1. What is the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

The Conrad 30 Waiver Program is a program established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to allow individuals from certain countries to stay in the United States for a period of up to 30 months. The program, created in 1994, allows foreign medical doctors who have obtained an offer of employment from a U.S. health care facility to receive a J-1 visa waiver which allows them to work in that facility for up to three years. This program was designed to help address the shortage of physicians in medically underserved areas across the United States.

2. Who is eligible for the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

The Conrad 30 Waiver Program is available to foreign nationals who are medical graduates of certain U.S. medical schools and who have agreed to serve in a designated health care facility in a state with a shortage of physicians in exchange for being granted permanent residence in the United States. To be eligible for the program, an applicant must have an approved offer of full-time employment from a designated health care facility, and must commit to working in the facility for a minimum of three years.

3. What areas are eligible for the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

The Conrad 30 Waiver Program is open exclusively to foreign-born physicians who have completed a residency or fellowship program in the United States on an H-1B visa. The program allows those physicians to practice medicine in underserved areas of the United States for up to three years, after which they can potentially apply for a permanent visa. Eligible areas include Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), Medically Underserved Areas (MUA), and Medically Underserved Populations (MUP).

4. What is the time frame for obtaining approval for the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

The timeframe for obtaining approval for the Conrad 30 Waiver Program varies from state to state. Generally, it takes between three and six months from the time of application submission until a decision is made. However, this timeframe can vary depending on the number of applications received and the level of demand.

5. What is the process for applying for the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

The process for applying for the Conrad 30 Waiver Program is as follows:

1. The physician must obtain an immigrant visa through a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.

2. The physician must obtain a letter of recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services or its designee.

3. The physician must submit a completed J-1 visa application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

4. The requesting hospital must submit an employment contract to the USCIS, including a list of duties to be performed by the physician as well as the amount of compensation for such duties.

5. Once the J-1 visa application and the employment contract are approved by USCIS, the physician may request a waiver from the United States Department of State (DOS).

6.DOS will review the request and determine whether the physician meets the requirements for waiver approval under the Conrad 30 program. If approved, DOS will issue a Conrad 30 waiver, which will allow the physician to remain in the United States beyond the J-1 visa expiration date without having to depart and return to his or her home country in order to complete additional visa paperwork.

6. Is there a fee associated with applying for the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

Yes, there is. The filing fee for a Conrad 30 Waiver Program application is $1,000.

7. Are there any restrictions on visas obtained through the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

Yes, there are restrictions on visas obtained through the Conrad 30 Waiver Program. The visa recipient must agree to work in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area for at least three years before the visa can be extended or transferred. Additionally, visa recipients must be approved by the state and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as meet all other relevant requirements for the visa they are seeking.

8. Does the Conrad 30 Waiver Program require a medical residency or other educational program in the U.S.?

No, the Conrad 30 Waiver Program does not require a medical residency or other educational program in the U.S. The program requires that the foreign medical graduate has obtained a qualifying visa to work in the U.S., has been employed full-time for three years in an underserved area, and has obtained a license to practice medicine in the state where they will be working.

9. Are there any other requirements that must be met for approval under the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

In addition to the requirements outlined above, all applicants must:

1. Have a full and unrestricted medical license to practice in the state of intended employment.
2. Have the necessary qualifications and experience to practice in the specialty field in which they plan to practice in the United States.
3. Submit proof of English language proficiency.
4. Submit proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status within three years of program approval.
5. Demonstrate a commitment to working in an area of the state designated by the Department of Health as having a shortage of health care professionals.
6. Enter into contract with a state department of health in which they promise to work at least 40 hours per week for a minimum of three years in an area that has been designated as having a shortage of healthcare professionals.
7. Receive an employment offer from a health care facility that has received approval from the state department of health and which is willing to sponsor the applicant’s J-1 visa application.

10. How long can physicians stay with a visa obtained through the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

Physicians who obtain a visa through the Conrad 30 Waiver Program are allowed to stay in the United States for up to three years.

11. Does acceptance into the program guarantee a visa?

No, acceptance into the program does not guarantee a visa. However, if you meet all the requirements of the program and are accepted, you should be able to obtain a visa.

12. How much does it cost to apply for the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

The Conrad 30 Waiver Program does not cost anything to apply. The only fees associated with the program are associated with any visa processing fees required by the U.S. Department of State.

13. What documents are required to apply for a visa through the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

To apply for a visa through the Conrad 30 Waiver Program, you will need to provide a valid passport, two passport-size photos, a completed Form I-612, proof of your medical condition, evidence of your income, and any other relevant documents requested by the consulate or embassy. You may also need to provide proof of a valid state license and proof of financial support letters from family or friends. Finally, you may need to pay the application fee and applicable visa processing fee.

14. Are there any other benefits associated with participating in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

Yes, there are other benefits associated with participating in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program. For example, participants in the Program may be eligible for:
-Expedited green card processing
-Ability to apply for citizenship after five years of continuous legal presence
-Permission to travel abroad and return
-Ability to apply for a social security number
-Eligibility for in-state tuition at public universities
-Eligibility for state and federal benefits (depending on individual circumstances and state laws)
-Ability to petition family members for permanent residency in the U.S.

15. How quickly can physicians receive visas through the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

The processing time for a visa through the Conrad 30 Waiver Program can vary from case to case, but once the application is complete it typically takes about 60 days for a visa to be issued.

16. Is a job offer required to participate in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

No, a job offer is not required to participate in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program. However, it is important to note that applicants must still meet all of the requirements of the program and have adequate financial resources to support their stay in the United States.

17. Are there any special rules for physicians participating in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

Yes, there are special rules for physicians participating in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program. Physicians must work full-time (defined as 40 hours per week) providing primary care or specialty services in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). They must also demonstrate that they are committed to working in the area for at least three years and that they have provided primary care or specialty services in the area for at least one year prior to obtaining the waiver. Finally, physicians must agree to not charge more than Medicare rates for their services.

18. Does participation in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program result in permanent residency in the US?

No, participation in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program does not result in permanent residency in the US. It is a program that allows foreign medical graduates to work for three years in medically underserved communities in the United States, after which they must either return to their home country or obtain another visa if they wish to remain in the US.

19. Are there any specific requirements to participate in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program?

Yes, applicants must meet the following requirements:
-Be a foreign national physician who has completed a medical residency program in the U.S.
-Be under the age of 31
-Be eligible to receive an immigrant visa and be able to adjust his or her status to that of a permanent resident
-Have an offer of full-time employment from a state department of health or public or private health care facility in the state of the physician’s intended employment
-Be certified by an appropriate state licensing board as having met all qualifications for licensure as a physician in that state, including any required English language proficiency tests
-Be sponsored by an interested U.S. employer to apply for permanent resident status

20. Can physicians from other countries use the Conrad 30 Waiver Program to obtain a US visa?

Yes, physicians from other countries can use the Conrad 30 Waiver Program to obtain a US visa.