Salk Institute, Scripps Research, UCSD, and La Jolla research institutions sponsor H-1B workers year-round -- no lottery needed.
San Diego's biotech corridor, centered around La Jolla and Torrey Pines, is home to some of the world's most prestigious cap-exempt research institutions. If you are an F-1 student or H-1B lottery applicant who was not selected in the FY2027 draw, San Diego offers immediate cap-exempt sponsorship opportunities in biology, chemistry, computational science, and clinical research. These institutions can file your H-1B petition today -- no waiting for next year's lottery.
San Diego has 50+ cap-exempt biotech and research employers. The Salk Institute, Scripps Research, UCSD, Sanford Burnham Prebys, and their affiliated nonprofits sponsor H-1B workers with no lottery, no cap, and no annual limit. Filing can happen any day of the year.
| Employer | H-1B Filings | Top Roles | Cap Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego | 4,200 | Research Scientist, Postdoc, Professor | Cap-Exempt |
| Scripps Research | 1,850 | Research Associate, Scientist, Postdoc | Cap-Exempt |
| Salk Institute | 980 | Research Fellow, Lab Manager, Scientist | Cap-Exempt |
| Sanford Burnham Prebys | 620 | Postdoc, Research Scientist, Bioinformatician | Cap-Exempt |
| UC San Diego Health | 1,480 | Physician, Clinical Researcher, Pharmacist | Cap-Exempt |
| La Jolla Institute for Immunology | 380 | Immunologist, Research Scientist, Postdoc | Cap-Exempt |
| J. Craig Venter Institute | 290 | Genomics Scientist, Bioinformatician, Postdoc | Cap-Exempt |
San Diego's biotech corridor is unique because it combines world-class research institutions with a massive commercial biotech ecosystem. The Torrey Pines mesa alone houses Salk, Scripps Research, UCSD, and dozens of affiliated startups and nonprofits. For H-1B candidates, this means cap-exempt positions are available across a wide range of specialties -- from wet lab biology to computational genomics to clinical trials management.
With the FY2027 lottery results releasing today (March 27, 2026), candidates who were not selected should immediately start searching for cap-exempt positions at these institutions. UCSD alone posts 200+ research positions monthly, many of which are eligible for H-1B sponsorship. Unlike the lottery process, cap-exempt petitions can be filed at any time, and with premium processing, you could have an approved H-1B within 4-6 weeks of receiving a job offer.
The salary trade-off is real but manageable. A postdoc at Scripps Research earns $62,000-$75,000, compared to $120,000+ at a biotech company like Illumina or Thermo Fisher. However, Scripps Research can sponsor your H-1B immediately without lottery risk, and San Diego's cost of living, while not cheap, is significantly lower than San Francisco. Many professionals use cap-exempt positions as a 1-2 year bridge while building their immigration case.
See the FAQ section below.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Yes. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is a nonprofit research institute and qualifies as cap-exempt under INA 214(g)(5)(A). It does not matter that it is private -- what matters is its nonprofit research status. The same applies to Scripps Research, Sanford Burnham Prebys, and other La Jolla research institutes.
Only if the startup is directly affiliated with UCSD as a nonprofit entity or if you maintain a concurrent position at UCSD. Simply collaborating with UCSD researchers does not make a for-profit startup cap-exempt. However, some UCSD incubator companies operate under nonprofit structures that may qualify. Consult an immigration attorney to evaluate specific arrangements.
Check their careers pages directly: Scripps Research posts at scripps.edu/careers, Salk at salk.edu/careers. Also check UCSD's job portal at employment.ucsd.edu. Many research positions are posted on academic job boards like Nature Careers and Science Careers. When you find a position, ask the PI directly about H-1B sponsorship -- most PIs at these institutions are experienced with the process.
Concurrent employment allows you to hold two H-1B positions simultaneously -- one cap-exempt and one cap-subject. You first secure a cap-exempt H-1B at a university or research institute. Then, you apply for the regular H-1B lottery for a cap-subject employer. If selected, you work for both employers part-time (or one full-time and one part-time). Once the cap-subject H-1B is approved, you can transition fully to the private sector. This strategy eliminates lottery risk because you maintain valid H-1B status throughout.