The J-1 Home Residency Requirement Waiver for Foreign Medical Graduates, J1 waiver, J-1 Visa, J1 Home Residency Requirement, J-1 Waiver, J1 Foreign Medical Graduates, Foreign Medical Graduates

Home | William's Answers for Immigration and Visa Questions

The J-1 Home Residency Requirement Waiver for Foreign Medical Graduates

Hi William,

As a foreign medical graduate participated in a J-1 visa program before, How to waiver the two-year home residency requirement?

Answer,

To obtain a J-1 Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212(e)) Waiver for a Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG), you must meet specific criteria for a waiver based on either a "no objection" letter from your home country, a U.S. government interest, exceptional hardship, fear of persecution, or a Conrad 30 state-sponsored program.

For Foreign Medical Graduates, the most common route is the Conrad 30 program, where you agree to serve in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for at least three years, with the state providing waiver slots to a facility. The application process involves completing an online form (Form DS-3035) on the U.S. Department of State website and submitting supporting documents.

A foreign medical graduate who participates in a J-1 visa program may be subject to a two-year home residency requirement (HRR) following the medical training inthe United States. The two-year home residency requirement must be met or waived in order for the alien applicant to be eligible for immigration benefits, such as being granted a change of status to H1B.

The J-1 waiver categories for Foreign Medical Graduates include:

1) Foreign medical graduates are subject to the two-year home residency requirement if they received government funding from their home country or the U.S., or if their specialty is on the Exchange Visitor Skills List.

2) Conrad 30 Program: The most frequent pathway for FMGs, this waiver allows you to work in a medically underserved area for a minimum of three years in H-1B status.

3) No Objection Statement: Your home country can issue a "no objection" statement indicating it has no objection to you receiving the waiver.

4) Interested Government Agency (IGA): A U.S. government agency can request a waiver based on national interest.

5) Exceptional Hardship: You may qualify if you can show exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or child.