Unit:
POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
AUTHORIZATION FORM
Employee
Name:
Begin Date:
HR
Preparer:
Work
Location:
See following pages for visa fees, processing times, and
federal regulations
End Date:
Type of
Visa Req:
Ph.D. Date:
ACTION:
Initial Appointment
Transfer [from other dept.]
RE-Appointment
Merit
Title Change: From: _______To: _______
[Indicating change within postdoc title]
TITLE:
Postdoctoral Scholar – Employee** [3252] Annual Rate: $
Postdoctoral Scholar - Fellow [3253] Annual Award: $
Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct [3254] Annual Award: $
at
%
**Appointments to the Postdoctoral Scholar – Employee title [TC 3252C] are supported by the Principal Investigator’s funding.
For Fellow/Paid Direct only:
SALARY:
Award Amount:
Supplement Amount:
Total Annual Salary:
Year 201
$
$
$
Year 2
$
$
$
Year 3
Benefits will be covered by:
Fellowship
PI
Agency :
$
$
$
FUNDING INFORMATION: Include Notice of Award [Fellow/Paid Direct only] with Appointment Request
%
Funding Agency
Agency Type
Employee Chartstring/Supplement Chartstring [if applicable]:
Fund
Department
Program
ChartField1
ChartField2
Fellowship Chartstring:
Paid Direct Chartstring: Required to cover Worker’s Compensation, Short-Term Disability, and the benefit Broker Fee [$45/month]
Chartstring for visa fees, if different from above:
Charge Service/Processing Fees
N/A
Expedite fee (if required)
N/A
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION: Please provide a 3-5 line summary of the postdoc’s research duties and responsibilities
REQUIRED APPROVALS:
Faculty Sponsor**
Print Name:
Signature
Date:
Chair/Director (for J-1s)
Print Name:
Signature
Date:
Signature
Date:
Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Research:
Robert Price
**Faculty sponsor signature acknowledges that the Postdoc Annual Evaluation must be completed in writing. This can be
found at http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/labor/contracts/PX under “Postdoctoral Agreement Annual Evaluation”
FOR HUMAN RESOURCES USE ONLY:
Years of Postdoctoral Experience at Begin Date ____________
Supplement TC:
3253C: Monthly Stipend: $__________ - or -
3252C: Base Salary $________, % Effort: ________
Postdoc Definition – Applicants must satisfy all of the following specifications:







The postdoc must possess a Ph.D. or foreign equivalent.
The proposed appointment may not total more than five years of service in this title, including previous
postdoctoral experience (post-Ph.D. research) at other institutions. Extenuating circumstances, including health and
family care, can justify exceptions to this requirement.
The postdoc must have an institutional source of funding, e.g., fellowship, traineeship, or equivalent external
support.
The postdoc must pursue a program of research and training under the direction of a faculty member, with
approval of an academic department or organized research unit (ORU) and registration with the VSPA Program.
The postdoc may not have been employed as an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor.
Postdoc appointments are normally one year long. Initial appointments must be for a minimum of one year. With the
concurrence of the postdoc and in some circumstances, reappointments may be for less than one year.
Please see the Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) website for more information: https://vspa.berkeley.edu
Postdoc Salaries – Initial postdoc appointments must be made at or above the NIH NRSA scale for experience levels. Upon
reappointment or anniversary date, postdocs must receive an increase to the next NIH experience level rate or, if they are
above scale, at least 2%. Postdocs appointed prior to June 1, 2011 with salaries below the NIH scale must receive an annual
increase of at least 3% (3.5% effective June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014).
Processing Times – In order to allow ample processing time, please notify RES HR of any postdoc actions as early as
possible. The processing time required depends on the scholar’s visa status. Please see below for the length of time before the
appointment start date that RES should receive the Authorization Form:









