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Cornell University

International Services

Office of Global Learning

Change in Employment at Cornell

  • For Faculty/Staff

If you are a Cornell employee with a Cornell-sponsored visa status that allows you to conduct research or teach, you are allowed to pursue additional employment only in very limited situations. It is very important to follow the employment rules for your visa type. Find out more below.

J-1

As a J-1 exchange visitor, you can only work at Cornell for the department that hired you and in the position for which you were initially hired.

Any change in your Cornell employment must be approved by International Services before the new position or activity can begin. If you are interested in changing positions, please have your prospective hiring department submit a change of department request for you. Prospective employment must align with your original program objectives.

H-1B and E-3

H-1B and E-3 statuses are employer-, location-, and duty-specific. This means you may work only for Cornell doing the job duties specified in your H-1B or E-3 application.

Your hiring department must email International Services immediately about any proposed changes in the terms and conditions of your employment, including changes in salary, job location, title, and job duties or responsibilities. Changes may require us to file amended paperwork with the U.S. Labor Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Concurrent Employment

If you have H-1B or E-3 status, you may have more than one employer—but only if each employer files an H-1B or E-3 petition on your behalf that outlines the job and duties you will performing at each place of employment.

Please email International Services if you have an H-1B or E-3 elsewhere, and the other H-1B or E-3 is concurrent with your employment at Cornell.

O-1

O-1 status is employer- and employment-specific. This means you may work only for Cornell and only in the job duties specified when your O-1 petition was approved.

Your hiring department must email International Services immediately about any proposed changes in the terms and conditions of your employment, including changes in salary, job location, title, and job duties or responsibilities. Changes may require us to file amended paperwork with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Concurrent Employment

O-1s may have more than one employer only if each employer files its own O-1 petition specific to the job and duties the O-1 will have at that place of employment. 

TN

TN status for Canadian citizens is employer- and employment-specific. Your hiring department must email International Services immediately about any proposed changes in the terms and conditions of employment including changes in salary, job location, title, and job duties and responsibilities. You may need to reapply for TN status at the border or have a new I-129 petition filed on your behalf.

TN application procedures for Mexican citizens require an I-129 petition to be submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Any changes to a Mexican citizen’s conditions of employment require a new I-129 petition.

Concurrent Employment

TNs may have more than one employer—but only if the concurrent employment is noted on the I-94 record of entry (Canadian citizens) or if each employer files an I-129 TN petition on your behalf outlining the job and duties you will have at each place of employment (Mexican citizens).

Next Up: Employment Outside of Cornell