As it stands, foreign physicians admitted to the United States on a J-1 visa for graduate medical education are required by law to return to their home countries for two years before they are eligible to work as physicians in the United States.
The current Conrad State 30 Program lets state health departments request up to 30 J-1 visa waivers per year. The physicians who are waived from the eligibility requirements work in medically underserved areas or areas with a physician shortage.
The Conrad State 30 Program is set to expire July 1, 2012. This legislation would make it permanent and also expand the number of waivers in states where demand exceeds the current limit of 30 per year.
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New York Bill Would Create 15k More Medical Residencies
