J-1 Visa Waivers - Program Objectives

State-30 Program of Kansas

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The State 30 (Conrad) J-1 Visa Waiver Program assists in the recruitment and retention of physicians to serve communities that lack adequate access to health care. The State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program assists non-citizen physicians who are international medical graduates to obtain an H-1B or L-1 visa by waiving the two-year home country residency requirement in exchange for a commitment to practice medicine in a location designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) providing a justifiable need for the State of Kansas to intercede on behalf of its residents.

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are physicians from other countries who have sought and received a J-1 exchange visitor visa. The visa allows holders to enter clinical training programs and remain in the U.S. until completion of their studies. At the completion of their program of study, immigration law requires that they return to their home countries for two years before applying for re-entry in to the United States.

The State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program was created under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Title III, 22 CFR § 41.63.   Also known as the Conrad 30, this program allows public health departments of state government to establish rules and policies that comply with immigration law and to serve "in the public interest"  for requesting waivers of Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the provision requiring the two-year home-country physical presence for individuals who are in the United States on J-1 exchange visitor visas.
 

Click here to contact the OLRH staff member responsible for this program.