Wisconsin J-1 Visa Waiver Program
J-1 Visa Waiver: General
Information | Program Description | Application
Information | Shortage Areas for Waivers |
Other State Letters of Support | Immigration
& Waiver Links | Primary Care Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
IMPORTANT PROGRAM CHANGES FOR 2011-2012
* Please note overview of major changes:
The Division of Public Health will consider making up to 10 J-1 visa
waiver state recommendations in non-HPSA areas, as long as all other
program requirements of the application are met. If all 30
recommendation slots are used in a program year the policy will be
reconsidered for the next year, to ensure that as many recommendations as
possible can be made in HPSAs.
J-1 Visa Waiver: General Information
The Wisconsin J-1 visa waiver program increases access to primary
health and mental health care in rural and urban communities that have
shortages of primary care physicians and psychiatrists, by helping medical
clinics recruit foreign physicians. Qualified foreign physicians must have
completed their advanced clinical training in an approved U.S. residency
training program, must agree to work in the shortage area for three years,
and must increase access to primary health care.
State health departments can recommend up to ten (10) J-1 visa waivers
per year for physicians to be employed in non-designated areas.
Clinicians must serve populations in surrounding shortage areas. At
least 40% of the physician's patients must come from surrounding shortage
areas. The hiring agency must also show exceptional need and public
interest for the clinician to be hired in a non-designated area.
Wisconsin's J-1 waiver program can also consider recommending a J-1
visa waiver for foreign physicians in other medical specialties when
exceptional need and public interest can be demonstrated.
Between 2001 and 2011, the Wisconsin J-1 visa waiver program helped
medical clinics recruit more than 192 foreign physicians to increase
access to primary care and general mental health care in rural and urban
shortage areas throughout the state. This program is coordinated with the
U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security -
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Last Revised: October 07, 2011
