Dear Colleagues,
In this week’s Research Digest, I want to focus on two topics: the ongoing federal government shutdown and recent changes to H-1B visa fees.
The Federal Government Shutdown
On October 1, the federal government’s authorization for discretionary spending (which includes the NIH and other research funders) expired, and most activities in these areas of government shut down. Until Congress can agree on a path forward, the government shutdown will continue. Historically, shutdowns last a few days to a few weeks. As of this writing, there is no evidence of legislative progress.
In the short term, I expect the impact of this shutdown will be minimal. Most federal awards can continue drawing funds as usual, and investigators can continue submitting applications on schedule. In the longer term, impacts may be seen in delayed processing and review of award submissions and issuance of NOAs. The Office of Sponsored Research shutdown page is your best resource for navigating agency-specific updates on proposals, contracts, and awards.
Increased H-1B Visa Fee
On September 21, the federal government increased their one-time fee for H-1B visa applicants to $100,000. Importantly, this does not apply to current H-1B holders or those whose applications are in progress but were submitted before September 21. UCSF has close to 500 H-1B visa holders (e.g., postdocs, faculty) and generally has over 200 new H-1B applications annually. Legal challenges are in progress, but at the moment, UCSF must pay this fee for any new H-1B applications.
Importantly, there are other visa options for many of our H-1B applicants (e.g., J, TN, E-3, or O), and UCSF’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is preparing guidance for hiring departments. While these options may not be optimal, they provide alternatives for our community to continue to welcome our international colleagues. Please check the ISSO website for the latest updates.
As always, thank you for your partnership in navigating these unpredictable times. Please contact me at [email protected] with questions and feedback.
Sincerely,
Hal
Harold R. Collard, MD, MS
Vice Chancellor for Research
Professor of Medicine and Health Policy