Profession
Resolution asks Association to lobby for faster J-1 visa waiver processing
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 28, 2005
Delegates at the Interim Meeting in Dallas directed the AMA to lobby the federal government to process J-1 visa waiver applications faster.
A resolution calling for the new effort received strong support from delegates and passed the full House of Delegates without debate. Physicians testifying on the issue complained about the time and effort required to waive the two-year home residency requirement for foreign doctors who want to stay in the United States and practice in an underserved area.
The House of Delegates referred for further study another resolution calling for the government to allow three years of cumulative service in an underserved area -- rather than continuous service -- to meet the J-1 visa waiver requirements. Physicians supporting such a lobbying effort said that foreign doctors who are being mistreated by their employers cannot leave the job without having to start the three years all over again.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/11/28/prbf1128.htm.












