[Sabio]

This post is to give a general outline about the J1 Visa waiver jobs and other waivers. It's a sort of an introduction for the International Medical Graduate about the topic.

Why do we need a waiver?

If you are on a J1 Visa and are subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement, you may not change your status to that of H, L, or K, or to immigrant or legal permanent status until you have fulfilled the two-year foreign residence requirement by going back to your home country or receiving a waiver of this requirement. Most foreign Medical Graduates prefer not to go back to their country for those two years after they receive their training in USA (residency and/or fellowship) and therefore they look for a waiver.

How to get a Waiver?

There are 5 ways that you can get a waiver:

1) No Objection Statement:

This means that your home country's government says it's OK we don't want you back. This option is no longer available for IMGs after January 10, 1977.

2) Request by an interested government agency (IGA):

This means that a US federal agency comes and says hey we don't want that person to leave the country for 2 years, it will be harmful and not in the interest for the general public! As you can see it's almost impossible to get an IGA on your side specially if you are like most of us a regular IMG.

3) Exceptional Hardship:

This means that you prove that if you go back to your country for two year there will be an great impact on your significant other (spouse, children, ..etc) and these should be either US citizens or green card holders. Note that they will not buy it if you just tell them that you will be leaving your spouse and children. There should be a great impact such as for example your spouse in facing a terminal illness and you are the only one caring for the children.

4) Persecution:

This means if you convince the CIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) department that if you return to your country you will face persecution based on your ethnicity, race, religion, or political opinion then in that case the CIS can file for you the waiver.

5) State Department of Public Health (Under-served Rural Areas or Populations):

This is the option that most IMGs go for. It's also called CONRAD and commonly known among IMGs as J1 Waiver Jobs.
It means that a specific State Health Department says that there are areas in that state which are under-served and we need this IMG to provide health care to cover that shortage.

There two types of HPSAs (Health Professionals Shortage Areas):
MUA, which means medically under-served areas
MUP, which means the people (not the area) are under-served

Each State Department can file 30 shortage jobs each year (25 MUA + 5 MUP).

You are not eligible for this waiver job unless you provide a proof that you will be joining the job within 90 days from your waiver and that you will be working not less than 40 hours per week for not less than 3 years.

What is the official government agency to decide on waivers?

It's the Waiver Review Division of the Department of State

U.S. Department of State
Waiver Review Division
P.O. Box 952137
St. Louis, MO 63195-2137

So in number three above you need to contact them directly. But in option number 5 the state department of health should contact them, not you.

More Information about J1 Visa Waivers
Check the official web page http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1296.html

Where to get J1 Visa Waiver Jobs?
There are many online services that have specialized in this.
Examples:
http://www.j1physicians.com
http://www.j1waiver.net

You can also search for yourself what are the current HPSAs in each State and County and here's the link http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov/

 

[MedicalDR14]

I was just aiming to know about option No:5 cause this is what we are looking for as an IMG but thanks any way

so why 3 years cause I heard that it is 2 years!

And do I get the same salary as me working in anywhere in cities? how much?

also what I will get from it? is it GC or H1 visa

Finally what is for the other type of visa that you mention (L, or K, or to immigrant or legal permanent status) and will I have the option to get any of these?

Thanks

 

[rasheed]

Answers

I was just aiming to know about option No:5 cause this is what we are looking for as an IMG but thanks any way

so why 3 years cause I heard that it is 2 years!

And do I get the same salary as me working in anywhere in cities? how much?

also what I will get from it? is it GC or H1 visa

Finally what is for the other type of visa that you mention (L, or K, or to immigrant or legal permanent status) and will I have the option to get any of these?

Thanks

--Most waiver jobs are centered around primary care centers. Primary care jobs usually are paid less than other advanced care jobs but you are not going to be discriminated against and you'll receive the same salary that any other primary care doctor in US receives in major cities.

