The Division of International Services 22nd Annual NIH Immigration Conference will be held from May 7-9, 2024. The conference's primary goal is to equip NIH administrative staff with the skills and knowledge they need to successfully navigate the recruitment and retention of foreign national scientists in the NIH Visiting Program.

This year's Immigration Conference will be offered virtually via Webex and focus on DIS in the virtual world.

Registration

Instructions to register:

1. Visit our registration page
2. Select which sessions you would like to attend
3. Provide your full name and email
4. Click “Register"
5. Check your email for calendar invites for your registered sessions

Schedule

There are two concurrent sessions available for most time slots, and each session is offered twice over the three-day conference. To assist in planning, sample schedules are listed further below that allow NIH and FDA administrative staff to attend all relevant sessions.

Sample Schedule # 1 for NIH Administrative Staff to Attend All Sessions

Sample Schedule # 2 for NIH Administrative Staff to Attend All Sessions

​Sample Schedule # 1 for FDA (Three Sessions Applicable to FDA)

Sample Schedule # 2 for FDA (Three Sessions Applicable to FDA)

Session Descriptions

DIS Customer Portal: You can submit cases through the DIS Customer Portal! This session will focus on using the DIS Customer Portal. It is highly encouraged for all NIH Visiting Program Administrative staff to attend. This portal is used to submit cases, track case status, run termination reports, receive documents from DIS, and more! This session is only intended for NIH administrative staff, not FDA.

Non-FTE to FTE Conversion: This presentation will walk you through the process of converting foreign national scientists from non-FTE to FTE designations at the NIH and the process of filing a non-immigrant petition for FDA employees. In this session, we will provide an overview of the most common scenario of J-1 and F-1 scientists converting to FTE designations in H-1B status. It will also touch on some other common conversions. This session is intended for both NIH and FDA administrative staff.

G-7 Program: This session provides insight into the NIH G-7 program for J-1 Exchange Visitors which offers J-1 program participation beyond five years. The session will clarify requirements for regulatory compliance and include an update on temporary exceptional extension policy currently in place. Specifically tailored for NIH administrators interested in learning more about the J-1 G-7 process, roles, and responsibilities. This session is only intended for NIH administrative staff, not FDA.

NIH Policy: NIH policy impacts the recruitment and retention of foreign national scientists in the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP). This session will highlight how IRP policies are set and where to find them. Specific policy topics to be discussed include durations of non-FTE and FTE designations, including exceptional extensions; funding; remote work; appropriate designations and conversions. This session is only intended for NIH administrative staff, not FDA.

Alternate Visa Options: Other Paths to NIH Beyond J-1 and H-1B: You've probably heard of J-1 and H-1B, but what about other ways to bring foreign nationals to NIH or FDA? Learn about Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 students, J-1 Students on Academic Training, J-2 and other dependent statuses, TN and E-3 Workers, DACA applicants, Adjustment Applicants...but wait, there's more! Attend to get the scoop. This session is intended for both NIH and FDA administrative staff.

Working with Students: Graduate students at NIH represent the next generation of scientific leaders, embarking on their careers with great opportunities and challenges in front of them. In this session, representatives from DIS and the Office of Intramural Training & Education's (OITE) Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP) will guide you through the requirements that are unique to international graduate students. We will explain how to successfully invite a doctoral student to your IC while avoiding common pitfalls in NIH policy and immigration regulations. This session is only intended for NIH administrative staff, not FDA.

J-1 & H-1B Basics: The J‐1 & H‐1B visa statuses are the most commonly used for Visiting Program participants.  This session will introduce both to the beginning practitioner. Topics will include eligibility for and advantages and limitations of each status. We will also offer guidelines on preparing case requests for DIS. Topics will include dependents, outside activities, terminations, and travel. This session is intended for both NIH and FDA administrative staff.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Case Preparation: This session will walk you through the process of preparing a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) appointment request for a foreign national beginning or continuing employment at the NIH or FDA. We will highlight resources and best practices. You will walk away with a deeper understanding of the documents required for the FTE case process. This session is intended for both NIH and FDA administrative staff.

Managing a Visiting Program Caseload: Perspectives from the Field: DIS will host a panel of administrative staff from the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) for a session focusing on best practices for managing your Visiting Program caseload.  The IC guest presenters will offer tips and tricks on handling requests for foreign nationals at NIH, as well as best practices to avoid common issues encountered during the process. If preparing case requests for DIS is a part of your role – or just that part that seems to always confound you – then this session will be well worth your time! While this session is intended for NIH, it may be valuable for FDA administrative staff.

We hope to see you there!

Revised 04/2024 ​