J-1 Visa Waiver Program

Program Overview

The State 30 (Conrad) 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). The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is the designated state health agency for recommending J-1 Visa waivers to the U.S. State Department when the waiver is in the public interest. Kansas can support up to 30 waiver recommendations per Federal Fiscal Year (October 1 through September 30).

For details, see the Kansas J-1 Visa Waiver Program Guidelines (PDF).

Phases

The process of a J-1 visa waiver application and decision making will consist of two phases:

Phase 1

KDHE will begin accepting J-1 visa waiver applications on September 1 and conclude on November 30. Decisions on applications received during Phase 1 will be issued on or before December 15. The parties will be notified of the decision via email. The number of slots used and remaining at the conclusion of Phase 1 will be posted through the KDHE J-1 Visa Waiver Program Mailchimp list group.

Phase 2

J-1 visa waiver applications will continue to be accepted after November 30; however, these applications will be considered only if all 30 slots are not filled in Phase 1. Waiver applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. KDHE does not make assurances regarding the length of time it will take to render a decision in Phase 2. The parties will be notified of the decision via email.

J-1 Visa Waiver Slots

The Kansas J-1 Visa Waiver program focuses on primary care and meeting emergency medical systems and chronic care needs of the medically underserved populations. Non-primary care specialists may also apply if slots are available after Phase 1. Evidence of unmet need for non-primary care specialties must be demonstrated by the applicant.

For details refer to Kansas J-1 Visa Waiver Program Guidelines (PDF).

Number of J-1 Visa Waiver Applications Allowable by Employing Health Facility / Campus

During Phase 1, applications will be limited to six (6) per employing health facility/campus.  After Phase 1, should vacant waiver slots remain, additional applications by the health facility/campus may be submitted to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

To sign up for J-1 Conrad Visa Waiver updates see our MailChimp link or email KDHE Rural Health.

This list group is publicly available to all interested parties. Please check list group posting for status of waivers.