Can non-tenure eligible faculty members apply for permanent residence?

Question

I am a senior lecturer at a major US university, and I hold a European Union passport. I have a 3-year (renewable) contract and my department and the Dean's office are willing to sponsor me for permanent residence. However, the university OISS claims that only tenure-eligible faculty members can be sponsored for permanent residence, and that in the last couple of years applications for non tenure-eligible candidates have been consistently turned down. They are saying that this has to do with US immigration regulations, not with university policies. Is this true? If yes, are there any other viable options (apart from looking for a tenure-eligible position somewhere else?) Some universities seem to sponsor non tenure-track senior lecturers (e.g. Penn/Northwestern/Drexel), but my OISS keeps telling me that the information that I have found is outdated. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Answer 1

call INS or talk to immigration attorneys. Either one should have an answer for you.