DIS

DIS

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How To Submit Cases And Documents To DIS

Administrative Staff

How To Submit Cases And Documents To DIS

There are three options to submit cases and documents to DIS for Visiting Program (VP) participants, and there are two options to submit badge validation requests for Contractors.

Choose a submission option and refer to the relevant dropdown below.

DIS Customer Portal can be used to submit the following request types:

Change of Address
Continuation (see below)
Dependent DS-2019 (scientist only)
Extended Absence from NIH
J-1 Transfer Out
New immigration documents (passport, I-94, visa)
Outside Activity
Remote Check-In (Non-FTE, administrative staff only)
Termination/Separation (administrative staff only)

All other Visiting Program submissions and contractor badge validation requests must be submitted through the applicable submission method below.

DIS Case Submission SharePoint (Mandatory for NIH administrators):
Refer to the instructions and link (NIH Users Only). Administrators must ask their Lead Administrative Officer (AO) to request DIS SharePoint access on their behalf. Email the request to DIS@mail.nih.gov.
Secure Email and File Transfer Service (Contractor badge validation):
Submit to DIS@mail.nih.gov.

Case Request (New/Renewal/Transfer)
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NIH lab wants to send DIS a case to invite, extend, or transfer a VP participant in the Intramural Research Program.
Who submits to DIS – Administrative staff at NIH.
What to submit – Refer to Case Preparation, Checklists, and Required Signatures guidance.

Check-In/EOD Package
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New VP participant arrives in U.S. and must check in with DIS to start pre-approved NIH appointment or award. Check-in procedures are different for Full-Time-Equivalent (FTE) and non-FTE scientists. To confirm whether a scientist's designation is non-FTE or FTE, refer to our Designations Chart.

FTE Scientist
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NIH Maryland/D.C. work sites (Bethesda, Frederick, Baltimore, etc.)
Who submits to DIS –DIS Immigration Specialist (IS) will conduct EOD one-on-one with FTE scientist.
What to submit – DIS IS will collect relevant documents directly from the new FTE scientist.
NIH work sites outside Maryland/D.C. (North Carolina, Rocky Mountain, etc.)
Who submits to DIS – Administrative staff at NIH sends via encrypted email to DIS IS on case.
What to submit – Refer to Visiting Foreign Scientist Remote Check-in/EOD form.

Non-FTE Scientist
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Who submits to DIS – Administrative staff at NIH.
What to submit – Refer to Check-In with DIS form.

Continuation Case
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Sometimes DIS cannot initially approve a VP participant's stay through the lab's requested Not-To-Exceed (NTE) date due to validity end dates of work authorization or funding documents. The scientist or AO will need to provide DIS with new documents (e.g., EAD, I-797 USCIS Receipt Notice, or funding letter) to extend the scientist's stay through the initially requested NTE date.
Who submits to DIS – Scientist in NIH VP or administrative staff.
What to submit – Refer to “Additional Comments" section of most recently issued eNOA.

VP Participant Documents/Request
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VP participant wants to send DIS an updated immigration document (e.g., passport, Form I-94) or request form (e.g., Outside Activity, Extended Absence from NIH).
Who submits to DIS – Scientist in NIH VP or administrative staff.

Contractor Badge Validation Request
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New or current contractor needs DIS validation of NIH badge request in NED.
Who submits to DIS – NIH contractor, their contracting company, or administrative staff at NIH.
What to submit – Refer to Contractor Badges guidance.

B-1 Delegate Visitor Badge Request
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Delegate Program visitor needs DIS validation of NIH badge request in NED.
Who submits to DIS – Designated administrative staff (delegates) at NIH.
What to submit – Refer to B-1 Delegate Program guidance.

Revised 08/2023