Conrad State 30 Program Extended Until September 30, 2009

Public Law 111-9; 123 STAT. 989 (March 20, 2009)

Congress extended the Conrad State 30 Program until September 30, 2009.

Each individual U.S. State Department of Public Health or its equivalent may recommend waivers of the §212(e) two-year home residence requirement for foreign medical graduates (also known as International Medical Graduates or IMGs) who have obtained graduate medical education or training in the U.S., if the IMG agrees to practice "primary care medicine or in certain cases, specialty medicine" for three years in an area designated by HHS as having a shortage of health care professionals. Each U.S. state is eligible for up to 30 waivers per year, up to five of which can be issued to physicians who practice medicine in areas not designated by HHS as having a shortage of health care professionals, but who do practice in medical facilities that serve a significant patient population coming from nearby shortage areas.

The attorneys of Teplen & Associates, PLLC strongly recommend that physicians in their last year of medical residency commence the waiver planning and process as soon as possible. Depending upon the type of J-1 waiver program, the process can take many months to complete. Only proper planning can maximize the chances of obtaining a waiver and of commencing employment after the completion of a residency program. It is important to realize that all is not lost if one fails to secure a Conrad State 30 Program waiver. Additional J-1 waiver options are possible depending on the particular and unique circumstances of each physician. Academic, Interested Government Agency (IGA), Persecution or 212(e) Hardship Waivers could be an alternative option. The O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa might also serve as an interim solution for some highly qualified applicants. Please note that the often mentioned No Objection letter is NOT available to J-1 physicians.

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