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Objective: Familiarize with the J1 Visa Application for a Medical Residency process for prospective applicants.
Disclaimer: It is extremely important to consult an immigration-related legislation such as an immigration lawyer for any questions or concerns. It is imperative to be in close contact with your program’s officials as well. We do not take responsibility for any problem that can arise in your application. Please, use this post as a general guide for familiarizing with the process.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to become familiar with the ECFMG’s terms and conditions for the EVSP program (Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program). For more information, please check their website:
After matching into a residency program in the United States, the next step for a non-US citizen is to get the appropriate visa for training. The most common visa that is obtained for a medical residency is the J1 Alien Physician Visa. ECFMG is the organization that acts as a sponsor for foreign doctors in order to get a J1 visa.
Summary of the required steps to get a J1 Visa:
- Get accepted into a medical residency or fellowship program.
- Contact the residency program to start the application for the ECFMG’s Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (EVSP).
- Gather the documents for the EVSP application and send them to the program’s TPL.
- The TPL uploads the documents on ECFMG Oasis.
- Ask for a SoN (Statement of Need) letter from the Ministry of Public Health of the country of your last permanent residency (LPR) and mail it to ECFMG (physical mail).
- After ECFMG has received the SoN (may be done before as well, but it is preferred to do it after the SoN is received by ECFMG), complete the application using OASIS.
- Wait until ECFMG finishes the processing of the application and you get accepted.
- ECFMG will send the DS 2019, consulate letter, and instructions to the program so that the program’s TPL can sign your documents and mail them to the applicant to wherever that person is located (in the US or abroad).
- After getting the form DS 2019, apply for a J1 visa in the following way:
- Pay the SEVIS fee: http://www.FMJfee.com
- Complete an Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) using the following website: https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/Default.aspx
- Go to your country’s embassy or consulate website (for example, for Ecuador: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ec/niv). You can use this link as well, after entering into the website, go to the bottom of the page and at the left lower corner select the option “change country,” then choose “nonimmigrant visa applicant” and select your country. Not all countries use this system and it is better for the applicant to check with his or her own country’s embassy or consulate. To apply for a visa interview follow these steps:
- Create a user account or log in if you previously had an account when applying for a nonimmigrant visa.
- Enter the DS-160 confirmation number for each applicant applying for a Visa.
- Complete the courier document return process.
- Pay the Nonimmigrant Visa (MRV) application fee(s).
- Schedule a Consular Section appointment.
- Attend to the interview
- Get your new visa for traveling to the United States.
Note: Please, it is crucial to take care of your passport with the visa stamp and the DS-2019 Form. Do not lose them (It would require you to ask your TPL to submit an application for a duplicate DS-2019 form which can take some time and generate difficulties in your travel plans).
1. Getting accepted into a residency program in the United States:
Please, to know more about how to apply for a medical residency in the United States visit the following link:
Application for Medical Residency via ERAS
2. Contact the residency program to start the application for the ECFMG’s Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (EVSP).
Once you have matched into a residency program, a school official will contact you regarding the paperwork for getting your J1 visa. You can also contact them by email or phone. There is a school official called TPL (Training Program Liaison) who will guide you through the entire process.
3. Gather the documents for the EVSP application and send them to the program’s TPL.
You can find more information about what documentation is required for the sponsorship application here:
https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/application-process-supporting-documentation-checklists.html
https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/initial-accredited.pdf
4. The TPL uploads the documents on ECFMG Oasis.
Your TPL will start the application on ECFMG OASIS and upload the required documents once you have submitted them (usually via email) to the program. You will receive an email from ECFMG explaining that the application has been started and what is required for you to do. The next step to that is usually getting and mailing your SoN directly to ECFMG.
5. Ask for a SoN (Statement of Need) letter from the Ministry of Public Health of the country of your last permanent residency (LPR) and mail it to ECFMG (physical mail).
To know more about how to get your SoN and mail it to ECFMG, please check the following post:
Statement of Need for J1 Visa – Medical Residency
6. After ECFMG has received the SoN (may be done before as well, but it is preferred to do it after the SoN is received by ECFMG), complete the application using OASIS.
- You can now complete your part of the application on the ECFMG website. Go to ECFMG and enter in OASIS. In the left column, you will see a link that says “J1 Visa Sponsorship.” Open that link and you will see your current application already started by your program’s TPL.
- Click on it and carefully review that all the information is correct. If everything is all right, select “Accept this appointment profile.”
- On the next page, fill out your biographic information and be sure to type and check that the data is accurate.
- Read the federally mandated requirements and after reviewing them, check the boxes under each requirement.
- If you have a dependent (spouse and/or children), add their information in the next window.
- Fill out the confirmation of J1 Sponsorship requirements by checking the boxes and filling your specialty.
- J1 History/Location: Indicate whether you are or not in the United States and if you have had a J1 visa in the past.
- In the next page, provide your payment information (eg. credit card) and make the payment.
- Carefully review your application and submit it to ECFMG.
7. Wait until ECFMG finishes the processing of the application and you get accepted.
The processing will continue and once it is ready, you will be contacted by ECFMG. Your DS-2019, consulate letter, and important information regarding the J1 visa application will be sent by ECFMG to your program’s TPL so that the DS-2019 can be signed and mailed to you from your program. These steps may take days or a few weeks.
8. ECFMG will send the DS 2019, consulate letter, and instructions to the program so that the program’s TPL can sign your documents and mail them to the applicant to wherever that person is located (in the US or abroad).
Your program may ask you to provide an airway bill to expedite the process so that you get your documents sooner.
9. After getting the form DS 2019, apply for a J1 visa in the following way:
- Pay the SEVIS fee: http://www.FMJfee.com
- Complete an Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) using the following website: https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/Default.aspx
- Go to your country’s embassy or consulate website (for example, for Ecuador: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ec/niv). You can use this link as well, after entering into the website, go to the bottom of the page and at the left lower corner select the option “change country,” then choose “nonimmigrant visa applicant” and select your country. Not all countries use this system and it is better for the applicant to check with his or her own country’s embassy or consulate. To apply for a visa interview follow these steps:
- Create a user account or log in if you previously had an account when applying for a nonimmigrant visa.
- Enter the DS-160 confirmation number for each applicant applying for a Visa.
- Complete the courier document return process.
- Pay the Nonimmigrant Visa (MRV) application fee(s).
- Schedule a Consular Section appointment.
- Attend to the interview
- Get your new visa for traveling to the United States.
Note: Please, it is crucial to take care of your passport with the visa stamp and the DS-2019 Form. Do not lose them (It would require you to ask your TPL to submit an application for a duplicate DS-2019 form which can take some time and generate difficulties in your travel plans).
Please, take care of your DS-2019 since you will be asked to present it at the port of entry once you reach the United States.
Thank you for your attention. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any question or comment, and share with us your experiences so that future applicants can take them into consideration.
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