Academic Professor - on staying tenured during unpaid leave of absence

[LeaveOfAbsenceOnH1-B]

I am an Indian citizen, tenured professor on an H1-B visa. I would like to take an unpaid sabbatical from my university (i.e. they cancel my H1-B) so I can go work for another university for a year (on an H1-B transfer). Can the university "keep me on its books" (whatever that means) as a tenured professor if it does not pay me and does not have an H1-B for me? I'd ideally like to not resign tenure, since reinstating tenure is a complicated process at academic institutions. Is this just an internal issue for the university? Does USCIS care? There are professors (American citizens) at my university who have taken such leaves of absence and their tenure has been kept secure in the meantime. Thanks!

[JoeF]

You would have to talk to HR and the international office people handling international faculty issues.

[LeaveOfAbsenceOnH1-B]

Thanks JoeF! Are you aware of any cases where this has been possible?

[JoeF]

Usually, tenured professors get a GC pretty quickly, under EB1-OR (Outstanding Researcher.) With EAD while the GC is pending there is no issue.