--Yes. Once you get the waiver you can switch to H1B Visa and the H1B Visa can later on be transformed into Green Card. Fro more information check this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...Application_process_for_employment-based_visa

--The L and K and H1B and other types of visa are called dual intent Visas which means you not only seek a visa to work but also you intend to immigrate to the United States. For more information please read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_intent

 

[snowycanada]

I've couple of questions and hopefully someone will be able to answer:

1) Is it correct that Geriatrics is sub-speciality within internal medicine and how many total years can take to complete it.

2) Is it good for IMG....Canadian from carribean school....

3) With above 1), would it be possible to get J1 waiver....if yes in what state it has the possibility??

thanks guys....

 

[appu]

is waiver needed only for change of visa?

Hello,
Does the waiver apply to only those who need to change their visa status? how long is the j1 visa valid for? can I finish my residency and fellowship in one go, and then think about visa or waiver? or is there no other go but to do a waiver if I'm on a j1 visa? Kindly clarify.

 

[Sabio]

Hello,
Does the waiver apply to only those who need to change their visa status? how long is the j1 visa valid for? can I finish my residency and fellowship in one go, and then think about visa or waiver? or is there no other go but to do a waiver if I'm on a j1 visa? Kindly clarify.

J1 Visa is valid for 7 years. There's no other way around. You have to do a waiver job to avoid the 2 years home country rule.

-

 

[abhrajit2000]

hi sabio

i'm and IMG and i have 3 questions

1) how difficult or easy it is to find a waiver job from lets say im or ped residencies?????:toosad:

2) do the places of posting of the waiver jobs really under-served (I know the perspective varies.....but what i mean to say is crime prone areas or hard climatic conditions or something like that) ??????

3) in the worst case scenario if an IMG has to come back to his country for 2 yrs....what are the chances of getting a job in "US" after that(this one is real important i think) ???????? :indifferent:

 

[abhrajit2000]

OH another thing plzzzzz

4) if sumone gets a fellowship what is the scenario then?????:sorry:
i mean do we have to do a waiver job even then (after the fellowship)????or there is any other way?????

thnx man

 

[Sabio]

1) how difficult or easy it is to find a waiver job from lets say im or ped residencies?????:toosad:

Not difficult, Not easy. Most J1-Visa holders whom I know were looking for waiver jobs have eventually got it.

-

 

[Sabio]

2) do the places of posting of the waiver jobs realllllllllllly underserved(i know the perspective varies.....but what i mean to say is crime prone areas or hard climatic conditions or sumthing like that) ??????

They are usually small towns away from the big cities. Small towns in USA have better crime rates than big cities so that's not an issue.
Climate conditions, perhaps, I know people got waive jobs in Alaska!

-

 

[Sabio]

3)in the worst case scenario if an img has to come back to his country for 2 yrs....what are the chances of getting a job in "US" after that(this one is real important i think) ???????? :indifferent:

Chances are good. You can easily find a job.

-

 

[Sabio]

4) if sumone gets a fellowship what is the scenario then?????:sorry:
i mean do we have to do a waiver job even then (after the fellowship)????or there is any other way?????

Yes, you still have to do the waiver even after you finish the fellowship.

Usually, you can't find a waiver job in your fellowship subspecialty. For example under-served areas do not need a cardiologist, they need primary care physicians. Therefore, you are most likely going to work as general physician not as sub-specialist even though you just finished your fellowship.

-

 

[Dyke]

If you are on a J1 Visa and are subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement

What does that phrase mean? Is there a nother option? I mean, NOT to be subjected to such a rule?
I heard that usually you are subject to that rule 'cause they sponsor your visa, So can you -for instance- sponsor yourself?
Sorry the question sounds ignorant, just got curious when I read the above statement in red.

 

[drjasmine]

When to apply for J1?

Hello,
I recently came to know about the J1 waiver option. When does one has to apply for a waiver, before your match or after residency?