Skip to content 
Congratulations! After getting the most fabulous email and result (You have MATCHED), the next step to be taken is the paperwork for residency and visa related matters. The Statement of Need (SoN) for the J1 Visa is one of the most important documents required for the application to the visa sponsorship by ECFMG and thus it is important to know what it is and how to get it.
Please, check up the ECFMG website for more information about the J1 visa sponsorship program (Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program – EVSP). To learn more about what ECFMG indicates about the Statement of Need, please go to the following link:
https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/applicants-regulations-statement-need.html
What is the Statement of Need?
The SON is a document submitted by the Ministry of Health of the country of most recent legal permanent residence of the applicant. This letter should affirm the need for medical professionals in that country with skills acquired by training on a foreign medical program (specific to the area, for example, Internal Medicine). It works as a written assurance, adequate to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
How to get a Statement of Need?
The SON should be obtained from the central office of the Ministry of Health of the country of most recent legal permanent residence (regardless if that country is the applicant’s birth country or not). There are several ways of contacting the Ministry of Health Office of one’s country:
- By searching the Ministry of Health website: Most countries issue the Statement of Need frequently and thus they are familiar with the paperwork. Most will publish information on their official websites regarding the requirements and how to contact them to get the letter. For example, Ecuador has posted an article with the requirements and contact information to start the process via email. http://www.salud.gob.ec/declaracion-de-necesidad-de-especializacion-fuera-del-pais/.
- By contacting the Ministry of Health directly via phone or email. Go to the Ministry of Health website and search for the contact information. Call or email them providing your information such as complete name, nationality, national I.D., and other pertinent information. Do not forget to provide them your ECFMG I.D. as well.
- By contacting a professional who did the process before for getting the J1 sponsorship from ECFMG: A colleague or friend who is familiar with the required paperwork can become an excellent source of information regarding this process.
It is important to stress that reading the ECFMG Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (EVSP) information on the ECFMG website is extremely important.
https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/index.html
How should the Statement of Need be sent to ECFMG?
ECFMG requires getting the original statement of need issued by the Ministry of Health central office. There are several considerations to keep in mind:
To be admitted by ECFMG, the original SoN must be received in the original, sealed envelope of the Ministry of Health. In addition, the Ministry of Health official issuing the letter must place it in a Ministry of Health envelope and stamp the outside flap with the issuing government seal. The document should be forwarded directly to ECFMG; if the sealed envelope is opened, ECFMG will not accept the SoN. Electronic or scanned copies of the SoN will not be accepted by ECFMG.
The other very important consideration to bear in mind is the wording in the letter. The correct wording can be found on ECFMG by clicking the following link:
https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/applicants-regulations-statement-need.html
USMLE®/ECFMG ID Number: __-__-__-__-__-__-__-__
Name of Applicant for Visa:_________________________
There currently exists in (country) a need for qualified medical practitioners in the specialty of ______________________. (Name of Applicant for Visa) has filed a written assurance with the government of this country that he/she will return to this country upon completion of training in the United States and intends to enter the practice of medicine in the specialty for which training is being sought.
Finally, the SoN must have a certified translation inside the envelope to be sent to ECFMG if it is written in a language other than English. The envelope can be mailed to ECFMG by the Ministry of Health or the applicant. Sending the document using a trusted mailing company is recommended to expedite the process.
What requirements may be needed for getting the Statement of Need?
- The letter of acceptance or contract for residency or fellowship training.
- The academic coursework (syllabus, curriculum, program of study). Required by some countries (for example, Ecuador).
- Copy of the National I.D. of the applicant.
- Copy of the medical degree.
- Request letter or any other form of solicitation for the Statement of Need that is written and signed by the applicant.
There may be other requirements depending on the country issuing the letter.
How long does it take to get the Statement of Need?
It depends mostly on the country issuing the document. As mentioned before, most countries are familiar with this process and have structured programs to provide applicants with the document in a fast and efficient manner. Once the SoN reaches ECFMG, the processing of the document will start if all the other required documentation was already uploaded by the Training Program Liaison (TPL) or the applicant.
ECFMG has set timeframes for processing the documents depending on the type of program:
- Four to six weeks for ACGME-accredited training programs.
- Six to eight weeks for non-standard training programs.
Please, do not hesitate to contact us should you have any question or comment regarding this post. Good luck!
- Aortic Stenosis Severity Classification - 09/22/2020
- Carboplatin (Paraplatin) - 04/07/2019
- How to test for Vitamin D deficiency? - 09/29/2018
Hola Juan Jose
Queria saber un poco del proceso de obtener este Statement of Need en Ecuador, ellos saben el formato de como realizar la carta? y ellos mismos lo envian por correo?
Muchas gracias por tu ayuda y tu pagina web( es de mucha ayuda)
Sebastian Valdivieso
You have a gift for making even the most complex topics engaging.