Permanent Residency
Pathway to Employment Based Lawful Permanent Residency (LPR)
The Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status, also known as a “green card” holder, is an immigrant status that authorizes a person to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis. The application for Permanent Residency is processed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Specific processes for each employee will vary and must be discussed with The Center for Immigration Services & Support (ISS). Along with the university’s contracted outside immigration counsel, ISS will provide guidance to determine the best plan for each employee. More information about Permanent Residency can be found on the USCIS website: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card.
Each sponsorship request is at the discretion of the university and will be handled on a case-by-case basis subject to review by ISS, the university’s general counsel, and the university’s contracted external immigration counsel. The final adjudication for any immigration petition is determined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Contact Information
H-1Bs or other employment based visas at Wake Forest Medical Center (Baptist Medical Center, WFIRM, Bowman Gray Medical School): Ms. Pamela Melton ()
Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus: Center for Immigration Services & Support ().
At Wake Forest University these positions include, but are not limited to:
- Assistant, Associate, or Full Professors
- Other Professional Exempt Staff at Director level or above
- Other Professional Exempt Staff not listed (with Dean, AVP, or equivalent Approval)
Note: Hiring units shall not promise immigrant sponsorship (Lawful Permanent Residency) or the attainment of any other non-immigrant visa (such as H-1B) to any candidate during the recruitment process. They should only speak in general terms regarding the case-by-case review and eligibility for Lawful Permanent Residence as determined by ISS and the university’s contracted outside legal counsel. All hiring units should follow Human Resources’ Search and Selection criteria. Any ‘promise’ of H-1B or other immigration status is not binding and eligibility for H-1B sponsorship is determined by ISS and the university’s contracted outside legal counsel.
The following is the general application procedure for the LPR (for employees at Wake Forest University’s Reynolda campus.
The process is lengthy regardless of the pathway. The process will look different based on the category of application, and individual applicant. See below the general summary of the process:
For H-1Bs or other employment based visas at Wake Forest Medical Center (Baptist Medical Center, WFIRM, Bowman Gray Medical School) refer to:
- Initial Assessment & Meeting with ISS.
- Labor Certification and Prevailing Wage Determination
- Recruitment for Position (If Required)
- Final PERM Application
- Collection of Information/Documentation for I-140
- Submission & Approval of I-140
- Adjustment of Status (AOS) and I-485 Submission
Those nonimmigrants who are subject to the J-1 two-year home residency requirement are not eligible to apply for Lawful Permanent Residency (LPR) classification until they have either fulfilled the requirement or received a waiver from the U.S. Department of State.
There is a separate application procedure for the waiver that ISS does not assist with. To learn more about the waiver process, visit this website: 212e Waivers
The following are the current fees for processing of Permanent Residency for WFU Reynolda Campus.
For costs for H-1Bs or other employment based visas at Wake Forest Medical Center (Baptist Medical Center, WFIRM, Bowman Gray Medical School), contact :
Fees can vary based on the filing for Permanent Residency based on the filing type see below the general costs estimates for each case type. These costs are specific to the university and department costs. Further costs for the final adjustment of status paid by the beneficiary of the permanent residency are not included.
| Type of LPR Filing | Total Est. Cost for Dept/Unit |
| EB-1 Outstanding Professor/Researcher | $4,715 |
| EB-2 Special Handling for Univ. Teachers | $5,515 |
| EB-2 Basic PERM | $8,015 |
*An Additional $2,965 for USCIS Premium Processing of I-140 for all above costs is not included.