Wisconsin Conrad 30 Waiver Program: General Information

• Conrad 30 Waiver Program
• General Information
• Program Description
• Application Information
• Other State Letters of Support
• Conrad 30 Resource Links
• Frequently Asked Questions

For the upcoming 2024–2025 cycle, Applications must be submitted via the SharePoint Site. Please, no in-person courier services or mailed copies. Applications can be submitted as early as September 1, 2024, but will not be reviewed until October 1, 2024.

• All applicants who qualify for a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) waiver must utilize that program for a waiver recommendation. It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine eligibility for a HHS waiver.
• The physician's national provider identifier (NPI) number must be listed on the cover letter of the application packet if applicable.

Graduates of foreign medical schools can obtain a J-1 visa (education exchange visa) to attend a medical residency or fellowship training program in the U.S. This J-1 visa requires that upon completion of the training program, the foreign physician returns to their home country for at least two years, before applying for immigrant status to the U.S. 

The foreign physician can have this J-1 visa "home-residence" requirement waived, in return for providing primary care or general mental health care in federally designated rural and urban communities that have shortages of primary care physicians or psychiatrists. 

Foreign physicians usually apply for J-1 visa waivers in the summer before the last year of their training program.

Federal immigration law authorizes each state health department to request waivers of the two-year "home-residence" requirement on behalf of 30 foreign J-1 visa physicians annually.

At least 20 of the 30 applications must be located within a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). However, the state health department can recommend up to 10 placements (known colloquially as “flex” placements) in areas that are not designated as HPSAs or Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/Ps). 

To qualify, clinicians must serve populations in surrounding shortage area(s) or meet the required extenuating criteria (see Program Description).