The articles in this section deal with special issues that affect foreign medical graduates who wish to come to the United States as nonimmigrants or who wish to become lawful permanent residents ("green card" holders).

Nonimmigrant Issues

• Obtaining a J waiver to work in a medically underserved area or VA facility.

Immigrant Issues

The CIS recently changed their policy with respect to physician NIW petitions following the decision by the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Schneider v. Chertoff. The links immediately below contain the former and current CIS policies. We will be updating this section soon.

• CIS Adjudicator's Field Manual entry concerning physician national interest waiver petitions and adjustments.
• Decision in Schneider v. Chertoff invalidating CIS regulations concerning shortage area medical practice that occurred before the approval of the immigrant visa petition and national interest waiver
• Revised CIS procedures in light of the court's decision in Schneider v. Chertoff invalidating CIS regulations concerning the time limits by which physicians must complete the five year service period.