Florida State Universities Suspend H-1B Visa Hiring Through 2027

Florida's public university system has implemented a temporary suspension on recruiting international faculty through H-1B visas until January 2027. The decision follows Governor Ron DeSantis's directive to address what he called 'visa abuse' in higher education, affecting new hires at 12 state universities.

Florida’s state university system has implemented a temporary suspension on recruiting international faculty members through the H-1B visa program, a decision that will remain in place until January 5, 2027.

The suspension follows an October directive from Governor Ron DeSantis, who instructed educational institutions to address what he characterized as “visa abuse” within the higher education sector.

According to regulations published on their official website, the Florida Board of Governors, which provides oversight for the state’s public universities, approved this temporary prohibition through a formal vote.

The policy change will impact prospective employees across all 12 institutions within the State University System of Florida, though current visa holders will not be affected.

This development occurs alongside President Donald Trump’s recent implementation of a one-time $100,000 application fee for new H-1B visa seekers, part of his broader immigration policy initiatives.

Neither Governor DeSantis’s office nor the Board of Governors responded to requests for comment regarding the new policy.

The H-1B program enables international professionals with specialized expertise – particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields – to obtain U.S. employment authorization. The program distributes 65,000 visas each year, plus an additional 20,000 reserved for individuals holding advanced degrees, with approval periods ranging from three to six years.

Data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services indicates that Florida’s 12 state universities successfully sponsored more than 600 H-1B visa recipients during the previous year.

During his October announcement, DeSantis stated that American universities “were importing foreign workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans who are qualified and available to do the job.”