Penn International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
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Description
Foreign Nationals should familiarize themselves with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), a unit of Penn Global that provides immigration expertise and services to the Penn community and a host of other resources.
- Before you arrive, review information for new foreign nationals on the ISSS website.
- Upon arrival to the U.S., all new foreign nationals must complete the tutorial and arrival form in iPenn.
Related Resources
Policies & Procedures
Visa Sponsorship Duration for Foreign National Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows
Taxes & Withholdings for International Postdocs
Applying for a U.S. Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
Health Insurance Requirements for J-1 Exchange Visitors
Policy for the Appointment of Foreign Nationals Under the Postdoctoral Training Program
Offices & Services
International Spouses & Partners at Penn (ISPP)
Penn Postdoctoral Association (PPA) Foreign National Committee
Tools & Systems
EURAXESS North America
German Academic International Network (GAIN)
NPA International Postdoc Survival Guide
iPenn
Related FAQs
I have an international postdoc. How long can I appoint them in a postdoc position?
Per the policy, postdoc appointments are made for one year. Postdocs can be reappointed for up to five years total. Faculty mentors who expect to reappoint an international postdoc can offer a multi-year visa sponsorship duration to mitigate the burden of visa renewals if funding is secured for the same period of visa sponsorship, there is an intention to reappoint the postdoc, and the postdoc meets the expectations of the position as documented in an Individual Development Plan. Departments need to include the appropriate language in the appointment or reappointment letter to offer a multi-year visa sponsorship duration and final approval must be secured by ISSS.
I’m would like to hire a foreign national as a postdoc. What is the visa process?
It can take up to 6 months for a postdoc to secure a visa, so the first step in hiring is to initiate the visa application process. Most postdocs come to Penn on J1 visas, so you should reach out to your department administrator and Penn ISSS for more information about visa options and to begin the application process.