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1 (October 1, 2008)

handle is hein.crs/crsajlg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS22584 Updated October 1, 2008 Foreign Medical Graduates: A Brief Overview of the J-1 Visa Waiver Program Karma Ester Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group Summary The Educational and Cultural Exchange Visitor program has become a gateway for foreign medical graduates (FMGs) to gain admission to the United States as nonimmigrants for the purpose of graduate medical education and training. The visa most of these physicians enter under is the J-1 nonimmigrant visa. Under the J-1 visa program, participants must return to their home country after completing their education or training for a period of at least two years before they can apply for another nonimmigrant visa or legal permanent resident (LPR) status, unless they are granted a waiver of the requirement. To qualify for a waiver, a request must be submitted on behalf of the FMG, by an Interested Government Agency (IGA), or a state Department of Health. In exchange, the FMG must agree to work in a designated healthcare professional shortage area for a minimum of three years. The ability of states to request a waiver is known as the Conrad State Program, and was added temporarily to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in 1994. The Conrad State Program has been extended by the past several Congresses. Most recently, Congress forwarded legislation the President that would extend the program through 2009. This report will be updated as warranted by legislative developments. Background International medical graduates (IMGs) are foreign nationals or U.S. citizens who graduate from a medical school outside of the United States. In 2007, the most recent year for which data are available, there were 902,053 practicing physicians in the United States, and IMGs accounted for 25.3% (228,665) of these.' The use of foreign IMGs in many rural communities of the United States has allowed states to ensure the availability of medical care to their residents. 1 American Medical Association, International Medical Graduates in the U.S. Workforce, A Discussion Paper, October 2007.

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