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J-1 Waiver Legislation Signed by President Bush on December 3, 2004

On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed a significant piece of legislation that will positively impact the J-1 waiver program in several ways. The legislation, Public Law 108-441, extends the Conrad State 30 Program for a two-year period; permits federal interested government agencies (such as the Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority and Health and Human Services) to sponsor J-1 waiver requests for both primary care and sub specialist physicians if they are able to demonstrate a shortage of doctors able to provide the appropriate medical specialty in the designated geographical area; provides an exemption from the H-1B cap for J-1 physicians who have received a state or federal interested government agency waiver; and permits each state department of health to sponsor up to five J-1 waivers per year for physicians not working in medically underserved areas but who serve patients who reside in medically underserved areas.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact this office.

POSTED: DECEMBER 10, 2004

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