Transfer / Change from Research J1 to Clinical J1 (ECFMG)
In light of first-hand evidence from readers, I have made changes to this post.
This is what the USIA (US Information agency) has to say about J1 sponsorship by ECFMG for residencies for people holding research J1s (1999 document):
"Individuals who have participated in the Exchange Visitor Program as a research scholar or professor participant during the twelve month period preceding their proposed commencement of a program of graduate medical education are ineligible for sponsorship."
Read the complete document Here
But, after some readers spoke to the ECFMG, the rule no longer really seems to apply anymore - regardless of whether your non-clinical J1 has a 2-year home requirement or not.
What remains to be determined is whether such J1-transfer candidates still get the complete 7-years of clinical ECFMG-sponsored J1 or if the earlier J1-status eats into this period.
Watch this space.
The points below were suggested by me BEFORE I came to know about this correction - so read it for amusement purposes only ;-)
Possible Solutions:
1. Get a H1b Residency - simple ? Well simple if the Research J1 does not have a 2-year home residency requirement. IF such a requirement exists, the candidate will need to apply for a waiver first.
2. At times, the research institution itself may be willing to convert a Research J1 to H1b visa (something which you may consider negotiating with your research advisor) , which again is much easier if there is no 2-year Home residency requirement. Again, if such a requirement exists, the candidate will need to apply for a waiver first.
3. For a J1 Residency Complete your J1 research work a year before the intended July of residency start, head back to your country, apply from there - do interviews on visitors visa.
I don't know about you guys, but in my head, the terms "US visas" and "complexities" are beginning to be semantically connected as synonyms ;-)
Search keywords to this blog article:
- "how easy is it to transfer from research J1 to ECFMG clinical J1"
- "What is the research J1 visa"
- "difficult research to clinical J1 visa"
This is what the USIA (US Information agency) has to say about J1 sponsorship by ECFMG for residencies for people holding research J1s (1999 document):
"Individuals who have participated in the Exchange Visitor Program as a research scholar or professor participant during the twelve month period preceding their proposed commencement of a program of graduate medical education are ineligible for sponsorship."
Read the complete document Here
But, after some readers spoke to the ECFMG, the rule no longer really seems to apply anymore - regardless of whether your non-clinical J1 has a 2-year home requirement or not.
What remains to be determined is whether such J1-transfer candidates still get the complete 7-years of clinical ECFMG-sponsored J1 or if the earlier J1-status eats into this period.
Watch this space.
The points below were suggested by me BEFORE I came to know about this correction - so read it for amusement purposes only ;-)
Possible Solutions:
1. Get a H1b Residency - simple ? Well simple if the Research J1 does not have a 2-year home residency requirement. IF such a requirement exists, the candidate will need to apply for a waiver first.
2. At times, the research institution itself may be willing to convert a Research J1 to H1b visa (something which you may consider negotiating with your research advisor) , which again is much easier if there is no 2-year Home residency requirement. Again, if such a requirement exists, the candidate will need to apply for a waiver first.
3. For a J1 Residency Complete your J1 research work a year before the intended July of residency start, head back to your country, apply from there - do interviews on visitors visa.
I don't know about you guys, but in my head, the terms "US visas" and "complexities" are beginning to be semantically connected as synonyms ;-)
Search keywords to this blog article:
- "how easy is it to transfer from research J1 to ECFMG clinical J1"
- "What is the research J1 visa"
- "difficult research to clinical J1 visa"
Labels: J1 Visa, Research J1
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posted by Digitaldoc, MD at 12:25 AM
Comments on "Transfer / Change from Research J1 to Clinical J1 (ECFMG)"
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Anonymous said ... (September 26, 2007 10:06 AM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (September 26, 2007 11:35 AM) :
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Siddharth said ... (October 12, 2007 12:39 AM) :
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Alok said ... (October 13, 2007 12:48 PM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (October 13, 2007 2:05 PM) :
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Alok said ... (October 13, 2007 2:26 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (October 24, 2007 12:12 PM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (October 24, 2007 7:36 PM) :
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Kanupriya said ... (November 3, 2007 4:05 AM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (November 12, 2007 3:44 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (November 13, 2007 11:40 AM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (November 13, 2007 11:59 AM) :
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maulik said ... (January 13, 2008 9:27 PM) :
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ila said ... (June 6, 2009 3:51 PM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (July 1, 2009 7:05 AM) :
Post Your Comment !Dear Digital doc
thank you for all the effort you are putting in this blog, regarding the research visa issue, i read the same document and came to the same conclusions, but when i called ECFMG they were pretty clear that J1 especially without the 2-year home requirement are eligible to start residency without having to wait for a year, have you heard anything similar?
No I have not - did you ask them about about what they had posted online ?
