International Services

We were established in 2002 by the Office of the Vice President for Research to support departments, institutes, faculty, staff, and centers in the strategic recruitment and retention of alien personnel.

 

Our goal is to provide MCG with an efficient and effective mechanism for departments to recruit and retain alien personnel by facilitating the employer-based nonimmigrant and immigrant petition process through the federal Department of Labor and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

 

Out functions are to process department requests for employer-based petitions for alien personnel pursuant to Administrative Policy 1.4.21, assess eligibility for specific nonimmigrant and immigrant visa types, file petitions for new and continuing MCG personnel, educate the MCG community about the requirements for proper work authorization for alien personnel and facilitate English language enhancement opportunities for alien personnel.

 

 

Services IPSO Does Not Provide
The International and Postdoctoral Services Office (IPSO) was established to represent MCG departments in employer-sponsored immigration matters.  As such, our budget includes funds allocated by the State of Georgia.  Therefore, we are prohibited from providing any services that are essentially personal in nature to MCG personnel.  We have attempted to define these below but we also reserve the right to decline to provide advice we deem to be outside the expertise of the personnel of the IPSO. 

 

In some cases, IPSO has made arrangements with a private practice attorney in Atlanta, Mr. Myron Kramer, to provide you with a consular processing informational meeting after you have secured your appointment with the consulate.  This is a fee-based service we can arrange for you, if you so desire.  The cost is $75-$150.  We will schedule the appointment at your convenience.  This meeting is designed to help you prepare for the questions you are likely to be asked by the consular office as well as to provide you with the forms you will need to complete and present at the appointment.  If you wish to retain Mr. Kramer's services for this opportunity, please let us know.  

• Any Family-based Matters
   

• I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant status
  Because this is a personal matter, we only file I-539 applications when associated with an H, O or TN visa petition that we will be submitting.
   

• J-1 Waivers
  Most MCG personnel pursue this waiver on their own with only the advice of colleagues from their home country.  We cannot assist you with this process because we do not provide this service out of our office, unless you are a foreign medical graduate who has completed residency in the U.S. and has been serving on the faculty at MCG for at least 2 years. 
  
  All others seeking J-1 waivers, please refer to the following website for further information: http://travel.state.gov/jvw.html.  Once you have secured the Department of State approval or recommendation, we can petition for an H-1B visa for you, pending your supervisors/mentors support.  You do not need to wait for the final I-612 approval notice from USCIS to apply for the H visa.
   

• I-485 Adjustment of Status Advice
  Most MCG personnel pursue this step of the permanent residency process on their own with the advice of colleagues or with the help of a private practice attorney.  Once your MCG-sponsored I-140 application is approved, it is your responsibility to complete the Adjustment of Status phase on your own.  We will be happy to share a package of general information at your request.
   

• Tax Advice
  Due to the complex nature of these issues, we respectfully decline the opportunity to advise you on these matters.  Please see our Helpful Links for a website that you may find useful in seeking your own information.

Use of Outside Legal Counsel

In general, MCG is prohibited from authorizing outside legal counsel to represent its interests in immigration matters. IPSO will petition for non-immigrant and immigrant visas in cases that are supported by department chairs and deemed otherwise appropriate.  The department chair and IPSO must approve and sign any petition or labor certification for which MCG is the employer.  If you wish to consult an attorney for the sections of those forms and procedures that have to do only with you and are not part of the MCG application or petition, please let us know.  In our office, we maintain a list of immigration lawyers who are members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).  Be a careful consumer! We recommend that you consult the AILA list before choosing an attorney for personal matters.  Further, we suggest that you ask any attorney you choose for references from MCG or other academic institutions before signing a contract for services.   

 

Rights & Privileges of Non-Citizens (a few to make note of):

• Travel:  You are permitted to travel in the U.S. to different cities and states without prior approval from any government agency.  You are permitted to use public transportation, to have a driver's license, and to rent a car, within federal and state law and within the business practices of transportation lines and car rental agencies.  But remember that when you travel, even in the U.S., you must carry your alien identification and registration documents with you and present them to appropriate law enforcement officers upon request.  Citizens are not required to carry citizen identification documents.  See our travel page for more information.
   

• Residence and Address:  You are permitted to rent an apartment or buy a house according to your choice, but regardless of where you live, as a non-U.S. citizen, you are under a legal obligation to notify the USCIS about a change of your U.S. address within 10 days of any such change.  Failure to comply with this requirement may result in misdemeanor charges, fines, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or even deportation.  After changing your address in the United States, you should complete Form AR-11 and mail it to the USCIS at the address indicated on the form.  The form can be found at: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/ar-11.pdf
  
  Citizens are not required to report their address changes to federal authorities in this way, though most report to the post office to be sure their mail gets forwarded.  MCG is under no obligation to notify the USCIS of such changes of address; rather, the obligation lies with you as the non-citizen.
   

• Crimes, Civil Actions and Law Enforcement:  If you are arrested, you have the right to have an attorney, but the government is not required to pay for your attorney.  You must cover that expense yourself.  You are entitled to the protection of the law and you are subject to the rules of the law.  You may sue people in court or they may sue you.  Even though you may use the court system or be tried in it, you are not permitted to serve on a jury.
   

• Politics:  You may campaign for people running for public office, contribute to their campaigns, or attend rallies or demonstrations for political causes.  However, you are not permitted to vote, or to run for most public offices, or to hold certain jobs restricted to citizens.