J-1 Visa Waiver Program

Federal law requires that foreign physicians seeking to pursue graduate education or training in the United States must obtain a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.  The J-1 Visa allows physicians to remain in the U.S. until their studies are completed.  Upon completion of their studies, the physicians must return to their home country for at least two years before they can return to the U.S.  Physicians who are subject to the two year home country residence requirement may apply for a waiver of that requirement with a statement in support of a waiver from an interested state health department.

California is allowed 30 recommendations each federal fiscal year (October 1 - September 30) to the U.S. Department of State.  The Department of State reviews the application and makes recommendations to the U.S. immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) as to whether or not the residency waiver should be granted.  The INS makes the final determination and informs the applicant and the California Department of Health Care Services of their decision.  The process takes approximately 6 months.

For more information contact Candi Zizek at (916) 449-5745 or by e-mail at czizek@dhs.ca.gov .

Section 1: Description of Waiver Process

Section 2: Waivers Requests Guidelines and Documents

Section 3: Waiver Package Checklist

J-1 Waiver FAQ’s  (Adobe)

California Authorization for Release of Information (PDF)