Opportunities at the NIH for Non-U.S. Citizens

NIH Visiting Program

The NIH Visiting Program provides opportunities specifically for non-citizen scientists to train and conduct collaborative research at the NIH. Annually, more than 3,000 scientists from over 100 countries conduct research in the basic and clinical science laboratories on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and in several field units around the country.

There are two categories of Visiting Program participants: Visiting Fellows, who receive awards for research training, and Visiting Scientists (see also Title 42 Positions), who receive appointments to conduct research. Each participant works closely with a senior NIH investigator who serves as supervisor or sponsor during the period of award or appointment.

Foreign scientists (pre/post doc) who wish to participate in the Visiting Program must first secure an invitation for an award or appointment from a senior scientist at the NIH. Visiting Program participants must possess valid U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employment authorization. Most foreign nationals in the program obtain DHS work authorization by being sponsored for one of the following:

• J-1 (Exchange Visitor)
• F-1 (student - post-completion practical training after award of doctoral degree)
• H-1B (temporary worker in a specialty occupation; only available to Visiting Scientist designations)
• O-1 (alien of extraordinary ability in the sciences; only available to Visiting Scientist designations)

NIH Visiting Program – How to Apply - http://dis.ors.od.nih.gov/visitingprogram/07_vpapply.html

Title 42 Positions

Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for Title 42 positions. U.S. citizens are also eligible for Title 42 positions. These positions fall in the Administratively Determined (AD) pay plan. Title 42 positions are advertised on USAJOBS as well as individual Institute/Center (I.C.) web sites. To find these positions, search the NIH USAJOBS website for any positions with a pay plan starting with “AD” or browse the individual Institute/Center (I.C.) web site in your field of interest.

• Search for Title 42 Positions advertised in USAJOBS (Administratively Determined (AD) Pay Plan)

Title 5 Positions

We would not recommend that non-citizens apply for Title 5 Positions (General Schedule (GS) and Wage Grade (WG)) as it is extremely rare that no U.S. citizens would be qualified for these positions. Non-citizens would only be considered in that rare circumstance.

Resources

• NIH Division of International Services (DIS) - http://dis.ors.od.nih.gov/
• NIH Visiting Program – http://dis.ors.od.nih.gov/visitingprogram/01_vpmain.html
• OIR Sourcebook re: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding Training Opportunities for Foreign Scientists at the NIH - http://www1.od.nih.gov/oir/sourcebook/personnel-appt/disfaqs.htm
• U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) – Federal Employment of Non-Citizens - http://www.opm.gov/employ/html/Citizen.htm
• USAJOBS Federal Employment Information Fact sheet, “Employment of Non-Citizens.” - http://media.newjobs.com/opm/www/USAJOBS/pdf/ei-9.pdf
• United State Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS - http://www.uscis.gov/