Rural Health Research Gateway

J-1 Visa Waiver

Publications

Alphabetical list. You can also view by publication date.

  • Health Departments' Use of International Medical Graduates in Physician Shortage Areas
    Author(s): Amy Hagopian, Matthew J. Thompson, Emily Kaltenbach, L. Gary Hart
    Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: International Medical Graduates (IMGs), J-1 Visa Waiver, Workforce
    Citation: Health Affairs, 22(5), 241-249
    Date: 2003
    Describes results of a survey of program administrators of the Conrad State 20 Program, which places international medical graduates (IMGs) on J-1 visas in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). Problems reported include unfair working conditions and compensation for physicians. Federal immigration agencies were reported to be unresponsive and difficult. Employers seem to be more satisfied than physicians with the program.
  • How International Medical Graduates Enter U.S. Graduate Medical Education or Employment
    Author(s): Karin E. Johnson, Emily Kaltenbach, Kenneth Hoogstra, Matthew J. Thompson, Amy Hagopian, L. Gary Hart
    Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: International Medical Graduates (IMGs), J-1 Visa Waiver, Workforce
    Report Number: Working Paper No. 76
    Date: 2003
    Provides an overview of the steps that must occur for an international medical graduate (IMG) to come to the United States to practice medicine. Describes how long and by what means IMGs holding temporary visas can remain in the United States, with detailed coverage of the State 30/Conrad J-1 visa waiver program.
  • Immediate and Future Role of the J-1 Visa Waiver Program for Physicians: The Consequences of Change for Rural Health Care Service Delivery
    Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
    Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
    Topics: J-1 Visa Waiver, Physicians, Workforce
    Report Number: Policy Brief 2002-3
    Date: 04 / 2002
    Examines the consequences for the delivery of health care services in rural underserved areas if current policies governing the granting of J-1 visa waivers are changed and increases or decreases the numbers of physicians affected. Among its findings: J-1 visa waiver doctors provide care to more than 4 million people living in underserved areas of rural America. If all primary care doctors in the program were to leave, the number of rural counties with no primary care physicians would go from 161 to 212. Makes several recommendations: 1) The Department of Health and Human Services--which currently only requests waivers for physicians involved in research-should consider requesting waivers for doctors to practice in underserved areas. 2) Physicians recommended for waivers should be allowed to begin practicing in underserved areas as soon as the request is made. If, in subsequent screening, a problem turns up the waiver would be revoked. 3) The Conrad State 20 Program, which allows the 44 states that participate in it to sponsor waivers, should be expanded from 20 waivers per year to 40.

This web site includes content provided by and adapted from the Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine under a Cooperative Agreement with the University of North Dakota.