J-1 Visa Waiver Program

​​​​​​​New Hampshire accepts J-1 Visa Waiver requests from October 1 through June 30 of the federal fiscal year and reserves the right to recommend or decline any request for a waiver. Requests must be submitted by a health care facility or immigration attorney on behalf of the J-1 physician, and not directly from the J-1 physician. IMGs (International Medical Graduates) considering sponsorship in New Hampshire and looking for possible employment should refer to Bi-State Recruitment Center for current opportunities.

​​​​​​​Each application will be reviewed by RHPC to determine whether the application is complete and meets federal and state J-1 Visa Waiver Guidelines. The amount of time necessary to completely process an application varies based on level of accuracy in the initial application. If all materials are in order, the initial review process should take approximately three to five weeks. The sponsoring legal representative will be notified when a decision has been made by the State of New Hampshire. Non-designated/ Flex slot applications may take longer. Preference is given to International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in primary care; but consideration is made for sub-specialties that support primary care efforts.

The J-1 Visa Waiver Program allows New Hampshire to sponsor 30 waiver applications per Federal Fiscal Year (October-September) with 10 of those slots considered non-designated (Flex) for facilities located outside of designated underserved areas but serving patients in designated areas. Pre-approval is required for Flex slots. Guidelines for pre-approvals are included in the J-1 Visa Waiver Guidelines under Section 4.1. If approved, a Flex slot will be issued. The complete waiver application package must be submitted within 3 months of approval or the Flex slot will be reopened. In consideration of all medically underserved areas of NH, the state imposes a limit of 3 Flex slots per employer until March 1 when any open Flex slots become available for eligible employers needing additional slots.

The following criteria must be met in order for USCIS to grant the applying foreign physician a National Interest Waiver (NIW):

• Work full-time (40+ hours per week) in a clinical practice. For most physician NIW cases, the required total service commitment is 5 years (not bound to one facility).
• Serve in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Mental Health Professional Area (MHPSA – psychiatrists only), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), Medically Underserved Population Area (MUP), or Governor's Exceptional Medical Underserved Population Area (E-MUP). Those serving under a Flex Slot are not eligible.
• Provide a statement from a state department of health attesting to physician qualifications and belief that service is in the public interest. This statement is known as an attestation.