Postdoc initial appointment without visa: 2-3 weeks.
F-1 OPT: No additional processing time; scholar must receive EAD card prior to appointment start date.
Initial J-1 visa: 4-5 months, depending on country of origin. Please see the J-1 Process Overview for a timeline.
Postdoc extension without visa: 6 weeks (reappointment offer letter due to postdoc 30 days in advance)
J-1 extension: 3 months prior to expiration of current DS-2019.
STEM extension: 3 months; scholars process the application with their graduate school International Office.
F-1 to J-1 change of status: 6 months prior to expiration of EAD card.
New H-1B: 6 months. Please see the H-1B Procedures Flowchart for an overview of the H-1B petition process.
H-1B extension or change of employer: 3 months.
F-1 Visa/OPT – The one-year Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization is available to international students
who have been in valid F-1 status and who plan to seek employment in the US in their field of study. Students apply for the
OPT at their academic institution upon completing their graduate program. After the OPT, scholars in the Sciences,
Technology, Engineering or Math may be eligible for a 19-month STEM extension. Otherwise, scholars are eligible for a J-1
visa and must complete a visa change of status in order to maintain their employment eligibility. There is no processing fee
for scholars who will work at UC Berkeley on their F-1 OPT or STEM extension.
J-1 Visa – Scholars pursuing research at UC Berkeley may be eligible for J-1 status for up to five years. The fees for the J-1
visa include:



Berkeley International Office recharge fee: $410 (except UCB J-1 extensions)
Berkeley International Office recharge fee: $200 (UCB J-1 extensions)
Berkeley International Office expedite fee: $200 (if required for processing in fewer than 10 business days)
H-1B Visa – H-1B regulations allow a worker to hold H-1B status for up to six years. RES proceeds with an H-1B petition for
postdoctoral scholars under limited circumstances:


The scholar has exhausted his or her time in J-1 status, and therefore needs to change to H-1B status in order to
accept or continue working in a temporary position – or –
The scholar already holds H-1B status and needs to seek a change of H-1B employer to UC Berkeley.
The PI is responsible for the following H-1B visa fees:





Berkeley International Office recharge fee: $2,000
Department of Homeland Security payment for H-1B employee: $325
Department of Homeland Security payment for H-1B Fraud Prevention: $500 (except UCB H-1B extensions)
Department of Homeland Security payment for USCIS Premium Processing: $1,225 (if requested)
Department of Homeland Security payment for H-1B dependents: $290
We (the department) agree that all the information provided in support of this DS-2019 request is true and accurate. We further
agree to comply with the federal regulations listed below governing the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
Arrival Date
We will notify Human Resources no later than 14 days from the start of the DS-2019. Use the Departmental Scholar
Status Report Form available
at: http://internationalofficeberkeley.edu/departments/J_1/scholarstatusreportform2007.doc
Late Arrival
We will notify Human Resources of any arrival delays more than 14 days past the start date on the DS-2019 (Scholars
must arrive in the US within 30 days of the begin date on the DS-2019)
Change of address
We will notify Human Resources of all changes of addresses for UC Berkeley J-1 and J-2 Exchange Visitors within 10
days of the move
Financial Support Verification
We have verified that the financial support listed in the application is available to the scholar, and that these resources
are adequate to complete his/her program and to support any accompanying dependents. (Scholar must have at least
$1600 per month, plus $500 per month for spouse, and $200 per month per child)
Health Insurance
We will ensure the scholar and his/her family maintain sufficient health insurance as defined by University and U.S.
federal guidelines for the entire duration of the scholar’s visit;
Scholar’s Credentials
We have determined that the international scholar’s program is consistent with his/her professional background and
experience;
English Proficiency
We have determined that the international scholar’s English proficiency is sufficient to participate in his/her exchange
visitor program;
Changes in Program
We will notify Human Resources of any changes in the terms and conditions of this international scholar’s exchange
program, including employment or payment not listed on the scholar’s DS-2019;
Scholar Advising Support
We will monitor the progress and welfare of the international scholar, including ensuring that he/she obtains sufficient
advice and assistance to facilitate the successful completion of his/her exchange visitor program.