The following is important information pertaining to Mississippi's Conrad State 30 and ARC J-1 visa waiver application processes.
Please be certain to thoroughly read the J-1 Visa Waiver Guidelines and Application and refer to the U.S. Department of State's website for additional specific instructions regarding submission.
Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Program
- Information on currently designated health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) for primary medical care or mental health recommendations will be provided upon request.
- Medical facilities located in those counties which are a part of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) are not eligible to recruit primary care J-1 Physicians through this Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program. Primary Care includes: family practice, general practice, general pediatrics, obstetrics, and general internal medicine. The ARC J-1 Visa Waiver Program must be used by these facilities located in those counties which are a part of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to recruit primary care providers. However, those facilities can recruit psychiatrists and specialists under this Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program.
- A non-refundable processing fee of $2000.00 is required to process a Mississippi Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Application. A check or money order from the sponsoring facility should be payable to the Mississippi State Department of Health and submitted with the completed Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Application. No complete Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Application will be processed without payment of the processing fee.
- The U.S. Department of State requires that the J-1 Visa Waiver Data Sheet be submitted to the appropriate address contained in the Department's policies, along with their user processing fee identified on the U.S. Department of State website and two self-addressed, stamped, legal-size envelopes. The U.S. Department of State will assign a USIA file number. This USIA file number must be placed on each page of the Mississippi Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Application. The US Department of State's mailing address is included in this packet.
- J-1 visa forms state.gov
- Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Program Guidelines
- Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Application Packet
- Questions and answers about the Conrad State 30 Visa Program
For status inquiries on a waiver application, call 202-633-1600.
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) J-1 Visa Program
- The Site Predetermination Application (Sections A through L of the ARC J-1 Visa Application constitute the Site Predetermination Application) must be submitted. Applicants should be certain to include all of the information and documentation required by Sections A through L of the Application in order to complete the Site Predetermination process. No action in regards to the Site Predetermination will be taken prior to submission of these required items and supporting documentation.
- Information on currently designated health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) for primary medical care or mental health recommendations will be provided upon request. Medical facilities located in the counties which are a part of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) are eligible to recruit primary care J-1 Physicians through this ARC J-1 Visa Waiver Program. Primary Care includes: family practice, general practice, general pediatrics, obstetrics, general internal medicine, or psychiatry. Medical facilities located in those counties which are a part of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) may only recruit psychiatrists and specialists under the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Program.
- The U.S. Department of State requires that the J-1 Visa Waiver Data Sheet be submitted to the appropriate address contained in the Department's policies, along with their user processing fee and two self-addressed, stamped, legal-size envelopes. The U.S. Department of State will assign a USIA file number. This USIA file number must be placed on each page of the ARC J-1 Visa Waiver Application. The Department of State's mailing address is included in this packet. The data sheet is available at their website. Information regarding this requirement can be found at the U.S. Department of State website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange/waiver-of-the-exchange-visitor.html.
- ARC J-1 Visa Program Guidelines
- ARC J-1 Visa Waiver Application Packet
- ARC J-1 Visa Physician Verification of Employment
- ARC J-1 Visa Physician Transfer Notification Form
National Interest Waiver Program
National Interest Waivers fall in the employment-based immigration second preference EB-2 category. Under normal conditions, labor certification is required in EB-2 visa cases, in which the U.S. employer must show that there are no qualified U.S. employees to fill the position offered. In the case of a National Interest Waiver, the labor certification process is waived, if it is in the best interest of the United States. The Mississippi State Department of Health can issue a support letter for a National Interest Waiver (NIW) if the agency deems the proposed employment to be in the public’s interest. Interested physicians should see the NIW guidelines below.
