J1 visa

The J1 visa is a training visa. While on this visa, you can work only in training jobs like residencies and fellowships. It allows you to stay in the USA for a maximum period of 7 years. Thus, the visa allows adequate time for completion of training.

Unlike the H1B which is stamped for 3 years, the J-1 is stamped for 1 year only. For the rest of the duration, you get your status changed from the USA. However, you do not get your passport stamped. This means that after the first year, if you leave the USA to go anywhere in the world, you will have to get the passport stamped again (from Islamabad) so as to re-enter the USA.

In the good old days, when visa issues were not a major problem, one could travel freely on J-1. You usually get a three to four week vacation block. People used to come to their home country, re-apply for the J-1 and got it stamped before they returned. However times have changed now. Since visa processing requires FBI clearance, which could take weeks, it follows that you can only travel within the first year. The ECFMG also discourages traveling during the course of your training.

With female doctors, it’s a complicated issue. If the passport does not go for clearance, then you can travel. But, if it does, then you can not return back to your program within the vacation period. The US visa policies keep on changing. Get an update before you make a decision.

The principle of J-1 is that a doctor from a third world country is going to the USA for training. Thus it follows that you have to return to your home country to serve for at least two years. This also means that the visa consular at Islamabad gets to decide whether you should go or not. This is in sharp contrast with H-1 where the visa consular at the embassy cannot refuse.


Pros and Cons of J-1:

J-1 visa is easier to get. It requires less processing, less money and therefore less hassle. No Step 3 result is required. Like residency programs, all fellowships sponsor J1 visas, however, a much lower proportion of fellowships (as compared to residencies) sponsor H1B visas. Thus, J1 visa applicants get an advantage over H1B visa applicants. The spouse of a J-1 may enter the USA on a J-2 visa, on which one can work or study in the US. You get to pay less tax (but you do pay it!!!).

On the other hand, J-1 can get rejected at Islamabad. You cannot travel much except during the first year (the internship year). You cannot do moonlighting so J-1 is NOT a financially beneficial visa. It cannot be converted into a Green Card unless you return to your home country or do a J-1 waiver in the USA for two years.

Processing for J-1:

You need the DS-2019 (previously known as IAP 66) form from the ECFMG in order to apply for the visa at the Visa Consulate. In order to get the DS, you need a NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Government of Pakistan. In order to get the NOC, you need a valid PMDC certificate.

So here is how you do it.

1- First thing apply for PMDC renewal. For that you need your previous certificate. If you already have a valid PMDC certificate than you don't need to worry about it and you will save some time. Do this before you have matched.

2- Than you apply for NOC. The NOC form as well as the statement of the affidavit is also available online at www.ypprc.org in their download section. You need to attach attested photocopies of your
a) NIC,
b) Passport, (the form does not ask for it...but you still got to give it)
c) PMDC certificate,
d) Degree
e) And an affidavit saying that you are not a Government servant and stuff like that.
f) You also need the OFFER LETTER from the program where you have matched. So you can apply for NOC only after you have matched and have the offer letter from the program.

Once you have the NOC, than you apply for the DS 2019 from the ECFMG. You download the EVSP application form from the ECFMG website, fill it, attach all the documents and send it to your program. The EVSP application has a checklist included so you know which documents to send along with it. The program forwards it to the ECFMG. Pay the fee on OASIS before you send in the form.

The ECFMG takes a week or two to process your DS and sends it back to the program. When you get the DS form back, you will need to pay SEVIS fee. SEVIS stands for “Student and Exchange Visitor Information System”. ECFMG registers you with SEVIS and gives you a SEVIS ID number that starts with N. Once you have that number, you log on to www.fmjfee.com and make that payment. More info on that is available on the EVSP application form. Once you have done that, you are now eligible to go for J1 visa interview. So that’s when you need all your luck!!

The J-1 does not require state license or Step 3 result. So the processing of Residency permit or Temporary State license is independent of your visa application.

Note: This article has been derived from "Roadmap to Residency" authored by AKU graduates, with permission from few of the authors. Name of the original author, has purposely not been mentioned on request of one of the authors, for privacy reasons. If you are the original author of this article and want your name to be mentioned or wish this article to be modified/ removed from this website, please contact us and we would be more than happy to entertain your request. We fully respect your privacy, acknowledge your efforts put in authoring this article and appreciate your hard work involved in it.