DHS urged to exclude J-1 visa physicians from proposed rule change

The AHA today joined five other national medical groups in urging the Department of Homeland Security to exclude foreign national physicians in the J-1 visa program from a proposed change to the process for extending certain non-immigrant visa stays in the United States.

“The change to the ‘duration of status’ model will add no value for the J-1 physician cohort,” wrote the AHA, Association of American Medical Colleges, American Medical Association, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, National Resident Matching Program and Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

“Instead, it will jeopardize the delivery of patient care in the United States. We exhort you to urge [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] to exclude medical trainees from such a proposal.”