OIS assists those who need visa sponsorship to study, research, visit or work at UIC. Generally, these are individuals who do not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. The process to initiate and obtain visa documentation can vary greatly depending on your plans but OIS is here to guide you along the way.
Crafting an effective Statement of Purpose (SOP) requires careful attention to various key components: Personal background. Financial background. Academic details. Professional experience (full/part-time, voluntary) Immediate and long-term goals. Reasons for selecting a specific institution. Interest in the chosen field.
FUNDING DOCUMENTATION - letters of sponsorship: You must obtain an official letter of sponsorship from the sponsor that includes a signature or stamp showing the authenticity of the letter. The letter must detail amounts and length of sponsorship and be dated within one year of submission.
At the Office of International Services (OIS), we provide international students and scholars with assistance in all areas related to international study—including admissions, visas, advising, and employment.
After USCIS approves your petition, they will transfer your case to the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) for pre-processing. The first step in this processing is the creation of your case in our system. Once this is complete, we will send you a Welcome Letter by e-mail or physical mail.
In many jurisdictions, including Illinois, even in cases of uncontested divorce where both spouses agree on the terms of the divorce, financial affidavits or financial disclosure forms are often required.
In such cases, refused visa applications are put into “administrative processing.” This phase is distinct from the initial processing steps and may involve further investigation into an applicant's background, security clearance checks, or the verification of documentation.
UIC foreign national employees hold a wide variety of immigration statuses, some are sponsored by UIC while others are not. This page is organized into UIC-sponsored statuses: H-1B, O-1, TN, and E-3, then a section for all non-UIC sponsored individuals.
Your cover letter should include your personal information, the purpose of your visit, the duration of your stay, your travel itinerary, proof of financial means, and any ties to your home country that show you will return after your visit. It should also have a polite closing, requesting visa approval.