H-1Bs are employer and employment-specific
The petition submitted to USCIS states the specific title, salary, duties, and dates of your position at the UW. You cannot accept any wages or honorarium from another employer unless they sponsor a concurrent H-1B on your behalf. Additionally, you cannot accept any wages or honorarium from another UW institution or department for duties outside the scope of your employment as stated in your H-1B petition. If you'd like to perform additional work for another UW department or institution, please have the additional hiring unit or institution consult IFSS. It can be done, but it likely will require a concurrent H-1B to be sponsored by the additional hiring department or institution. Filing a concurrent H-1B takes several months to prepare and get approval, just like a new or extension H-1B, and will cost the additional hiring department or institution filing fees.
Any changes in your position before the end of your current H-1B may require filing an amended H-1B petition
IFSS is required to notify USCIS if there has been a material change in the terms and conditions of your H-1B employment. You and your hiring unit are not authorized to make material changes to your H-1B employment without having received USCIS approval of these changes first. If there are any questions about a change to your position, please consult with your Department before making the change.
Changes to your employment that may require an amendment include, but are not limited to:
- worksite location, including adding or changing remote or home worksites in Madison or Wisconsin
- Faculty or staff who want to relocate during summer/winter breaks, or take a sabbatical in the U.S. in another location, MUST notify IFSS 3-4 months in advance before relocating. This is considered a material change even if UW policy does not require a remote work agreement.
- Travel to conferences, professional development, or meetings is still allowed. Normal academic activities such as these that occur on a short-term basis is not considered changing or adding worksites.
- new title series (for example, postdoc to scientist or research specialist to researcher)
- Promotions within a title series: these are typically ok as they are deemed a "natural progression" of your duties rather than a change.
- significant change in duties
- significant salary increase (which typically signifies a change in duties)
- change in FTE or percentage of appointment (part-time to full-time and vice versa)
- new employment in a different UW department or institution
- concurrent employment in another UW Department or institution (including overloads)
Additional Resources (for Hiring Units only):
How to request an H-1B amendment for your H-1B employee