President-Elect Joe Biden will inherit an immigration landscape that has changed dramatically in the four years of the Trump Administration. Under its “Buy American, Hire American” directive, the Trump Administration changed the way federal immigration laws are interpreted and enforced, leading to increased scrutiny of every conceivable aspect of legal immigration, from obtaining U.S. citizenship… [Read More]
Conrad Waiver Alternatives – How to Hire a Foreign Physician
While United States Medical Residency Programs educate hundreds of foreign medical doctors a year, employment opportunities for foreign doctors can be limited upon graduation by the Home Residency Requirement (HHR) of J-1 Visas. The Conrad Visa Waiver – issued by state departments of public health – is one common way for foreign medical graduates to… [Read More]
HHS Waiver Guidelines Expand to Include More Healthcare Facilities
In June, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) changed federal guidelines so that any facility, from hospital to private practice, can apply for an HHS Waiver for foreign physicians, as long as the facility has a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score of at least 7, and the physician will provide primary care… [Read More]
Congress Questions USCIS on Spike in Denials and Increasing Delays
The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship questioned United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials about backlogs and changes in adjudication of petitions within the department at a July 16 House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing. The hearing marks the most pointed criticism from the Judiciary Committee in recent memory and coupled with… [Read More]
Three Strategies for Hiring Foreign Nurses
Challenges facing healthcare systems in 2019 have created shortages of critical healthcare providers throughout the United States – a shortage that could exceed 100,000 physicians and 500,000 nurses by 2030. While programs exist specifically to hire foreign doctors in medically underserved areas, there are no such solutions to address profound shortages in nursing. Luckily, there… [Read More]
State By State Deadlines for Conrad 30 J-1 Visa Waiver
Important Notice: HHS changed guidelines in June 2020 to open up the federal J-1 waiver program to healthcare providers of all sizes. This is a big change that will positively impact many healthcare providers. Unlike the Conrad Waiver program, HHS waivers do not carry a restrictive quota and timeline. HHS waivers present a more flexible… [Read More]
J-1 Visa Waivers: FAQs for Healthcare Employers
HHS changed guidelines in June 2020 to open up the federal J-1 waiver program to healthcare providers of all sizes. Unlike the Conrad Waiver program, HHS waivers do not carry a restrictive quota and timeline. HHS waivers present a more flexible option for qualifying hospitals that rely on foreign physician. Contact us for complimentary consultation if… [Read More]
Not Just Dreamers – Here Are Three Real Immigration Problems Congress Should Address (And How to Fix Them)
House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday announced two votes on immigration legislation in the United States House of Representatives, derailing efforts by bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives to secure the signatures necessary to vote on competing immigration reform bills using a discharge petition. The upcoming votes on two separate immigration bills – one proposed by… [Read More]
5 US Business Visas for Foreign-Born Physicians
This article explains immigration pathways for foreign physicians. For a comprehensive look at healthcare immigration for Human Resource Leaders, click here. For a detailed overview of healthcare immigration for foreign medical graduates or foreign medical students enrolled in U.S. medical training programs, click here. The United States is predicted to have a significant shortage of qualified physicians in… [Read More]
Profiles in Immigration – The Family Side of Immigration Law
As business immigration attorneys, we help companies employ the best possible candidates, regardless of their nationality. One of these businesses is a global systems designer for manufacturing companies. As a multinational entity with offices in Italy and Australia and the United States, this company depends on L-1 and H-1B visas to ensure the global mobility their… [Read More]
