In addition to the proposed DHS rule change below, on Friday the federal administration imposed a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas and created a new gold card immigrant visa, reducing the number of existing EB1 and EB2 visas available, as part of their efforts to discourage international workers from entering the U.S. We are working with our national union to learn more and identify ways to support affected researchers. In the meantime, if you are being affected by this, please reply to this email and a representative will reach out.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed to shorten time limits for J-1 and F-1 visas to 4 years. This would affect existing as well as new visas, and would disrupt the careers of hundreds of international researchers and students, including hundreds of academic workers across Sinai. Shortened time limits would add layers of bureaucracy to an already daunting and complicated process and would discourage international researchers and students from coming to the U.S. at all. DHS is currently accepting comments on the proposed rule, so this is our opportunity to express opposition and ensure this proposal does not pass.
As union members, we have the collective power to effect change at the federal level alongside other UAW members. Please take a few minutes to tell DHS how this harmful rule change will impact research and the research community. There’s a pre-written comment that you can modify as you wish with individual details. Anyone can submit a comment and a massive response will help clearly convey our opposition.
Click here to submit a comment to DHS to oppose this rule
We are holding a joint Sinai-UAW union meeting on Thursday, September 25, in the Atran Building 5th floor conference room at 5:30 pm to share more information about the proposed changes, answer questions, and discuss how we can fight back together.
Click here to RSVP to the cross-unit Sinai-UAW union meeting
In Solidarity,
Rajagowthamee Ravanapuram-Thangaval
Associate Scientist, Microbiology
Elza Rechtman
Instructor, Environmental Medicine
ROCS-UAW Organizing Committee