/Office of Global Affairs
Visa and Immigration Services

Maintaining H-1B Status

The information below is intended to help you maintain your lawful H-1B status while employed at Stony Brook University. You are responsible for understanding and following all H-1B immigration regulations during your stay in the United States.

Your Responsibilities in H-1B Status

To maintain your H-1B status, you must:

  • Work only in the position listed on your H-1B approval notice.
  • Work only for the employer that sponsored your H-1B petition.
  • Maintain the salary, worksite, and job duties listed in your H-1B petition.
  • Keep your passport valid at all times.
  • Maintain a valid Form I-94 record.
  • Notify VIS of changes to your employment or address.

Failure to maintain your H-1B status may affect your ability to remain and work in the United States.

Employment Requirements

Your H-1B status is employer-specific. This means you may work only for the employer and in the position approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

You must contact VIS before:

  • Changing job titles or job duties
  • Moving to a new worksite location
  • Reducing work hours or changing from full-time to part-time
  • Taking an unpaid leave of absence
  • Ending employment early
  • Accepting additional employment

Some employment changes require a new H-1B petition before the change can take place.

Do not assume that department or HR approval is enough for immigration purposes.

Maintaining a Valid Passport

Your passport must remain valid at all times while you are in the United States.

You should renew your passport at least six months before it expires unless your country has a special agreement with the United States.

Contact your embassy or consulate for passport renewal instructions.

Understanding Your Immigration Documents

Keep all immigration documents in a secure location and provide updated copies to VIS whenever documents are renewed or changed.

Form I-797 Approval Notice

Your Form I-797 is issued by USCIS and confirms your H-1B approval.

Your approval notice includes:

  • Your employer’s name
  • Your approved employment dates
  • Your I-94 record, if issued with approval

Review your approval notice carefully and contact VIS if you notice any errors.

Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record

Your I-94 record confirms your immigration status and authorized stay in the United States.

Each time you enter the United States, review your I-94 record to make sure:

  • Your class of admission is listed as H-1B
  • The expiration date is correct
  • Submit the Immigration Document Update eform in accessVIS to share a copy of your new I-4

You can access your I-94 record through U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

H-1B Visa Stamp

Your visa stamp allows you to request entry to the United States in H-1B status.

Your visa may expire while you remain in the United States. This is permitted as long as:

  • Your H-1B approval notice remains valid
  • Your I-94 record remains valid
  • You continue to follow H-1B regulations

If you travel internationally after your visa expires, you must apply for a new H-1B visa stamp before returning to the United States.

Reporting Address Changes

U.S. regulations require you to keep your local address current with the U.S. government. If you move, you must report your new residential address within 10 days. This requirement applies to you and any family members in dependent status.

You must also ensure that the address listed on your most recent Form I-94 and H-1B petition remains accurate. If it is no longer correct, you are responsible for updating it.

Updating Your Address with USCIS

To update your address, you must complete Form AR-11 (Alien’s Change of Address Card). You may submit the AR-11 in one of the following ways:

  • Online through the USCIS Change of Address system
  • By mailing a paper Form AR-11 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Updating Your Address with SBU

In addition to USCIS reporting, you must also follow university reporting procedures. This ensures your address is accurate in both federal immigration records and university systems.

All changes to your U.S. local (off-campus) address must be done in SOLAR.

  1. Login to SOLAR with your Stony Brook University ID number and password.
  2. Go to Security and Personal Data and then click Addresses.
  3. Select Add A New Address to add your local (off-campus) address. Even if your address is listed as "Home" or "Mailing", you must still add it as your "Local" address.
  4. Verify your address information, and select "Local" under Address Type.
  5. Click Save, then OK. Your local address should now appear.

Keeping your address up to date is required to maintain compliance with your immigration status.

Ending Employment or Changing Employers

Your H-1B status ends when your employment ends unless another employer files a new petition or you change to another immigration status.

If your employment ends, contact VIS immediately to discuss:

  • Your grace period eligibility
  • Transfer options
  • Change of status options
  • Departure requirements

Do not continue working after your authorized employment period ends.

Questions About Your Status

If you have questions about maintaining your H-1B status please contact VIS at vis_scholar@stonybrook.edu before taking action that could affect your immigration status.