To initiate the process, a faculty member in the academic unit submits a formal request package, through the department head, the dean, and  to the office of the Vice Provost Faculty Relations. The formal request package should be one combined pdf, and be organized in the order of numbered requirements below. This should be sent via email to vpfaculty.relations@usask.ca

The formal request package includes the following information:

1. A completed Visiting Professor Formal Request Form
2. The visiting professor’s full C.V.
3. A letter of invitation from the supervising professor to the visiting professor. Must include:
   • summary of work in which the visitor is expected to participate or
   • reason for coming
   • remuneration details

Once this formal request package has been approved by the office of the Vice Provost Faculty Relations, it will be sent to the department/college. There is no work permit required for visiting professors who are from Canada.

The formal request package includes the following information:

1. Visiting Professor Formal Request Form
   • Note. The form must be filled out completely with one exception: only complete the section for the 120 day exemption if the appointment is for less than 120 days total and the applicant has not used this exemption in the last 365 days.
2. The visiting professor’s full C.V.
3.  A letter of invitation from the supervising professor to the visiting professor (must include summary of work in which the visitor is expected to participate or reason for coming, and remuneration details).
   • Note. Immigration processing times can vary widely based on country of origin and volume of applications; we highly recommend the letter of invitation from the academic unit state the length of the appointment (ie. one year or 6 months) and indicate the expected start date, or date of immigration to accommodate this variable.
4. A scanned colour copy of the applicant’s passport photo page.
5. Verification of funds: either a letter from a foreign source with details of funding, or if self-funded, a letter from their bank verifying their financial status.
6. Letter of support from home institution verifying that they will be on approved leave and will be returning after their appointment as a visiting professor has ended (this is a necessary document to complete their work permit). If the applicant will also continue to receive their salary from their academic home during their stay in Saskatoon; the letter should also include a statement to this effect and detail the monthly salary.

Package Approval, and Next Steps

Once the formal request package has been received and approved by the office of the Vice Provost, Faculty Relations, the following process is followed:

1. VP Faculty Relations creates an approval letter, and sends this letter and the entire formal request package to the department or college. 
2. The  Director of Academic Recruitment and Immigration determines the appropriate immigration processing stream and completes the necessary immigration paper work for the visiting professor including payment of the compliance fee (currently $230) centrally. 
   • Note: this will take 7- 10 business days after the application has been approved by the Vice Provost Faculty Relations for the formal immigration paperwork to be completed
3. Legal counsel will forward the receipt to the candidate along with the Offer of Employment (OoE number) and legal advice regarding how to complete their application.
   • The Vice-Provost Faculty Relations Office will then forward a copy of the Appointment Letter to the applicant to be uploaded as the “Employment Contract” with their application; the supervisor will be cc’d on this email. Once the supervisor receives this email they will know the applicant has been sent all information required to complete their application.
   • The visiting professor uses this documentation and information to secure a work permit.
      Visiting professors should not arrange any flight plans until all immigration documentation has been approved.
4. Upon applicant's arrival at USask, the supervisor must confirm with the visiting professor that they have scanned and emailed a copy of their work permit to Office of the Vice-Provost Faculty Relations.