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MU
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Beginning February 1, 2008, the office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will expand its administrative fee program to include J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B specialty occupations. Currently, ISSS charges administrative service fees to MU departments for employment-based permanent residence petitions. The purpose of the fee program is to enhance the unit's ability to comply with federal immigration and labor laws, particularly at a time of significant growth in the number of international scholars coming to MU.
The following guidelines will provide the policy framework used by ISSS for the scholar fee program:
- The fees will be charged for the following categories of international scholars:
| Scholar Type
| Transaction Point
| Fee Amount*
|
| J-1 Professor/Researcher |
Initial, Extension & Transfer |
$150 |
| H-1B Employee |
Initial, Extension & Transfer |
$800 |
| EB-1, EB-2 PR Petition |
Initial |
$2000 |
- The fees will be paid by the MU department or unit requesting scholar services and will be charged using the departmental MO-Code indicated on the International Scholar Services Fee Form
 . The beneficiary may not pay the fee on behalf of the MU department and personal checks will not be accepted for scholar services.
- The fees become effective for departmental requests received by ISSS on or after February 1, 2008.
- Scholar fees are non-refundable. Once the request for scholar services has been made to ISSS and the services have been delivered, the scholar fees cannot be refunded, even though the possibility remains that the visa may not be granted, or the benefit may be refused by a federal agency. Though the result cannot be guaranteed , ISSS will work toward the successful completion of each scholar request to resolve unexpected immigration obstacles.
- MU departments may make a written appeal for a refund of scholar service fees, particularly when it can be demonstrated that circumstances beyond its control may have contributed to the situation.
- Appeals will be reviewed by the International Center Director and/or ISSS Director.
- ISSS may refer an MU department to appropriate legal counsel, as designated by the UM General Counsel's Office, for scholar cases that are determined to be beyond the scope of ISSS services. Costs associated with the use of external legal counsel must be borne by the MU department, not the international scholar or UM General Counsel's Office.
- The fees as announced are subject to change, based on a variety of conditions, including changes in federal regulations, legal costs, and service demands. ISSS will announce any anticipated fee changes at least 90-days prior to the effective date of the change.
* Fees do not apply to J-1 students admitted to regular academic semester exchange and degree programs.
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