J-1 Visa Waiver Programs

​​​​The J-1 Visa Waiver programs enable foreign medical graduates who have completed thier studies on a J-1 visa to remain within the United States and waive the "two-year home country physical presence requirement" in exchange for a commitment to serve in designated areas. The waiver may be requested under any one of the following circumstances: extreme hardships to his/her spouse or children who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S., persecution if forced to return to his/her home country, a U.S. government agency makes a request for the waiver on the basis that the J-1 Physician's work is in the national and/or public interest, a state department of health makes a request for the waiver on the condition that the physician agrees to practice in an area having a shortage of health care professionals.

West Virginia is uniquely defined by its geography as the only state located entirely within the Appalachian Mountains. While this geography contributes to the state's natural beauty and charm, it also creates distinct challenges, resulting in many of its counties being classified as entirely rural and struggling with providing adequate healthcare and healthcare providers. To address these healthcare disparities, the WV State Office of Rural Health (WV SORH) has successfully administered the federal J-1 Visa Waiver Program for West Virginia since the mid-1980s. The program's clear mission is to: Improve access to primary health care and needed specialty care in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), and other areas of the state that have health care provider shortages. Serving as a vital pathway, the program allows highly qualified J-1 Physicians to dedicate their skills and expertise to critically underserved communities. In addition to delivering essential medical services, this initiative often introduces diverse medical perspectives and practices, thereby enriching the state's healthcare ecosystem. The following are J-1 Visa Waiver Programs that WV SORH oversees and administers. 

Conrad 30:
The Conrad 30 program is a J-1 Visa Waiver program that allows foreign medical graduates to remain in the United States. In exchange, these physicians commit to serving for three years in designated areas, typically Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) or Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), where there is a critical need for healthcare providers. This program aims to improve access to quality healthcare services by increasing physician availability in underserved communities.

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC):
ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia. ARC is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local government. Established by an act of Congress in 1965, ARC is composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by the president.
Requests for waivers under the ARC J-1 Visa Program must be sponsored by a state within the Appalachian Region. All inquiries should be made to state contacts: https://www.arc.gov/program_areas/J1VisaWaivers.asp

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