J Waiver: State Health Agency Requests (Conrad 30) Q&A

Foreign medical graduates with an offer of full-time employment at a health facility in a designated health professional shortage area who agree to begin employment at such facility within 90 days of receiving such waiver, and who sign a contract to continue work at the health care facility for a total of 40 hours per week and not less than three years may obtain a waiver.

Q. How do I obtain information on a particular state's Conrad Program (sponsorship for J-1 waivers through a State Health Agency request)?
A. Contact the Conrad Program in your state of interest.

Q.How do I apply for a waiver based on a request from a State health agency?
A. The applicant should submit the following:

• Data Sheet;
• Processing Fee (cashier's check or money order for $136);
• IAP-66 Forms;
• Curriculum Vitae;
• "No Objection" statement from visitor's government if non-U.S. government funding or obligations to home country government are involved;
• Form G-28 or letter from law office if applicant is represented by an attorney;
• Two self-addressed, stamped, legal-sized envelopes.

The State Health Agency must send directly to the Waiver Review Division a letter from the State Health department's designated official (designated by state governor) stating that it is in the public interest that the exchange visitor physician remain in the U.S., and includes the following:

• exchange visitor's name;
• exchange visitor's country of last legal permanent residence;
• name of medical facility;
• address of facility;
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) ID number;
• letter from facility that wishes to hire physicians;
• evidence that the facility is in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or Medically Underserved Area (MUA); and
• a signed contract for no less than 40 hours a week for three years between the facility and the physician with signatures of the physician and of the head of the facility.

For quicker processing, the State health agency may submit both its and the applicant's required documentation together. Please note the correct address to send documentation:

• documentation that includes user processing fee payment must be sent to:

  Postal Service:
  US Department of State
  Waiver Review Division
  P.O. Box 952137
  St. Louis, MO 63195-2137

  Courier Service:
  US Department of State
  Waiver Review Division
  (Box 952137)
  1005 Convention Plaza
  St. Louis, MO 63101-1200

• Documentation that is necessary for processing the waiver application, but does NOT include the user processing fee payment must be sent to:

  US Department of State
  Visa Services
  Waiver Review Division
  2401 "E" Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20522-0106

Note that any correspondence that requires redirection will experience a longer processing time.

Q. How do I inquire about the status of my application?
A. You may call 202-663-1600 or check the status online. If additional documentation is necessary, the Waiver Review Division will contact you directly. When a final determination is made, you will be notified. Until you hear from the Waiver Review Office, the status of your case is considered "open." You should therefore make whatever plans you must make regarding employment, life in the U.S. or return to your home country on the assuming that you may or may not be recommended for a waiver.

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