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 of intended employment to practice medicine, or is exempt by law therefrom if the state requires such a license or authorization to provide direct patient care.
  • must have full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a foreign state, or has graduated from a medical school in the U.S.
  • must have passed all steps of the USMLE, or be a graduate of a U.S. medical school.
  • must demonstrate competency in oral and written English by passing ECFMG English proficiency test; OR, show that s/he his a graduate of a U.S.-accredited medical school (many Canadian medical schools are U.S.-accredited). An exception to the above requirements is made for physicians who are of national or international renown in the field of medicine. Physicians entering the U.S. to perform teaching and/or research with direct patient care that is only incidental to such teaching and/or research may also be eligible for the H1B.