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J-1 Visa Waiver Program

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Rural Health and Primary Care
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570

Phone: (573) 751-6441
Fax: (573) 522-8146
Email: ORHPCinfo@health.mo.gov or
DHSS.LoanRepayment@health.mo.gov

J-1 Visa Waiver Submission Form

J-1 Visa Waiver Electronic Application Submission form. The annual application period for Missouri's J-1 Conrad 30 program runs from October 1 to October 31.

Open Form
  • Preferred method of submission is electronically.
  • Please only submit the required documentation. Additional documentation submitted with an application must be manually removed and may therefore lead to increased application processing times.
  • Access 19 CSR 10-4.020 J-1 Visa Waiver Program to review the waiver application submission and selection process.
  • Prior to submitting the application, utilize the J-1 Visa Waiver Checklist with Guidance to ensure that all required documents are provided.

J-1 Visa Waiver Program (Conrad 30 Waiver Program)

The Conrad 30 State J-1 Visa Waiver Program was established to improve accessibility to health care for underserved areas by providing support of J-1 visa waiver requests on behalf of foreign medical graduates who have obtained a J-1 visa for graduate medical studies in the United States. Under the Conrad Visa Waiver Program, each state is allotted a maximum of 30 J-1 visa waivers each fiscal year.

  • The J-1 Visa Waiver Program recommends waivers for primary care physicians (family medicine, general pediatrics, general obstetrics/gynecology, and general internal medicine) and specialists in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), Medically Underserved Areas (MUA), or Medically Underserved Populations (MUP), with priority given to primary care physicians.
  • The J-1 Visa waiver waives the two-year home residency requirement allowing a foreign medical graduate to attend an advanced training program in the United States and waives the requirement for graduates to return to their native country.
  • The J-1 Visa waiver is granted in exchange for an obligation to practice in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)/Medically Underserved Area (MUA).
  • Visit HRSA Data Warehouse for information about specific locations designated as HPSAs.
  • States are allotted 30 recommendations during each federal fiscal year (214(l) of the Immigration Nationality Act).

Additional Resources

National Interest Waiver Program

The National Interest Waiver Program (NIW) allows professionals of exceptional ability to request a waiver of the US Immigration labor certification requirements, based on a letter of recommendation from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The DHSS provides an official letter to the US Department of State stating the work of the professional is in the public interest.

Physicians applying for a NIW are required to work full-time for five years in a health professional shortage area (HPSA). Time spent in H1-B status to fulfill J-1 Visa Waiver requirements may be counted towards the five year term. National Interest Waivers are an effective way for foreign physicians to attain permanent residency status in the U.S.

NIW requirements are located at CSR 10-4.030. Waiver requests which do not comply with these requirements will not be considered.

Prior to submitting the request, utilize the NIW Checklist with Guidance to ensure that all required documents are provided. Please use the completed checklist as a coversheet when submitting documents. No attestation shall be granted to any physician who fails to provide any of the information listed in the requirements.

Submission Timeframes

Support letters may be requested year-round.

Process to Apply

Application packets can be emailed in a PDF format to ORHPCinfo@health.mo.gov, or mailed to:

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570

*Please note that if it’s sent by mail or courier, it will not come directly to our office. It will go to a central mailroom first and will require additional time for the program office to receive the application.

After Application

After reviewing the submitted request, if all documentation is complete, the Letter of Support will be drafted and emailed to the lawyer to include with their application filing for an NIW. Please plan accordingly to allow time for our office to review documents. Letters can take up to 10 business days from the date the request is received by our office.