CareerPhysician

E-Learning Communities

Networking
The Interview
Employment Agreements
Contract Negotiation
Evaluating A Practice
Academic v. Private Practice
Physician Compensation
Practice Financial Statements
Partnerships and Buy-In's
Coding & Compliance
Business of Medicine
Professionalism
Medical Malpractice & Risk Management
Chief Residents
Immigration

CPAdvisor Communities

click here to Ask CP

Immigration in the physician workforce has long served a role in the American healthcare system and its successes. It's important to get all your immigration confusions, questions and headaches, answered through the Immigration community.

Most Recent Terms

The "Conrad" 30

A program, authored by Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota, that allows any state to sponsor up to 30 IMGs for J waivers each year. Almost every state participates in the program. Like the federal program, IMGs must work in HPSAs or MUAs, but not all...

by admin on 05-07-2009
Sponsoring Agencies

Several federal agencies currently sponsor IMGs for waivers. These include the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the VA. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) used to sponsor IMGs for J waivers...

by admin on 05-07-2009
The Fifth Pathway Program

An avenue by which students who have attended four years at a foreign medical school may complete their supervised clinical work at a U.S. medical school, become eligible for entry to U.S. residency training, and ultimately obtain a license to practice...

by admin on 05-07-2009
Green Card

IMGs in H-1B status may file for permanent residence or a green card if they wish to stay in the U.S. indefinitely. There are a number of ways IMGs may obtain green cards and the appropriate strategy will depend on each IMG’s particular circumstances...

by admin on 05-07-2009
ECFMG Certification

The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is a private, non-profit organization. ECFMG's organizational members are: American Board of Medical Specialties American Medical Association Association of American Medical Colleges...

by admin on 05-07-2009
IMG

International Medical Graduates are physicians who have graduated from an accredited medical school outside of the United States. To learn more about assistance and information provided by the AMA to IMGs visit this link: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub...

by admin on 05-07-2009
HPSA

Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) is the more commonly used federal shortage area designation (the other designation being MUA/MUP). An area can be designated as having a shortage of: -primary care physicians (family and general practitioners...

by admin on 05-07-2009
HRR (2-year Home Residency Requirement)

Certain J Visa holders who participate in programs financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the U.S. Government or by the exchange visitor's government, or who are nationals or residents of a country which have been designated...

by admin on 05-07-2009
H-1B Visas

The H1B is a temporary nonimmigrant work permit that allows an H1B holder to work at a sponsoring U.S. employer for an initial period of 3 years, renewable up to six years (sometimes longer in certain circumstances). It is often considered preferable...

by admin on 05-07-2009
J1 Waivers

A “J visa” requires the holder to return to his home country for two years before being able to practice medicine in the U.S. An exception to this rule may be obtained if a U.S. government agency will sponsor the IMG for a J waiver. Over 1...

by admin on 05-07-2009
MUAs

Medically Under-served Areas (or Populations) MUA/MUP designations are primarily used for determining areas where Community and Migrant Health Centers can locate. They are also needed to qualify facilities to obtain cost-based reimbursement through their...

by admin on 05-07-2009
O Visa

Commonly referred to as the “Super Star” visa, granted to physicians and other professionals who can demonstrate “extraordinary ability” in their fields. For a physician, this means multiple publications and citations demonstrating...

by admin on 05-07-2009
O-1 Visa

O-1 status is a nonimmigrant status category for aliens of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. This is an employment related status that allows qualified aliens to live and work in the United States. O-1 status...

by admin on 05-07-2009
Form I-140

This is the form a sponsoring employer petitions for an alien worker to become a permanent resident in the United States. This form is filed on behalf of an alien, and not by the alien.

by admin on 05-07-2009
IGA Waivers

Interested Government Agency waivers are issued by various U.S. government agencies allowing physicians to work in the U.S. waiving normal foreign residence requirements. The physician need not work for the sponsoring government agency (IGA). For example...

by admin on 05-07-2009

Most Recent Questions

What's a J-1 waiver and how do I apply?

