Change H-1B Employer
Once you are in the U.S. in H-1B status and you wish to transfer to another Partners affiliate (or another employer in the U.S.), the new employer must file a new H-1B petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) seeking permission for the new employment.
If you would like to transfer your H-1B visa status to a Partners hospital:
- The Partners hospital must submit transfer material to the Partners Office for International Professionals and Students (PIPS) at least 3 months before you stop working for your current H-1B employer.
- The Partners hospital department will ask you to provide certain documents. These documents are necessary for the filing of an H-1B petition. They will be evaluated by PIPS before a petition is prepared. There are both government and institutional restrictions on petitioning for an H-1B. If appropriate, PIPS will begin processing the required documents with the U.S. Department of Labor and with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
- The Partners hospital will act as the liaison with our office if you have any questions about your transfer.
- You will be responsible for maintaining your H-1B visa status with your current sponsor until our office can arrange the H-1B transfer. The new employment may, in some circumstances, begin when there is confirmation of filing with USCIS. To be eligible for this benefit, referred to as “portability,” you must remain employed by your present employer until the new petition is filed with USCIS.
- If USCIS approves the H-1B petition, an I-797 Approval Notice will be issued to PIPS on your behalf. PIPS will notify you when this approval notice is received. The H-1B is employer-specific for a defined position and a limited period of time.
Your current H-1B employer/supervisor only needs to report your end of employment ro our office if you are transferring out of the Partners hospitals. They do not need to complete any paperwork for your transfer to occur.