Florida’s Board of Governors is expected to vote on 29 January on a proposal that would bar the state’s 12 public universities from sponsoring any new H-1B visas for faculty, researchers or professional staff until early 2027. The draft policy, revealed 23 January, follows an executive directive by Governor Ron DeSantis aimed at “prioritizing American jobs.” Roughly 400 H-1B employees currently work across the system; they would not be affected.
If adopted, the freeze would be the most sweeping state-level restriction on H-1B hiring in U.S. higher education. University administrators warn the measure could derail recruitment for the Fall 2026 academic year in high-demand STEM fields, jeopardize federal research grants that require named principal investigators, and push international post-docs to competing institutions in other states.
Business-immigration attorneys note that the policy could also chill industry-sponsored research partnerships by limiting universities’ ability to staff specialized labs. Companies that rely on Florida campuses for talent pipelines—particularly in aerospace, life sciences and AI—should prepare to expand internship and co-op programs elsewhere or shoulder direct H-1B filings.
![Florida Poised to Impose One-Year Freeze on H-1B Hiring at State Universities]()
In this shifting visa landscape, universities, researchers and corporate partners can turn to VisaHQ for up-to-date guidance on U.S. work-authorization strategies, including H-1B alternatives such as the J-1 research-scholar category and O-1 petitions. The service’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) streamlines document checklists, tracks petition deadlines and connects applicants with experienced immigration counsel, helping stakeholders stay compliant while minimizing disruption to ongoing projects.
The proposal arrives as DHS finalizes a rule that weights the FY 2027 H-1B lottery toward higher wage levels. Together, the federal and state changes signal a tighter environment for entry-level academic hires.
Stakeholders can submit public comments to the Board of Governors until 28 January, but observers say the measure has strong political backing and is likely to pass. Universities are already drafting contingency plans that include greater use of J-1 research-scholar categories and remote engagements from offshore locations.
If adopted, the freeze would be the most sweeping state-level restriction on H-1B hiring in U.S. higher education. University administrators warn the measure could derail recruitment for the Fall 2026 academic year in high-demand STEM fields, jeopardize federal research grants that require named principal investigators, and push international post-docs to competing institutions in other states.
Business-immigration attorneys note that the policy could also chill industry-sponsored research partnerships by limiting universities’ ability to staff specialized labs. Companies that rely on Florida campuses for talent pipelines—particularly in aerospace, life sciences and AI—should prepare to expand internship and co-op programs elsewhere or shoulder direct H-1B filings.
In this shifting visa landscape, universities, researchers and corporate partners can turn to VisaHQ for up-to-date guidance on U.S. work-authorization strategies, including H-1B alternatives such as the J-1 research-scholar category and O-1 petitions. The service’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) streamlines document checklists, tracks petition deadlines and connects applicants with experienced immigration counsel, helping stakeholders stay compliant while minimizing disruption to ongoing projects.
The proposal arrives as DHS finalizes a rule that weights the FY 2027 H-1B lottery toward higher wage levels. Together, the federal and state changes signal a tighter environment for entry-level academic hires.
Stakeholders can submit public comments to the Board of Governors until 28 January, but observers say the measure has strong political backing and is likely to pass. Universities are already drafting contingency plans that include greater use of J-1 research-scholar categories and remote engagements from offshore locations.
