Immigration Compliance Services (ICS) annually serves, in collaboration with university sponsors, professionals by providing assistance with immigration regulation compliance and orientation to the campus and community. ICS is also responsible for ensuring the university’s compliance with federal regulations that relate to sponsorship of foreign nationals for employment based status.

Immigration Compliance Services Policy
The Office of Human Resource Services and the Office of General Counsel have established a policy for the University’s sponsorship of employment-based immigration statuses. This policy provides guidelines to the University of Florida sponsoring units that undertake the petitioning processes for employment-based, employer–sponsored, nonimmigrant immigration statuses and immigrant classifications.

Legal Representation / Attorney Involvement
University policy does not permit private attorneys to submit immigration related petitions or applications on its behalf. University employees are not authorized to sign the Notice of Appearance as Attorney or Representative (Form G-28), which grants authority to an attorney to act on all aspects of immigration on behalf of the University and, are therefore prohibited from granting such permission. All applications and petitions associated with University sponsored non-immigrant immigration statuses must be submitted by Immigration Compliance Services in the Office of Human Resource Services. Due to increased responsibilities imposed on employers, which include penalties for noncompliance, the University has established strict policies regarding signature authority and filing procedures.

ICS provides administrative support services to departments/centers and foreign nationals as they relate to processes associated with sponsorship of exchange visitors, temporary workers and employment-based permanent residents.

Nonimmigrant Workers
(H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3)
Foreign national employees with an educational background which meets the qualifications for a “specialty occupation” with the intent to either return to a place of residence abroad or remain in the U.S. permanently.

Employment Based Permanent Resident Status
Foreign national employees whose employment conditions meet federal and University requirements for sponsorship under an immigrant classification, which allows the employee to adjust status to one which permits one to reside and work in the U.S. for an indefinite period of time.

Department of Labor Compliance