Will be great if such a restriction does not exist
I believe if you are on a J1research with 2HRR, ECFMG does sponsor your J1 clinical, if you get a DoS approval. this falls under the "change of category" section of Adjustments to J1 status. Check the travel.gov website..
what it means is.. once you match, you need LETTERS. from the dept that accepts you, your research dept and mentor..explaining that you need to change as the latter program will benefit your initial goals and long term goals.. it prob mean we will have to play with words and need strong recommendations from prominent ppl saying its advantageous for the candidate.. basically you need to give them reasons How program 2 will help our program 1... now hoepfully for this to happen your research is genuinely related to your residency field! objectives...
Dear Digital Doc,
I will like to add something to this. I have been in touch with ECFMG DOS representative regarding this j1 research to j1 clinical transfer. She is pretty sure that there is no such 1 year gap regardless of the 2 year home rule. I have even gone through the DOS website and their entire manual on j1 and didn't find such thing. Moreover USIA is no longer a body anymore. It has been taken over by department of state after 1999. So I dont know if the rule still exists or have been revised.
So in summary, according to ECFMG you can apply for a j1 clinical visa after you finish your j1 research program from your home country without any gaps or filing a petition to DOS but if you are trying to change the visa within the US you have to file a petition to DOS.
I hope it helps.
Alok
Thanks guys - so its now time for me to revise this section !
Did you guys also have a chance to find out if, after transferring to a clinical J1 - the 'J1-clock' does not reset ? I mean if you did 2-years of J1-research - does it mean only 5 years remain on the Clinical J1 or people still get the complete 7-years J1
Thanks people !
J1 clinical visa will be a new visa and the time spent on j1 research will not count towards the 7 year period.
Alok
Well, I did call up the ECFMG and they told me that transfer from J1 research to clinical is possible, without filing for a separate waiver and without waiting for a year. One has to get a letter of release from the research program. But as you said, the website says otherwise. Whom do we trust now? I spoke to some officials at a university and they said that the ECFMG may be wrong.
Have you heard of anyone who went through with this? please let us know.
Thanks for filling in guys - guess we will need to wait to hear from someone who actually has done a transfer - i will put it up if I come across someone
Hi Digidoc,
Firstly Thanks for all this info n to the others too..
I had a few queries, thought I'll put them up.
I am getting a research position in a reputed institute starting next yr on J1 visa but I'm confused abt taking it up cos I'm not too sure if the rule of serving for 3yrs in a medically underserved area wud apply to me when i apply for residency(for 2009)when i try for a J1 transfer or change to another visa, say H1 or something on applying for a J1 waiver at the time of switching to clinical residency.
Could someone kindly enlighten on that cos if that is the case i don't think i want to take up this position,and i need to take a decision soon.
Thanks n regards,
Kanupriya
Hi Kanupriya - you need to first determine if the 2-year rule applies to the J1 that this University is sponsoring. To find that out:
1. Get in touch with current J1-research workers at the University
2. Read this article about types of J1 and which J1s are subject to 2-year rule.
If the 2-year rule does not apply, you can directly change to a H1b or ECFMG-sponsored J1 for a residency.
If a 2-year or other rule does apply, then you probably only have the ECFMG J1 option to change to for a residency ; As per above inputs from readers who spoke to ECFMG, you don't have to wait for a year to change to that J1 from a research J1
hello every one
i am on b2 visa and it seems hard for me to match this year . my b2 visa is expiring in a few months . i want to change my status from b2 to either f1 or j1 . could u please suggest me which one is better and if at all is this possible .
It is possible to do from within the US, but for future interests, its best not to change B1/B2 status from within the USA - often leads to future rejections on work visa for residency. Embassy people are always skeptical about people who enter USA with visitors and then change to another one, since they tend to look at it as a potential abuse of the visa. Some have been lucky, but some had rejects later even for J1s. So sure apply to graduate programs for masters, etc. but apply for the new visa from your home country, if you do not want to take the risk of rejection later
Hello,
this is what i found on one website...
Maximum Length of Stay Now 5 Years
The maximum length of program for J-1 exchange visitors in the Research Scholar and Professor category has been increased from three to five years. The five year maximum stay for a J-1 research scholar/professor is not counted in the aggregate. The five year “clock” begins with the start date on the DS-2019 form and this status remains available until the end of five years or the date the J-1 program is concluded, whichever is earlier. At Yale, the initial DS-2019 will be issued for the duration of the appointment and can be extended up to a maximum of five years. However, when the program at Yale is completed so is the J-1 program unless the scholar transfers immediately to another J-1 sponsor.
Two-Year Participation Bar
At the end of the J-1 research scholar/professor’s exchange visitor program, regardless of the length of the stay (7 months, 2 years, or 5 years), the exchange visitor becomes subject to a “two year bar on repeat participation as a J-1 research scholar of professor.” This means that when a research scholar/professor completes his or her J-1 program participation, regardless of the length, the J-1 research scholar/professor status is concluded and is not eligible for another stay as a J-1 research scholar/professor until two years have passed.
This bar is different from the two year home country residence requirement (see below) and only applies if the individual wants to return to the U.S. in the J-1 research scholar/professor category. The two years can be spent in the U.S. in another J-1 category (i.e. short term scholar or specialist) or in another immigration status, e.g. H-1B, if eligible.
