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J-1 Visa Waiver Program

New from the RUPRI Center: The Immediate and Future Role of the J-1 Visa
April 24, 2002
A new Policy Paper is available from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis: The Immediate and Future Role of the J-1 Visa Waiver Program for Physicians: The Consequences of Change for Rural Health Care Service Delivery. This Policy Paper will provide available information and analysis to help frame and examine policy options for placing physicians in rural underserved areas. To download the paper, go to http://www.rupri.org/.

Re J-1 Visa Program
April 18, 2002
The USDA decision to withdraw from the J-1 visa program as a sponsoring agency has garnered the attention of several rural organizations. The department has expressed concern over its ability to conduct adequate security checks for the waivers, which allow foreign doctors to extend their stay in the U.S. while practicing in a rural area. A report from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis is also now available on this problem at The Immediate and Future Role of the J-1 Visa Waiver Program for Physicians: The Consequences of Change for Rural Health Care Service Delivery (http://www.rupri.org/). For additional information about current policy discussions, contact Chris Garza of the American Farm Bureau (http://www.fb.com/). Also, to see an earlier discussion of state uses of the J-1 visa program , refer to the Capital Area Roundtable's report on the rural health workforce and J-1 visas in our webpage archives at http://www.gmu.edu/.

J-1 Visa Waiver Program Fact Sheet
April 16, 2002
Most aliens admitted to the United States on a J-1 Visa to participate in educational exchange programs are required by section 212 (e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182) (e) to return to their home country or last permanent residence for two years before they are eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, permanent residence or another nonimmigrant visa. For the press release, visit http://www.usda.gov/.

USDA No Help for MDS Visas
April 12th, 2002
Bush administration officials told Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, Tuesday that the Agriculture Department does not intend to resume its role of intervening on behalf of foreign medical students with the Immigration and Naturalization Service so that they can get visas to practice in underserved rural areas. The department believes believe the states should request the waivers, http://www.farms.com/readstory.asp.

Decision Could Worsen Rural Health Care
April 2, 2002
The recent decision by the Agriculture Department to end sponsorship of foreign physicians in rural areas has sparked a campaign by rural health advocates and members of Congress. Members of the Rural Heath Care Coalition, comprised of approximately 180 House lawmakers, are to meet April 9 with USDA Deputy Secretary James Moseley about access to doctors in rural areas. Coalition co-chairman Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) sent a letter to Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and other top officials urging USDA, the State Department, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service to finish processing pending applications from foreign physicians. Moran said that "no readily available substitute to the USDA's program exists." The program gives foreign doctors the opportunity to stay in the United States if they agreed to practice in medically underserved areas. The USDA decision was prompted by heightened national security concerns after September 11th, 2002. For the press release, visit http://haponline.org/.