Hi all, yes, I asked for confirmation, and the head of the department confirmed that the contract starts on September 1st, but classes start on August 21st.

I totally agree with you about the ethical issue. I thought it was quite strange, but it is the same for the whole university: everybody starts teaching on mid-August and finishes mid-May, while everybody's contract goes from September to end of May. I don't know why...

Thank you for your reply. I haven't been assigned an advisor for the H1B process yet, but the head of the department told me that it is the next step after we have signed the contract.

Thank you for the reply and suggestion! Yes, the head of department explained that to me more than once. Everybody starts on mid-August and finishes mid-May, while everybody's contract goes from September to end of May.