the Department of Labor (DOL) as well as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
All H-1B petitions for Boise State University are filed through the Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Keep reading for more details about the processing time-frame for an H1B application for assistant professors.
After successfully preparing all the required paperwork and submitting the application at the USCIS, it can take between 3 weeks to 11 months to review the eligibility criteria and determined whether the applicant should be granted an H1B visa or not.
That period of time depends on many circumstances such as the service center. The California and Nebraska Service Centers process H1B visas for an average of 2.5 to 4.5 months, while the Vermont Service Center takes much longer to process H1B visas.
For example during COVID-19 closures, the USCIS approved multiple H1B visa applications in the time-frame of 2 weeks. Within 90 days of being selected, the employers can then file their petitions at the USCIS for processing and pay the required filing fees and supporting documents. If the petition is approved, then the H-1B visa will be issued.
H1B Visa Fee
| Type of fee | Amount in $ | Paid for by |
| Registration Fee | $10 | Employer |
| Premium Processing Fee (optional) | $2,500 | Employer or Employee |
| Public Law 114-113 Fee | $4,000 | Employer |
| Basic Filing Fee | $460 | Employer |
| USCIS Anti-Fraud Fee | $500 | Employer |
| ACWIA Education and Training Fee | · $750 (less than 25 employees)· $1,500 (more than 25 employees) | Employer |
| Attorney Fee | Variable | Employer |
Get Help From Herman Legal Group
If you are considering applying for an H1B visa for assistant professor you need the steady hand of an experienced immigration lawyer to navigate the rough waters of U.S. immigration law. Seek out counsel help from Herman Legal Group, a U.S. immigration law firm with over 25 years of experience in representing individuals, families & companies in all aspects of immigration law, in all 50 states and around the world.
Keep in mind that a consultation can help uncover the winning strategy, schedule a personal consultation with Attorney Richard Herman by calling 1-216-696-6170, or by booking online. Consultations can be conducted by zoom, skype, whatsapp, facetime, or in-office.
