There are a host of ways you may recruit physicians for your openings. One of these is to help you fill your open position with a physician or surgeon who needs a waiver of their J-1 visa.

When you strategize about the various ways to fill your open positions, one available avenue is the J-1 visa waiver program using Conrad 30.

Conrad 30 lets physicians stay in the United States after residency and/or fellowship training. Under the program, each state is allowed to submit 30 physicians to the U.S. Department of State for a J-1 visa waiver.

As you may be aware, physicians who come to the U.S. on a J-1 visa must return to their home country once they finish their residency or fellowship training unless they obtain a waiver.

Although Conrad 30 is a great resource, it helps to know the program’s limitations. One of them is the time each state has for accepting these applications. The federal government's fiscal year is from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, and each Conrad 30 J-1 visa waiver program follows a similar timeline in almost every state.

Conrad 30 programs may begin their process on Oct. 1, or they may have already begun the process. 

 View the states, contacts and deadlines as published on their websites. 

As a recruiter, it’s important you have some knowledge of immigration as it relates to physicians and the hiring process. Immigration matters have become increasingly complicated, and involving an expert is essential at some point in the process. However, it’s still beneficial to understand the basics before reaching the point where you need an expert.

Given the widespread shortages in the physician workforce, physician recruiters need to explore alternative sources of healthcare providers, running from the expanded utilization of allied healthcare professionals to a greater utilization of International Medical Graduates (IMGs).