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Physician Visa Waiver Program

Foreign Physicians Helping Underserved Areas

The Primary Care Office (PCO) helps coordinate the placement of foreign physicians in underserved areas of the state through the Physician Visa Waiver Program. This program is also known as the "Conrad Program" or the "J-1 Visa Waiver Program."

Right now, many Oregonians do not have access to a primary care doctor in their community. This is mainly true for rural areas of the state, but also applies to some urban and suburban communities. The Physician Visa Waiver Program helps address this issue by allowing international medical graduates to remain in the United States if they work in a federally designated shortage area. An M.D. or D.O. who has completed or is scheduled to complete a residency or fellowship in a U.S. medical school through the Exchange Visitor (J-1 Visa) Program is eligible to apply.

The program allows Oregon to sponsor 30 waiver applications per federal fiscal year, October 1 - September 30. An application fee of $2,000 helps fund the program.

All 30 Slots Are Filled For The 2024 Program Year! Apply Now For 2025

We are reserving slots for the 2025 Program Year starting on October 1, 2024. Feel free to submit your application early, so we may send it to U.S. Department of State in early October. Doctors may start work at any time after receiving of the waiver and H-1B work permit. Primary care and specialist (Including FLEX) applications that meet federal and state regulations will all be accepted on a first-come basis.

Please examine and use the updated program forms below

Please visit the Department of State and obtain your tracking number in advance. The employer and the J1 physician need to work together to complete the application. The Administrative Rules (OAR 409-035) explain the program requirements and steps necessary to complete the application process. Below are the forms you will need:

For information, or to reserve a slot, please contact Dia Shuhart at dia.shuhart@oha.oregon.gov.

Please read the attached J-1 Visa Waiver Program Summary for important information

Our mailing address is:
Physician Visa Waiver Program
OHA-Health Policy & Analytics
500 Summer Street NE, E-65
Salem, OR 97301