Academic Advisor Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Academic Advisor roles at U.S. colleges and universities can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship when the position requires a bachelor's degree in a directly related field like counseling, education, or student affairs. Many institutions are cap-exempt, which means no lottery and faster USCIS processing for qualified candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsAcademic Advisor – LAS - Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, and Integrated Health Studies
Hiring Department: LAS Student Academic Affairs
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Requisition ID: 1043596
Hours: M-F 8:30-4:30 with occasional evening/weekend
Salary: The budgeted salary for the position is $64,000.
About the University of Illinois Chicago
UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
Position Summary
This position – the academic advisor for the majors in Biological Sciences and Integrated Health Studies, the curriculum in Neuroscience, and the minor in Biological Sciences – is a member of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) Academic Advising Center. It is the role of this unit to assure that, in the continuum from admission through graduation, students' individual educational needs are met while maintaining the academic standards established by the faculty of the College. As a primary source of College information, the academic advisors in Biological Sciences, Integrated Health Studies, and Neuroscience promote and facilitate excellence through academic advising.
Duties & Responsibilities
-
Engages in undergraduate student advising with current and incoming major/curriculum/minor undergraduate students, evaluating students’ major/curriculum or minor degree progress/eligibility, educating and providing guidance concerning respective degree requirements, programs, academic and professional planning.
-
Evaluates undergraduate students’ progress in their respective major/curriculum or minor, evaluating degree requirements, counseling and providing related guidance and direction.
-
Educates major/curriculum/minor students regarding College, University and Campus policies and procedures, along with course registration and selection towards their respective degree program. Interprets and enforces academic policies.
-
Guides major/curriculum/minor students in navigating the petition process for exceptions to academic policies.
-
Provides current and prospective major/curriculum/minor students with information regarding available College and University resources and opportunities.
-
Educates and informs prospective students and their family/friends about the major/curriculum or minor and opportunities to aid in the recruitment of new LAS students.
-
May conduct new LAS student orientation programs, supporting undergraduate LAS students in their transition to college, the University and promotes their academic success.
-
Intervenes and refers major/curriculum/minor students to resources throughout the University community as may be needed.
-
Exercises professional discretion and judgment to troubleshoot issues and problems that may arise.
-
Documents pertinent and required information related to interactions with major/curriculum/minor students.
-
Maintains and updates related databases as needed, to ensure that student records accurately reflect major/curriculum or minor degree progress and academic status.
-
Assesses transfer courses for equivalency to major/curriculum/minor courses and requirements in the assigned academic departments, updating student records to reflect determined equivalency.
-
As a member of the LAS Academic Advising Center, contributes to decisions for the academic probation or dismissal of individual LAS students.
-
Participates in committees and/or teams as needed and/or assigned.
-
Assists in the facilitation, training, and development of new advisors as may be needed.
-
Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required in the area of education, liberal arts and sciences, business, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
-
Academic background in Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, or a related field.
-
Master’s Degree in LAS, Teacher Education, Counseling or a related field preferred.
-
At least one year of academic advising experience in higher education.
-
Demonstrated work experience in student/academic advising, counseling or other related field in an institution of higher learning.
-
Excellent communication, organization, presentation and computer/pc skills are required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office to include: Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, along with other related software.
-
Familiarity with student development theory and FERPA, would be helpful.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
Academic Advisor – LAS - Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, and Integrated Health Studies
Hiring Department: LAS Student Academic Affairs
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Requisition ID: 1043596
Hours: M-F 8:30-4:30 with occasional evening/weekend
Salary: The budgeted salary for the position is $64,000.
About the University of Illinois Chicago
UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
Position Summary
This position – the academic advisor for the majors in Biological Sciences and Integrated Health Studies, the curriculum in Neuroscience, and the minor in Biological Sciences – is a member of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) Academic Advising Center. It is the role of this unit to assure that, in the continuum from admission through graduation, students' individual educational needs are met while maintaining the academic standards established by the faculty of the College. As a primary source of College information, the academic advisors in Biological Sciences, Integrated Health Studies, and Neuroscience promote and facilitate excellence through academic advising.
Duties & Responsibilities
-
Engages in undergraduate student advising with current and incoming major/curriculum/minor undergraduate students, evaluating students’ major/curriculum or minor degree progress/eligibility, educating and providing guidance concerning respective degree requirements, programs, academic and professional planning.
-
Evaluates undergraduate students’ progress in their respective major/curriculum or minor, evaluating degree requirements, counseling and providing related guidance and direction.
-
Educates major/curriculum/minor students regarding College, University and Campus policies and procedures, along with course registration and selection towards their respective degree program. Interprets and enforces academic policies.
-
Guides major/curriculum/minor students in navigating the petition process for exceptions to academic policies.
