What is the J-1 Visa Waiver Program?
The Conrad 30 J-1 Waiver Program is a nationwide initiative that allows J-1 foreign medical graduates (FMGs) to apply for a waiver of the 2-year foreign residence requirement upon completion of the J-1 exchange visitor program.
National Guidelines
Although each state has developed its own application rules and guidelines, the following program requirements apply to all J-1 foreign medical graduates.
The J-1 foreign medical graduate must:
- Have been admitted to the United States under section 101(a)(15)(J) of the INA to receive graduate medical training;
- Enter into a bona fide, full-time employment contract to practice medicine in H-1B nonimmigrant status for at least 3 years at a health care facility located in an area designated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), or Medically Underserved Population (MUP) or serving patients who reside in a HPSA, MUA, or MUP.
- Obtain a “no objection” statement in writing from their home country if they are contractually obligated to return to their home country upon completion of the exchange program.
- Agree to begin employment at the health care facility, specified in the waiver application, within 90 days of receipt of the waiver, not the date their J-1 visa expires.
Visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services page for further information
Indiana's J-1 Waiver Program
The Indiana State Department of Health has confirmed no changes will be made for the 2022 Cycle of the Conrad 30 Program.
The 2022 Cycle of the Indiana J-1 Visa Waiver Program closed on December 31, 2021, with a total of 40 applications for the year. Indiana opened the 2022 J-1 Visa Waiver Cycle on September 1, accepting all applications but giving priority to primary care.
Applications were prioritized based on notification of carrier pickup time as with the 2021 Cycle, not time of arrival at the IPHCA office as in years prior to 2021. We received 37 applications for the 2022 cycle, along with 3 rollover applications bringing us to 40 applications for the year. Of those 40, 13 were primary care, which is consistent with the past few years.
The applications were submitted to IDOH for further review and applications along with recommendation letters have been sent on to the Department of State for review and final decision. Any changes to the guidelines for the 2023 Cycle will be announced before we begin accepting this fall.
Download the guidelines document and other required forms below.
Please contact Natalie Morrison with any questions.
Indiana J-1 Visa Waiver Program 2023 Cycle Update 8/30/23
The Indiana State Department of Health (IDOH) has confirmed no changes will be made for the 2024 J-1 Visa Waiver Cycle regarding the prioritization of specialists or the cycle open and close dates.
You can review the 2024 Guidelines here:
Application notification emails will be accepted starting on September 1, 2023. No applications may be mailed prior to this date.
Applications will, once again, be prioritized by email time once the application has been scanned by the carrier.
Please note the address where all J-1 Visa Waiver Applications should be mailed:
Natalie Morrison, MPH
Workforce Program Director
150 West Market Street, Suite 520
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Any applications sent to the old address will not be forwarded and will need to be resubmitted, which will result in a new timestamp for the application.
Please contact Natalie Morrison with any questions.
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