J-1 Visa Waiver Specialist Guidelines

• California continues to have a disproportionate need for primary care physicians.  California will first attempt to fill the 30 available slots with primary care physicians.  The California J-1 Visa Waivers will be opened to specialists if all 30 J-1 Visa slots are not filled by primary care physicians by July 1
• DHCS annually will survey the California Primary Care Association, California Hospital Association, California Rural Indian Health Board, and California Consortium for Urban Indian Health to obtain a list of reported specialist shortages from their respective hospitals and clinic membership*
• DHCS will post those lists as priority specialist applicant considerations
• Specialist applications for an established Health Professional Shortage Area, Medically Underserved Area or Medically Underserved Population (underserved areas) are preferred
• Specialty applications from the above referenced list, serving in a underserved area, will be accepted after July 1 and processed on first come, first served, basis
• Applicant employers must demonstrate the "need" for the specialty position at the worksite location
• Applications from all specialties throughout the state will be considered September 1 if slots remain available.

(*The California Primary Care Association has submitted a list for 2009-2010 that includes: orthopedists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, and dermatologists.)