-
Provides current and prospective major/curriculum/minor students with information regarding available College and University resources and opportunities.
-
Educates and informs prospective students and their family/friends about the major/curriculum or minor and opportunities to aid in the recruitment of new LAS students.
-
May conduct new LAS student orientation programs, supporting undergraduate LAS students in their transition to college, the University and promotes their academic success.
-
Intervenes and refers major/curriculum/minor students to resources throughout the University community as may be needed.
-
Exercises professional discretion and judgment to troubleshoot issues and problems that may arise.
-
Documents pertinent and required information related to interactions with major/curriculum/minor students.
-
Maintains and updates related databases as needed, to ensure that student records accurately reflect major/curriculum or minor degree progress and academic status.
-
Assesses transfer courses for equivalency to major/curriculum/minor courses and requirements in the assigned academic departments, updating student records to reflect determined equivalency.
-
As a member of the LAS Academic Advising Center, contributes to decisions for the academic probation or dismissal of individual LAS students.
-
Participates in committees and/or teams as needed and/or assigned.
-
Assists in the facilitation, training, and development of new advisors as may be needed.
-
Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required in the area of education, liberal arts and sciences, business, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
-
Academic background in Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, or a related field.
-
Master’s Degree in LAS, Teacher Education, Counseling or a related field preferred.
-
At least one year of academic advising experience in higher education.
-
Demonstrated work experience in student/academic advising, counseling or other related field in an institution of higher learning.
-
Excellent communication, organization, presentation and computer/pc skills are required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office to include: Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, along with other related software.
-
Familiarity with student development theory and FERPA, would be helpful.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
See all 145+ Academic Advisor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Academic Advisor roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Academic Advisor Jobs
Document your degree's direct connection
Academic Advisor positions must meet the specialty occupation standard, so your degree field needs to align with the role itself. A counseling or higher education degree is a stronger fit than a general business degree, and your offer letter should reflect that alignment explicitly.
Target cap-exempt institutions first
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government research organizations are H-1B cap-exempt. That means your employer files directly with USCIS year-round with no lottery, cutting months off your timeline compared to for-profit employers subject to the annual cap.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsors
Filter Academic Advisor roles by employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history on Migrate Mate. This tells you which institutions have actually sponsored the role before, not just which ones list it as a possibility in job postings.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify your salary at or above the DOL prevailing wage for Academic Advisors in your city. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV wage tiers before you discuss compensation, so you don't accept an offer the LCA can't support.
Ask HR whether PERM is in scope for your role
Many universities sponsor Academic Advisors for EB-2 or EB-3 green cards through the PERM labor certification process. Confirm this during the offer stage, not after you've started, since PERM timelines at universities can run two to four years and affect your long-term planning significantly.
Get your credentials evaluated before filing
If your bachelor's degree is from outside the U.S., have it evaluated by a NACES-member credential evaluation service before your employer files the I-129. USCIS will scrutinize foreign degree equivalency for specialty occupation petitions, and a missing evaluation is a common cause of Requests for Evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Academic Advisor role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the position is written. USCIS requires that the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific, directly related field. If the job description accepts any bachelor's degree, it may not qualify. Roles requiring a degree in counseling, higher education, student affairs, or a related discipline have a stronger case. Your employer's HR team and the job posting language both matter.
Are universities better H-1B sponsors than for-profit employers for this role?
Yes, for two reasons. First, most universities qualify as cap-exempt institutions, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without entering the annual lottery. Second, universities frequently sponsor Academic Advisors and have institutional experience with the process. You can browse Academic Advisor roles at sponsoring institutions on Migrate Mate to see which schools have active filing histories.
Can an Academic Advisor role be sponsored for a green card?
Yes. Universities and colleges frequently sponsor Academic Advisors through the EB-2 or EB-3 green card categories using PERM labor certification. The employer must demonstrate through a recruitment process that no qualified U.S. workers are available. PERM timelines currently run 12 to 18 months at DOL before an I-140 petition can be filed, so starting early matters.
What degree field gives the strongest H-1B case for an Academic Advisor position?
Degrees in counseling, college student personnel, higher education administration, psychology, or social work align most directly with the Academic Advisor role as defined by O*NET. A general business or unrelated STEM degree creates specialty occupation risk because USCIS looks for a direct relationship between the degree field and the duties of the specific position.
How long does H-1B processing typically take for a university Academic Advisor role?
Cap-exempt universities can file I-129 petitions any time of year, and standard USCIS processing currently runs three to five months. Premium processing, which USCIS adjudicates within 15 business days, is available and commonly used by universities to onboard staff before the academic year begins. Your employer's HR or legal team controls the filing timeline, so confirming their process early is important.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Academic Advisor jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.