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Traveling Outside the U.S.

If a J-1 physician or J-2 dependents have travel plans outside the U.S. and they are not in possession of a travel-validated DS-2019, they must submit a Request for Duplicate Form DS-2019. ECFMG will process the request within 7 to 10 business days and send the Form DS-2019 to OIS by regular mail. If the physician wishes to receive the travel-validated Form DS-2019 by courier service, s/he must include a pre-paid shipping label printed from an on-line source and uploaded through OASIS as a separate document. It is your responsibility to ensure that your request for a travel-validated DS-2019 is received by ECFMG well before your departure from the United States. Once OIS receives the signed DS-2019 for travel, we will notify you.

For more information on international travel tips, please visit the ECFMG website.

Moonlighting

Moonlighting is strictly prohibited while in J-1 status. Physicians on ECFMG J-1 visas are only authorized to participate in official program training activities. If a physician on an ECFMG J-1 visa engages in unauthorized employment including internal moonlighting, ECFMG may have to terminate the physician’s visa status.

For ACGME programs, the training activities are well-defined.  For non-standard programs, ECFMG will review the original program description submitted in support of the visa application.

If you have any questions about a proposed activity and whether it constitutes moonlighting, please contact OIS.

Two-Year Home Residency Requirement

All J-1 physicians sponsored by ECFMG for clinical training are subject to the two-year home country physical presence (foreign residence) requirement of §212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. A Statement of Need from the physician’s country of last legal permanent residence is a J-1 sponsorship requirement and serves to evidence home country support for the U.S. training and provide assurance of an applicant’s commitment to return home.

Accordingly, all J-1 “alien physicians” must return to their home countries for a cumulative period of at least two years before being eligible to do any of the following:

  • Change status while in the United States to the nonimmigrant categories of temporary worker (H) or intracompany transferee (L);
  • Adjust status while in the United States to immigrant visa/lawful permanent resident status (LPR/Green Card);
  • Receive an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate; and
  • Receive a temporary worker (H), intracompany transferee (L), or fiancé (K) visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Alternatively, a J-1 physician may obtain a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement. OIS cannot advise J-1 physicians on obtaining a waiver, but we encourage you to seek assistance from an immigration attorney who is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and specializes in physician immigration law.