J-1 Visa Waiver Program | Northern Border Regional Commission

Program Overview

The NBRC J-1 Visa Waiver Program assists eligible international medical graduates who completed U.S. medical training on a J-1 visa and are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement. Through this program, NBRC may recommend a waiver to the U.S. Department of State, allowing physicians to remain in the United States and practice in federally designated shortage areas (HPSA – Health Professional Shortage Area or MUA – Medically Underserved Area) within the Northern Border Region.

Federal–State Partnership Requirement

NBRC is a Federal–State partnership. As a result:

All waiver requests must first be approved by the appropriate State Office of Rural Health or designated state J-1 program administrator.
Some states require physicians to apply through the Conrad 30 program until all slots are filled.
Applications must meet U.S. Department of State Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

Physician Eligibility
Physicians must:

Have completed medical training in the U.S. on a J-1 visa
Be subject to the two-year home-country residency requirement
Commit to three years of full-time service (40 hours/week)
Be eligible for medical licensure in ME, NH, NY, or VT
Have a signed employment contract and begin work within 90 days of waiver approval

Sponsoring Healthcare Facility Eligibility
Sponsoring facilities must:

Be located in a HPSA or MUA within the NBRC region
Demonstrate six months of good-faith recruitment for a U.S. citizen physician
Clearly document the need for the physician’s specialty
Serve Medicaid, Medicare, and medically indigent populations

Application Process

Step 1: State Review

Submit a complete waiver application to the State J-1 Visa Program Administrator.
If approved, the state forwards the application to NBRC with a letter of recommendation.

Step 2: NBRC Review

NBRC confirms receipt and conducts its review.
Decisions are typically issued within 30 days, though incomplete applications will delay review.

Step 3: Federal Review

Approved applications are forwarded to the U.S. Department of State (DOS).
DOS submits the case to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
USCIS notifies the applicant directly of the final decision.

Applicants must notify NBRC of:

USCIS’s decision
Their official start date at the sponsoring facility by returning a J1 placement verification form to the NBRC

Program Limitations

NBRC and state offices do not provide:

Immigration legal advice or representation
Physician recruitment or job placement
Employment negotiation assistance

Physicians seeking employment opportunities may consult 3RNET and should work with an immigration attorney for visa-related matters.

To find out if a medical facility is in a federally designated shortage area, visit the HRSA Data Warehouse page.

Forms, Policies, and Guidance

NBRC J-1 Visa Waiver Program Manual
Complete NBRC J-1 waiver application, instructions & forms

NBRC J-1 Waiver FAQs

Questions? For general inquiries about the NBRC J-1 Visa Waiver Program: j1visa@nbrc.gov