{"id":404,"date":"2018-08-03T19:16:12","date_gmt":"2018-08-03T19:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.uthscsa.edu\/ois\/?page_id=404"},"modified":"2026-04-16T09:07:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T14:07:01","slug":"links-to-ecfmg","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.uthscsa.edu\/ois\/immigration\/ecfmg-j-1\/links-to-ecfmg\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot Topics"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Traveling Outside the U.S.<\/h2>\n

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\u00a0Request for Duplicate Form DS-2019<\/em><\/a>. ECFMG will process the request within\u00a07 to 10 business days<\/strong> and upload the document to your account in MyIntealth<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

For more information on international travel tips, please visit the ECFMG website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Moonlighting<\/h2>\n

Moonlighting is strictly prohibited while in J-1 status.\u00a0Physicians 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\u2019s visa status.<\/p>\n

For ACGME programs, the training activities are well-defined.\u00a0 For non-standard programs, ECFMG will review the original program description submitted in support of the visa application.<\/p>\n

If you have any questions about a proposed activity and whether it constitutes moonlighting, please contact OIS.<\/p>\n

Two-Year Home Residency Requirement<\/h2>\n

All J-1 physicians sponsored by ECFMG for clinical training are subject to the\u00a0two-year home country physical presence (foreign residence) requirement<\/a>\u00a0of \u00a7212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. A Statement of Need from the physician\u2019s 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\u2019s commitment to return home.<\/p>\n

Accordingly, all J-1 \u201calien physicians\u201d must return to their home countries for a cumulative period of at least two years before being eligible to do any of the following:<\/p>\n