Alerts and Updates
J-1 Physician Update
August 28, 2006
A publication of the national Immigration Practice Group of Duane Morris.
Upcoming Conference
On Saturday, September 16, 2006, Duane Morris will be hosting an immigration seminar for foreign-born medical professionals training in the US who wish to explore their options for remaining in the US at the completion of their residency or fellowship programs. This seminar will be held in Boston and is designed to share information about J-1 eligible positions and present additional support materials to participants. Topics include:
- How to navigate the process of obtaining a J-1 waiver position
- Available programs and processing times
- Alternative visa options
- Permanent residence process
Conference Information
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2006
Registration: 12:30 p.m.
Program: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Best Western Inn at Longwood Medical Center
342 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
R.S.V.P. by Friday, September 8:
Online: http://www.duanemorris.com/events/event1054.html
E-mail:
Fax: 215.979.1020, Attn: Lisa Esposito
H-1B Cap Has Been Reached: Do You Qualify for an Exemption?
On June 1, 2006, USCIS announced that it had received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to meet the cap for Fiscal Year 2007. USCIS announced that the "final receipt date" for H-1B petitions subject to the cap was May 26, 2006.
H-1B petitions subject to the cap received on May 26, 2006, will be subject to a random, computer-generated selection process. Those petitions that are not randomly selected will be rejected and returned along with the filing fee(s).
H-1B petitions subject to the cap received after May 26, 2006, will be rejected and returned along with the filing fee(s).
This means that there are no H-1B numbers available until October 1, 2007. Fortunately, if you are a physician, you may fall into one of the following categories, and thus you may be exempt from the H-1B cap:
- A J-1 physician who is the beneficiary of an interested government agency waiver based on his/her commitment to work in a medically underserved area.
- A physician who was previously granted status as an H-1B nonimmigrant in the past six years and has not left the US for more than one year since attaining that status (such as medical residents or fellows).
- A physician who is going to be employed by an institution of higher education, such as a college or university.
- A physician who is going to be employed by a nonprofit entity affiliated with an institution of higher education.
- A physician who is going to be employed by a nonprofit research or governmental research organization.
J-1 Program Update
Now is the time to start putting together waiver applications for those states that begin to accept application on October 1, 2006.
News of note: The Michigan Health Council recently made available application packets for the upcoming year. They will be accepting applications from November 6-11, 2006.
Job Opportunities
Clients of Duane Morris who are employers in Connecticut, Kentucky, Oregon, New Mexico, West Virginia and Hawaii have asked us to announce that multiple openings are available with their clinics. Each employer has a clinic that meets the requirements for a J-1 waiver. There are openings for both primary care and subspecialty physicians. Contact Michelle Funk at regarding these openings.
State 30 Spotlight: Iowa Department of Public Health
Great news from the State 30 Program in Iowa! According to Mr. Carl Kulczyk, Program Planner, Iowa Department of Public Health, there are still approximately five J-1 waiver slots left for this fiscal year for primary care or subspecialists. If you are interested in locating a J-1 waiver position in Iowa, feel free to e-mail Mr. Kulczyk at ckulczyk@idph.state.ia.us.
Iowa is a state burgeoning with diversity and has many safe communities conducive to raising a family.
DM Attorneys on the Move
On June 3, 2006, Duane Morris held its second J-1 Physician Symposium in Chicago, Illinois. Speakers included Carl Kulczyk, Program Planner, Iowa Department of Health; Don Buecker, Physician Recruiter, Buecker Enterprises, Inc.; and Roberta Freedman and Michelle Funk, speakers from our Washington, D.C., Immigration Group. Please contact Rachel Sommers at if you would like materials from this event.
For Further Information
If you have any questions or would like to suggest a topic to be covered in our upcoming publications, please contact one of the attorneys of our Immigration Law Practice Group or the attorney in the firm with whom you are regularly in contact.
Disclaimer: This Alert has been prepared and published for informational purposes only and is not offered, nor should be construed, as legal advice. For more information, please see the firm's full disclaimer.
