(Effective 2007)
Policy
Scope: All foreign national physicians participating in a clinical training program at the University of Washington.
Policy: The UW School of Medicine accepts foreign national physicians into its accredited residency and fellowship and non-ACGME accredited fellowship programs with J-1 visas sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The UWSOM generally does not accept residents or fellows on H-1Bs into its accredited training programs unless the resident/fellow is otherwise ineligible for a J-1 visa. Requests for UW sponsorship on an H-1B visa are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to approval by the UW GME Office and the UW Provost’s Office.
Procedures
J-1 Visa
The J-1, or Exchange Visitor visa, is a temporary non-immigrant visa sponsored by the ECFMG for foreign national physicians to participate in graduate medical training in the United States. The duration of participation for J-1 physicians in graduate medical education is the "time typically required" to complete the program, and duration is further limited to seven years, provided that the J-1 physician is advancing in an approved program of graduate medical education or training. The J-1 visa holder is further obligated to return to their country of most recent legal permanent residence for at least two years immediately following the completion of their training. The GME Office supports and administers J-1 visa applications with sponsorship by the ECFMG for residents and fellows.
J-1 Eligibility and Requirements:
Exchange Visitors applying for a J-1 visa must be eligible for visa sponsorship under the criteria set forth by the ECFMG, including successful completion of USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (CK & CS) and ECFMG Certification. For a full listing of eligibility requirements, please refer to the ECFMG Fact Sheet.
For J-1 visa sponsorship application materials and requirements, please visit the ECFMG website. Application materials must be submitted to the Training Program Liaison (TPL) for UW GME (Gabrielle Pett, Box 356340), and not submitted directly to the ECFMG. Application fees and other registration costs, as well as reporting changes to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, are the responsibility of the resident or fellow.
It is the J-1 visa holder’s personal responsibility to maintain lawful status while in the United States and while training within a UW GME training program. Lawful status is evidenced by possession of an active SEVIS record along with the corresponding DS-2019 Form and I-94 Record (Arrival/Departure Record) or I-797 Form (Notice of Action).
Residents/fellows on a J-1 visa who wish to travel internationally must have a travel endorsement on the DS-2019 Form. If the resident/fellow does not possess a DS2019 with a current travel validation, they must request a duplicate form DS2019 for travel from the ECFMG.
Residents/fellows on a J-1 visa are not permitted to moonlight.
H-1B Visa
The H-1B, or Temporary Professional Worker visa, is intended for employment purposes and allows its holder to work only for a specified employer. As such, the UWSOM generally does not accept residents or fellows on H-1Bs into its accredited training programs unless the resident/fellow is otherwise ineligible for an ECFMG-sponsored J-1 visa. All requests for exception must be approved in advance by the UW Provost’s Office before the department may accept a foreign national physician into a UW training program. The salary for an H-1B must be consistent with the prevailing wage for employed workers in the requested occupation in the same geographic area. Additionally, there is a six-year limit on the stay of an H-1B nonimmigrant.
Eligibility Requirements for H-1B Status:
Foreign Medical Graduates must successfully complete USMLE Steps 1, 2 (CK & CS) and 3 and obtain ECFMG Certification. They must also hold a valid medical license in the state where they will be training before being issued their H-1B visa.
Foreign nationals who have graduated from a US medical school are exempt from the above requirements since they are not considered Foreign Medical Graduates. Graduates of Canadian medical schools are considered foreign medical graduates for H-1B purposes.
H-1B applications are processed by the UW International Students and Scholars Office with assistance by the GME Office. All application fees and any other costs associated with the application procedure are the responsibility of the department in which the resident or fellow will be training.
Moonlighting:
The H-1B visa is only valid for the position stated in the H-1B petition (the training program), and therefore separate employment (i.e., moonlighting) is not permitted on the visa issued through UW.
If the trainee wishes to engage in moonlighting activities while at UW, they must first be approved for moonlighting activities per the UW Moonlighting Policy, and if approved they must have a separate H-1B visa petition filed by the employer at the site where they will be moonlighting.
Incoming Residents and Fellows on F-1 Student Visas
UW accepts incoming residents and fellows into its training programs who are currently studying on F-1 student visas. Most often, applicants will apply for a year of Optional Practical Training (OPT) which provides F-1 students with an opportunity for hands-on work experience complementary to their academic field of study. Application for OPT is processed through the F-1 student’s current program – processing time takes about 3 months and OPT status is good for a maximum of 12 months. During this period the trainee will still be considered an F-1 student and they will be issued an Employee Authorization Document (EAD) card which they will need to be eligible to work.
At the end of their year of OPT, the trainee will need to convert their immigration status. It is important that programs notify the GME Office of any incoming trainees currently in F-1 status so that visa options for their second year of training are discussed in advance.
Other Visas & Permanent Residence
Residents and fellows are not eligible to train under the TN or E-3 visas. Residents and fellows holding tourist visas will not be allowed credit for participation in their programs.
The University will not provide sponsorship of permanent residence for residents or fellows under any circumstances.