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LPR Sponsorship

Also known as green card, Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) permits foreign nationals and their dependents to permanently remain and be employed in the United States. Departments assume the role of a sponsor and all the responsibilities associated with the process.

Process for Department Sponsors

Within the employment-based sponsorship, there are three ways to becoming a permanent resident:

Eligible Positions

The University may sponsor the following positions for permanent residence.

Tenure track faculty

The hiring department must make a request for Outstanding Researcher or Professor, PERM Labor Certification, or PERM Special Handling, which is then endorsed by the School Dean.

Research staff & non-tenure track faculty

The staff member's department must make this recommendation for PERM Labor Certification or Outstanding Professor or Research, and it must be endorsed by the School Dean and the Provost (for faculty) or Vice President of Research (for researchers). Such a recommendation should be based on the following requirements:

  • The individual has been employed at Northwestern for at least two years, preferably in the same position.
  • There is a high likelihood of continued funding for the position for at least three additional years.

Non-research staff

Positions that are not within the domain of the Vice President for Research may be considered for PERM Labor Certification, if the following conditions are met:

  • The position is critical to the functioning of the unit.
  • The individual has been employed at Northwestern for at least two years, preferably in the same position.
  • There is a high likelihood of continued funding for the position for at least three additional years.

Such requests must be endorsed the School Dean or the Vice President in which the employee's office is situated.

Postdoctoral Fellows

The university will not sponsor postdoctoral employees for permanent residence. Those in a postdoctoral position can seek out self-sponsorship via the National Interest Waiver with the guidance of a licensed immigration attorney.