Home / Healthcare Immigration Services / Physicians / Work Visas
Work visas for physicians
Physician Immigration Questions? Let’s Talk.
Work Visa Options for Resident and Fellow Physicians
H-1B Visas
Foreign national physicians participating in a Graduate Medical Education (GME) Residency or Fellowship clinical training program can qualify for H-1B work visa status for a period of up to 6 years. One of the primary advantages for physicians completing GME training in H-1B status is that they are not subject to the restrictive 2 year home residency requirement that applies to physicians who complete their GME training in J-1 status.
J-1 Visas
Foreign national physicians participating in a Graduate Medical Education (GME) Residency or Fellowship clinical training program can qualify for J-1 visa status for a period of up to 7 years. Physicians who complete their GME training in J-1 visa status are subject to the 2 year home residency requirement, otherwise know as Section 212(e), and typically must obtain a J-1 waiver to remain in the U.S. and work after the completion of their GME residency or fellowship.
E-3 Visas
Physicians who are Australian citizens are eligible to participate in a residency or fellowship in E-3 work visa status. The eligibility requirements for the E-3 visa category, which is only available for Australians, are essentially the sames as the H-1B eligibility requirements.
More Work Visa Questions? Let’s Talk.
Work Visa Options for Attending and Staff Physicians
H-1B Visas
After completing a GME residency or fellowship, foreign national physicians can utilize H-1B status to work in a clinical staff position with a hospital, health system, private clinic or any other healthcare employer. Any time that the physician spent working in H-1B work visa status during a residency or fellowship training program does count towards the H-1B 6-year limitation.
O-1 Visas
For foreign national physicians who can satisfy the immigration service’s “extraordinary ability” criteria, the O-1 visa can be a great option to provide work authorization for a post-training clinical staff position. One significant advantage of O-1 work visa status is that unlike H-1B status, there is no limit to how long you can continue to extend O-1 work authorization.
E-3 Visas
Physicians who are Australian citizens are eligible to obtain E-3 visa status to work in staff physician and attending physician positions. The eligibility requirements for the E-3 visa category, which is only available for Australians, are essentially the sames as the H-1B eligibility requirements.
More Work Visa Questions? Let’s Talk.
Work Visa Options for Physician Researchers
O-1 Visas
Foreign national physicians who work in a research capacity and can satisfy the immigration service’s “extraordinary ability” criteria are able to utilize O-1 work visa status.
TN Visas
Physicians who are Canadian or Mexican citizens, and who are working in a medical research-only capacity (no clinical duties) can qualify for TN work visa status under the NAFTA treaty.
E-3 Visas
Physicians who are Australian citizens are eligible to obtain E-3 visa status to work in medical research positions. The eligibility requirements for the E-3 visa category, which is only available for Australians, are essentially the sames as the H-1B eligibility requirements.
More Work Visa Questions? Let’s Talk.
Meet our Healthcare Team
Kristi Crawford
Marc Topoleski
Marisa Ignash
Mary Kate Church
Sarah McElwaney