Minnesota J–1 Visa and Waiver

The J–1 Visa Waiver Program application process has closed for this year. Look for the cycle to reopen in the Fall of  2023. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is committed to improving access to health care in underserved areas of the state. The Minnesota J-1 Visa Waiver Program, administered by the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC), is one strategy to address the shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas. Due to the difficulties some areas experience recruiting and retaining physicians, many communities turn to International Medical Graduates (IMG) and J-1 Visa Waivers to fill their physician vacancies.

The program was created by federal legislation in 1994, sometimes called the Conrad 30 Waiver Program. The program is intended to help communities recognized as federal shortage areas hire International Medical Graduates where recruitment of U.S. trained physicians has been unsuccessful. J-1 IMGs can apply to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) requesting a waiver of the J-1 visa requirement to return to the IMG’s home country for 2 years upon completion of the J-1 exchange visitor program. The waiver would allow IMGs to remain in the U.S. to practice medicine in designated service areas.

Any application to DOS for a J1 Visa Waiver must be accompanied by a recommendation from the local government of the state the IMG will practice, confirming the applicant fills a community need for services. The Minnesota J1 Visa Waiver Program accepts requests for waiver recommendations for physicians who provide primary health care, mental health care, and specialty care. Recipients of a waiver agree to a service obligation in an underserved area of the state, as designated by the federal government.

Application process

The program allows for 30 waiver spots per Federal Fiscal Year (October 1 – September 30), 10 of which are considered flex spots for physicians who agree to work in non-designated areas, yet still serve residents in underserved areas. J-1 visa waiver requests are accepted annually in the fall.

Questions

Please submit questions to: MN_health.J1NHW@state.mn.us
651–201–5988.

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