Visas

J-1 vs H-1B for Residency: Which Visa Fits Your Plan?

How the J-1 and H-1B compare for international medical graduates in residency: sponsorship, requirements, the two-year home rule, waivers and trade-offs.

5 min read

The J-1 Visa Process for Residents, Step by Step

How an ECFMG-sponsored J-1 works for IMG residents, from the Statement of Need and DS-2019 to the visa interview, arrival and yearly renewal.

6 min read

H-1B for Residents: Requirements and Timeline

What an H-1B for a residency position requires, who files it, how cap-exempt employers fit in, and what changed with the 2025 and 2026 H-1B payment rules.

6 min read

B-1/B-2 Visitor Visas for Exams and Interviews

When IMGs can use a B-1/B-2 visitor visa for USMLE exams and residency interviews, what it does not allow, and what has changed in visa processing.

5 min read

The Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212(e))

What the J-1 two-year home-country physical presence requirement means for IMG physicians, what it blocks, and the five waiver routes including Conrad 30.

5 min read

Your Visa Timeline After the Match

A practical, step-by-step visa timeline for IMGs after Match Day, for both J-1 and H-1B, with the questions to ask and where delays usually happen.

4 min read

Visa Policy Changes Tracker for Physicians

A dated log of verified US visa policy changes since 2025 that affect IMG physicians, with who is affected, official links and how to keep monitoring.

6 min read

Step 3 and H-1B Timing: Planning Backward

How to plan USMLE Step 3 around an H-1B residency start by working backward from the program's filing date, licensing needs and score release time.

5 min read

Preparing for Your US Visa Interview

How to prepare for a J-1 or H-1B visa interview as a physician: documents, what the officer decides, and what 221(g) and 214(b) refusals mean.

5 min read

The O-1 Visa: Is It Realistic for Physicians?

What the O-1A visa for extraordinary ability requires, why it is uncommon for residents, and what kind of evidence a petition needs, with no promises.

6 min read

Bringing Your Family: J-2 and H-4 Dependents

How J-2 and H-4 status work for the spouse and children of IMG residents: who qualifies, work authorization, travel, school and what changes over time.

6 min read

Visa Delays and Backup Plans Before Orientation

What can delay a J-1 or H-1B start for a matched IMG, who to tell and when, how start dates and deferrals work, and what a realistic contingency plan looks like.

6 min read

The Conrad 30 Waiver Program Explained

How Conrad 30 lets a state sponsor J-1 physicians for a waiver of the two-year home rule in exchange for shortage-area service, and where its legal status stands.

6 min read

J-1 Waiver Options: Conrad 30, Federal Agencies and More

The routes a J-1 physician can use to waive the two-year home-country requirement: Conrad 30, HHS, regional commissions, the VA, hardship and persecution, compared.

5 min read

H-1B Cap-Exempt Employers and Why It Matters

Which employers can file H-1B petitions outside the annual cap, how teaching hospitals qualify, and what cap status means for your timeline as an IMG.

5 min read

Green Card Paths for Physicians

An overview of employment-based green card routes for IMG physicians, including the physician national interest waiver, priority dates and how a J-1 waiver fits in.

5 min read