Wisconsin J-1 Visa Waiver Program
J-1 Visa Waiver: General
Information | Program Description | Application
Information | Shortage Areas for Waivers |
Other State Letters of Support | Immigration
& Waiver Links | Primary Care Programs
IMPORTANT PROGRAM CHANGES FOR 2009-10
* Please note overview of major changes:
- Full-time is defined as 40 hours
primary/medical care per week, with at least 32 hours in direct
patient care.
- For subspecialty physicians practicing in a
non-designated area, the facility must document that 40% of the total
number of specialty patients in the past year be from surrounding
designated areas.
J-1 Visa Waiver: General Information
The Wisconsin J-1 visa waiver program increases access to primary
health and mental health care in rural and urban communities that have
shortages of primary care physicians and psychiatrists, by helping medical
clinics recruit foreign physicians. Qualified foreign physicians must have
completed their advanced clinical training in an approved U.S. residency
training program, must agree to work in the shortage area for three years,
and must increase access to primary health care.
State health departments can recommend up to five (5) J-1 visa waivers
per year for physicians to be employed in non-designated areas, if they
will serve populations in surrounding shortage areas and if exceptional
need and public interest can be demonstrated.
Wisconsin's J-1 waiver program can also consider recommending a J-1
visa waiver for foreign physicians in other medical specialties when
exceptional need and public interest can be demonstrated.
Between 2001 and 2008, the Wisconsin J-1 visa waiver program helped
medical clinics recruit more than 144 foreign physicians to increase
access to primary care and general mental health care in rural and urban
shortage areas throughout the state. This program is coordinated with the
U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security -
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Last Revised: October 06, 2009 |