Physicians may obtain sponsorship for a J-1 waiver through a State Department of Health. Each state may sponsor 30 international medical graduates (IMGs) for J-1 waivers each year. To qualify for the Conrad program, an IMG must agree to be employed for...

by admin on 05-18-2009
How do I know if I am eligible for a waiver of the foreign residence requirement?

You may be eligible to apply for a waiver for the foreign residence requirement if: You have a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or child and you can provide evidence that returning to your country would impose exceptional hardship on your...

by admin on 05-18-2009
How to go about applying for the waiver?

If you fall under the first two categories above, you must file a USCIS Form I-612 (Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement) by mail with the USCIS office that serves that area where you live. Read the entire application carefully...

by admin on 05-18-2009
What are the requirements for applying for and receiving an H-1B visa?

Physicians entering the U.S. to provide direct patient care that is not merely incidental to teaching or research must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the H1B: · must have license or other authorization required by U.S. state...

by admin on 05-18-2009
Is an H-1B visa more desirable than a J-1 visa?

The H1B is preferable to entering on than the J-1 because the H1B has no 2 year home residency requirement, which often attaches to J-1 holders, and always attaches to physicians who provide direct patient care.

by admin on 05-18-2009
How can I speak in person with someone who can walk me through the application processes?

The USCIS (US Citizenship & Immigration Services) offers a helpful web-site for locating their field offices both in the U.S. and abroad. It can can be found at http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/index.htm

by admin on 05-18-2009
How can I check on the status of my visa or waiver application?

If you e-filed an application or petition and have your receipt number, or filed an application with a USCIS Service Center and have a receipt. Please have your receipt number ready. The service center receipts have three letters and ten numbers. You...

by admin on 05-18-2009
How does the H1B visa process work? Is it an option for all medical residents and fellows?

The courts and the US Immigration Service have determined that medical fellowship and residencies qualify as ‘specialty occupations’ (i.e. those occupations requiring at least a four year degree as a minimum requirement for the position)....

by admin on 05-18-2009
What type of visa would I need to get into a residency?

Most IMGs get into U.S. residencies by obtaining either J-1 exchange visitor status or H-1B temporary worker status, known as J-1 visas and H-1B visas. IMGs need to pass all three parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination to enter U.S....

by admin on 05-18-2009
What does it take and how long before I can get a green card?

One approach to getting a green card is to go through labor certification. In this process, the employer shows that it has tried but failed to hire a U.S. physician for the position. The employer must advertise the job in a major national publication...

by admin on 05-18-2009
What is involved in H1B sponsorship? Do all residency/fellowship programs participate?

From the employer side, H1B sponsorship is quite easy. They sign sponsorship paperwork and post a Department of Labor form which verifies that the wage offered to the foreign medical resident is at least 95% of the prevailing wage for the employer. About...

by admin on 05-18-2009
What documents are required from me to apply for H1B visa?

To obtain an H1B visa, the basic list of documents required from you are as follows: Copy of medical school diploma and course list/transcript; Copy of ECFMG certificate; Copy of USMLE Steps I,II,III pass results letters or FLEX Parts 1 and 2 pass results...

by admin on 05-18-2009
What type of visa do I need to get into a U.S. residency?

As an international physician you'll need a degree from a foreign medical school and a certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), which shows equivalence to knowledge gained in a U.S. or Canadian medical school...

by admin on 05-18-2009
How can I obtain a J waiver?

To obtain a J waiver, an “interested government agency” (IGA) must agree to sponsor the IMG to work in a federally designated health professional shortage area or a medically underserved area. There are thousands of these areas throughout...

by admin on 05-18-2009
I 've been accepted into the US as a Visiting Fellow on the J-1 Visa. Can my spouse work elsewhere in the U.S.?

Yes. However, unless your spouse enters the U.S. on his/her own J-1 visa, they must enter the US as a J-2, dependent of the J-1 Exchange Visitor. Once in the US the J-2 dependent can apply to the Department of Homeland Security--Bureau of Citizenship...

by admin on 05-18-2009