IMMIGRATION POLICY FOR US RESIDENTS – PRIORITY WHEN CONSIDERING H-1B VISA SERIES
In recent years, visa sponsorship policy has become an important tool to attract international doctors (International Medical Graduates – IMGs) to participate in residency programs in the US. This policy not only creates conditions for foreign doctors to work but also opens up opportunities to permanently settle in the US.
As mentioned in previous articles, the two most popular types of sponsored visas are J-1 and H-1B, in which the H-1B visa offers many attractive benefits, especially the ability to shorten the time to get a green card and the flexibility in choosing a job. job after graduation.
However, each year, USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) only issues a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas (an additional 20,000 visas for people with a master’s degree or higher from the US). If the number of applications exceeds the limit (65,000 + 20,000), the processing time will also be extended and USCIS will organize a random lottery (H-1B lottery) to select applications to be approved.
Normally, the number of applications submitted each year always exceeds the quota. That’s why other professions such as technology, finance, banking… often have to compete extremely fiercely to win spots in this quota.
However, granting H-1B visas to resident doctors will have a superior advantage over those professions when some cases are given priority in granting visas without having to participate in the H-1B lottery program. (cap-exempt).
This will bring more certainty to you in planning your future and settling in the US. So what is the specific information about this exemption? Let’s find out in today’s article!
1. How to be exempted from participating in the H-1B Lottery
As mentioned above, the H-1B visa has an annual quota limit (65,000 + 20,000) but some sponsoring organizations will be cap-exempt, including:
- Universities and institutions of higher education: For example, a medical school or a university-affiliated hospital (for example, a teaching hospital such as Johns Hopkins, Harvard-affiliated hospital).
- Non-profit research organizations
- Government organizations: Certain hospitals or government-affiliated medical facilities (such as public or federal hospitals).
If the residency program you match into is hosted by one of the above facilities, you will no need to participate in the lottery, besides, your I-129 application (H-1B visa application) will also be processed without being affected by the annual visa limit. This will help you save time and ensure a smoother path to working in the US.
2. If your sponsored visa is J1, what should you do?
J1 Visa is an exchange visa, which usually requires the recipient to return to their home country after completing the residential program (unless an exemption is granted).
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In case of sponsoring this visa line, after completing the boarding program, you need to return to your home country to work for 2 years (home-country physical presence requirement).
If you don’t want that, you need to register for the Conrad 30 Waiver program (for J-1 visa converted to H-1B) to work for hospitals, clinics, and organizations in areas lacking human resources. At that time, you will be able to switch to an H-1B visa without participating in the lottery. Each state in the US has 30 quota-free slots per year under this program.
Requirements: Doctors must commit to working full-time (at least 40 hours/week) for 3 years in the designated area. After completing the 3-year commitment, you can continue your green card application process without the obstacle of waiting for the lottery or the J-1 visa return request.
3. Why are resident doctors given such priority?
The priority given to resident doctors in immigration policy stems from the urgent need for medical human resources in the United States.
While people’s health care needs are increasing, the medical industry in the United States is facing a serious shortage of human resources crisis, especially in rural areas or in rural areas. remote areas, city suburbs.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the US could have a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034, especially in specialties such as internal medicine, pediatrics and primary care.
Therefore, international physician support programs, including the H-1B lottery exemption or the deployment of the Conrad 30 Waiver, are prioritized to fill the gap for this shortage.
The closer you are to important medical facilities or areas with a shortage of human resources, the faster the documents will be prioritized for processing to ensure uninterrupted medical services.
In addition, due to the essential nature of the profession, residency programs will easily prove “necessity” when applying for H-1B, the possibility of visa approval will also increase significantly.
Other industries often do not receive it. this priority unless under special circumstances. This makes the immigration path for resident doctors in the US significantly more favorable.
In short, the immigration policy for resident doctors in the US is opening up many attractive opportunities for IMGs.
As long as you make efforts and succeed in being accepted into a residential program, the journey to achieving a green card and later US citizenship will become clearer and more feasible than ever. Once you have “matched” into boarding programs, permanently settling in the US is only a matter of time.
Wish you success!
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