Existing 12 month bar
There currently exists a 12 month bar for persons seeking to use the J-1 Research Scholar/Professor category. This bar applies to individuals who have been in the US in any J status (all categories except short term scholar, and including J-2 status) for six months or more in the 12 month period immediately prior to the proposed start date on the new J program. Prospective J-1 research scholar/professors who are subject to the two year bar on participation are not subject additionally to the 12 month bar.
Two Year Home Residency Requirement
The two year bar on participation is different than the 2-Year Foreign (“Home”) Residency Requirement (212(e)). For information about 212(e) go to J-1 two-year home resident requirement page.
Hope this helps...
source--
http://www.oiss.yale.edu/visa/j5year.htm
Thanks Maulik - thats great information. So the 2-Year "Bar" that J1 scholars have is different from the 2-Year Home Country requirement , which does not apply to them.
In other words, J1 research scholars can shift to ECFMG Sponsored Clinical J1 anytime - BUT then the 2-year home country rule will apply
The 2-year 'bar' implies that the same J1 research scholar may not return to the J1 resarch scholar status until he spends two years doing something else
Entirely my pleasure doc...
This is not even closer to what you do for future residency aspirants..
With regards to J1 research visa I would say it is still better to take an advice from some immigration lawyer..Without proper information one can not take risk of coming on J1 research visa as a route to enter the USA(in place of GRE route) for pursuing residency and ending up with home residency requirement, hence regretting later for that step.
Thanks again Maulik.
On my previous comment, i must qualifications that a 2-year HRR may still apply for some J1 research scholars depending on the nature of the sponsor - yet the "2-year bar" should not prevent them from entering a clinical J1 status
Hello Digitaldoc,
Thanks for such an informative post! I was extremely worried after reading somewhere that someone who is currently on a J1 visa, is not eligible for ECFMG J1 visa sponsorship until 365 days have passed since the expiration of last J1 status.
However, my case is a little different. I was in a family medicine residency program last year on a J1 visa and withdrew voluntarily after 4 months of residency. After that I came back to my home country, and entered US on B2 visa to attend my interviews in Internal Medicine. I matched successfully and came back to India to get my J1 stamped again.
Now, the situation is that I have been out of J1 Alien Physician status for about 6 months and want to get a J1 again in order to start residency in IM from July 1st. I am not sure whether I would have to face any restrictions on my visa applications or not. I recently applied for a DS2019 and waiting for a response from ECFMG.
Digitaldoc, can you please guide me about my case? Do I have to worry about the 1 or 2 year bar (as mentioned above)? I have read many CFR articles (22 CFR), but couldn't find anything specific related to my case. The only thing mentioned is that a J1 alien physician can change specialty only once and that too until 2 years of start of residency.
Should I consult an immigration attorney?
Please post your comment. I would highly appreciate your advise.
hi - the 2-year bar for research J1 applies only if you are on research J1s and coming back to a research job - ECFMG clinical J1 is a separate visa and that will not apply to you. yes, the 2-year specialty rule does apply to ECFMG J1, but you withing that period.
i would still encourage you to consult an immigration attorney on what things you need to document and show for the second J1 after the first one was dropped midway - i am not sure about that
Thanks Digitaldoc.
hi guys!
this is an amazing blog and i really thank each and everyone of you for all your advise and comments.
i have been offered a j1-research scholar post in colorectal surgery in penn state. My plan is to do a year of research while also doing the USMLE exams. Then going for the match thereafter. My career goal is general surgery/colorectal.
So from what you guys have said thusfar, it IS possible to switch from J1-research to J1-clinical without leaving the USA for 2 years.
correct????
hi
i want to go for research and then i want to apply for residency next year
what type of visa should i need
whether i goon J1 or b1
please clarify
that is that mean if i go on j1 i will be able to change it accordingly as i got residecy or i have to go through bar of 2 year
Hi..
I am currently doing research on J1 and intend to apply for residency this year.Do I need to get a waiver from home country first for conversion from J1 research?I understand,if that is to be done via ECFMG,I have to have a contract from a j1 sponsoring program..If I just get a waiver,would I still be eligible for a J1 program??I am really confused...please advise what should be the best course of action?
Thanks.
No, you would not need a waiver to start a Clinical J1. You can convert directly, but before you move on to a job after residency, yes you will need a waiver job first for 3 years (which is done on a H1, but only in restricted areas of physician shortage)
Hello Digitaldoc. Good job you do here. I am currently on an F1 visa but got a research position at Georgetown University. I have 2 scenarios where I would like to know your opinion. 1. Would you advice I change my F1 status into a J1 research if they dont require the 2 year clause? Is it easy to convert a J1 research into a J1 Clinical visa or H1 visa? 2. If they do have the 2 year home country clause would u advice I just stick to my F1 visa because I have an option of doing the research while still on my F1 visa. Please what do you advice?
Hello Paul, If you have the option to do the research while on F1 - then that' the best way to keep it.
If there is no 2-year clause, yes you could switch to that J1 and then even change to clinical J1 or H1. But if possible to avoid visa status changing hassles, keep your F1.