Conrad State 30 J-1 Program Extension

The U.S. Congress passed the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016” on December 15, 2015, which among the provisions included a temporary extension of the Conrad State Waiver program. The Conrad Waiver program provides an option for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to waive the two-year home residence requirement for clinical services for three years in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P), or at a facility that serves patients drawn from HPSAs and/or MUAs/Ps. The Conrad 30 program provides for the approval of up to 30 J-1 waivers for each State per federal Fiscal Year (October 1 to September 30). The States will continue to be able to support waiver applications for J-1 physicians who were admitted in, or acquired, J-1 status before September 30, 2016.