Information on the Office for Global Professionals and Scholars (GPS) can be found by clicking HERE.
The Office for Global Professionals and Scholars (GPS), formally known as PIPS, provides immigration services for Mass General Brigham institutions, enabling access to talented professional from all over the world. Whether you are about to travel to the U.S. to work at a Mass General Brigham institution or are an administrator involved in supervising foreign nations, GPS’ online resources will guide you through every step of the process.
New Visa requests and Visa Transfers to MGH
CGM-HR should be notified immediately if a potential candidate requires a new visa or transfer of visa from external entity to the MGH, before any decisions are made on the candidate, to ensure the candidate can be hired within MGH. CGM-HR will work with the GPS office advisors to review candidate qualifications for visa sponsorship through the MGB/MGH.
Visa processing times for new and transfer requests are estimated to take minimum 4+ months, based on the individual’s status and application requirements. Start dates are tentative until final review and confirmation is received from the GPS advisor noting official start date to adhere with visa compliance.
Candidates MUST maintain employment and visa sponsorship (if applicable) with their current employer until we have confirmed submission of visa applications and GPS has provided official start date.
Visa Transfers – Candidates who currently hold a visa externally are not guaranteed automatic sponsorship at MGB/MGH. There are specific institutional qualifications that must be met, for a candidate to be sponsored at the MGB/MGH.
Visa processing times are dependent on type of visa, GPS Office procedures and timelines, and ultimately consular services if applicable. The CGM Administrative Contact will require up to 1-2 month of additional time to assemble and review each case/application to assure a complete and accurate application, before filing with the GPS Office. Estimated processing by the GPS Office can be anywhere between 3-4 months AFTER receipt of the visa application from the CGM and is assigned to a GPS advisor. USCIS processing times are additional and may differ pending type of visa request and current status of the Exchange Visitor.
It is important to note, the anticipated start date on an Offer Letter is tentative. Confirmation of official start and/or a revised start date of employment at MGH will be provided by the GPS advisor, once the visa application has been reviewed. New hires who have been approved for MGB sponsorship and are already on an active Visa, either from external institutions or internal (MGB), are responsible for maintaining their visa status and employment with the current sponsor until approved by the GPS advisor and given the official transfer date to the MGH-CGM.
For questions regarding visa applications, processing times and procedures, and/or maintaining Visa status, for both current and new incoming hires (both external and internal), please contact the CGM Administrative Contact – Karolina Ballester-Pagan CGMHR@mgh.harvard.edu
Click here for J-1 Travel Information available online
Click here for H-1B Travel Information available online.
Click here to see where updates that could impact visa holders are posted regularly.
Visa Holders (both regular Employees and Non-employees) departing the MGH-CGM
Employees and Non-employees (POIs/Research Visitors/Interns) who hold an MGB/MGH sponsored visa, and are leaving the MGH-CGM, must complete a CGM RedCap Departure Form no later than 30 days prior to their scheduled departure. CGMHR must submit term of visa support to the GPS International office 1 month in advance, to your position end date.
The Center for Genomic Medicine (CGM) comprises one of the largest and most vibrant hubs of genomic medicine research in the world. The CGM includes 46 faculty collaborating to define the ‘genomic medicine cycle’ – which envisages a genomics community seeking to advance research from basic genomics research to ultimately using genome information for diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. All of our investigators are faculty at Harvard Medical School, and many members of our community are also investigators at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT.
