Wisconsin J-1 Visa Waiver Program
Shortage Areas for Waivers
J-1 Visa Waiver: Eligible Shortage Areas for Waivers
The lists of federally designated shortage areas, Health Professional
Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and Medically
Underserved Populations (MUPs), are updated on an ongoing basis. The
physician’s employment offer must include a practice site that is located
in a primary care HPSA or MUA / MUP, or in a mental health HPSA for
psychiatrists. A current listing of HPSAs and MUA / MUPs, respectively, are
maintained at the following federal web sites:
Checking a street address for
location in a HPSA/MUA/MUP:
Check
if street address of the practice site is located within a designated shortage area
(exit DHS): Use this link to check if a street address is located within a
current HPSA or MUA/MUP and get the designation details.
Primary Care HPSA maps
Mental Health HPSA maps
MUA/MUPs and Safety Net Provider maps
HPSAs are reviewed every 4 years by the federal government to determine
if they continue to represent areas that have shortages of primary care or
mental health providers. When an employment site is located in an area that
loses its federal shortage designation before the J-1 visa waiver is
approved, the U.S. Department of State has denied the waiver request in the
past. If a HPSA is at risk of losing its federal shortage designation during
the waiver application process, this will be discussed with the employer
during the application process.
After the J-1 visa waiver and H-1b visa are approved by Immigration and
if the foreign physician needs to change employers or practice sites, the
foreign physician must locate another practice site that is located in a
federally designated shortage area.
How to
request a shortage designation
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Last Revised: October 07, 2011
