For Doctors & Healthcare
The U.S. needs
your expertise.
We'll get you there.
Physician shortages. Research funding. Residency programs at leading academic medical centers. The U.S. healthcare system needs international physicians - and there are clear paths to get there.
120+
Healthcare professionals guided
95%
Approval rate
J-1 waiver
Often fastest path
*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
The Reality
Physicians have more
options than they think.
Every physician we've worked with assumed they were stuck in a single pathway - H-1B or J-1 forever. Most had options they'd never been told about: NIW self-petitions, Conrad 30 waivers, cap-exempt institutions, and more.
The physician shortage in the U.S. is well-documented - and USCIS has built pathways that reflect it. If you serve an underserved area or conduct research with national health implications, those pathways are specifically designed for you.
The J-1 home residency bar can be removed
Conrad 30, IGA waivers, and federal agency programs can eliminate the two-year home residency requirement. Most J-1 physicians don't know all their waiver options.
Physicians can self-petition for a green card
The EB-2 NIW is specifically well-suited for physicians serving underserved communities. No employer required. Direct permanent residency.
Many hospitals are H-1B cap-exempt
Nonprofit hospitals, academic medical centers, and government research institutions may be exempt from the H-1B lottery cap - making them a much faster path.
Physician Profiles
Does this sound like you?
Your career stage, current visa status, and specialty determine which path makes most sense.
Medical graduate seeking residency
You've matched into a U.S. residency program and need the right visa status to begin training. The path depends on your nationality and program structure.
J-1 or H-1B depending on programPhysician on J-1 seeking waiver
You're on a J-1 and the two-year home residency requirement is blocking your plans. A J-1 waiver - through Conrad 30, IGA, or federal agency - may be your path forward.
J-1 waiver - often fastestSpecialist joining a U.S. hospital
A U.S. healthcare system has recruited you for a specialist or attending position. You have the credentials - you need the status to match.
H-1B or O-1A depending on profileHealthcare researcher
You're conducting clinical or laboratory research in the U.S. Your publications, grants, and research impact open self-petition routes that employed physicians often don't consider.
EB-2 NIW or O-1A most common
Your destination
“The world's leading medical institutions
are in America.”
Not sure which profile fits you? We'll figure it out together.
Book a free 30-min call →Visa Options
Four paths. One is right
for your medical career.
We don't push every physician toward the same visa. The right path depends on your current status, your specialty, and your long-term goals.
Remove the two-year home residency requirement - and stay.
Best for
Physicians completing J-1 exchange visitor programs who want to remain in the U.S. without returning home for two years first.
Why physicians choose this
Conrad 30, IGA waivers, and federal agency waivers can eliminate the home residency requirement. The fastest path to authorization for J-1 physicians.
Not ideal if
You're not on a J-1, or you're not willing to commit to an underserved area (required for Conrad 30).
Timeline
Varies by waiver type
Specialty occupation - standard employer-sponsored path.
Best for
Physicians completing residency or fellowship programs, or specialists joining U.S. healthcare organizations.
Why physicians choose this
Well-understood by hospitals and healthcare systems. Works well when you have a strong employer willing to sponsor and timing aligns.
Not ideal if
Subject to the H-1B cap and lottery - though physicians in cap-exempt institutions (nonprofits, universities) may be exempt.
Timeline
Cap-exempt: varies; Cap-subject: April lottery
A green card for physicians advancing national health interests.
Best for
Physicians and healthcare researchers working in underserved areas or conducting research with substantial national health importance.
Why physicians choose this
Self-petition. No employer required. Physicians serving underserved communities have a particularly clear path under the national interest waiver framework.
Not ideal if
Your practice isn't in an underserved area and your research impact is primarily local.
Timeline
8-12 wks prep + USCIS
Extraordinary ability in medicine - for top physicians and researchers.
Best for
Physicians and researchers with documented recognition: publications, clinical leadership, awards, peer review, critical roles at leading medical institutions.
Why physicians choose this
No lottery. No employer cap. Fast-track with premium processing. Strong option when employer-sponsored paths aren't available.
Not ideal if
Your recognition is primarily within your hospital or practice rather than externally documented.
Timeline
6-8 wks prep + 15 days premium
Quick Comparison
If you just want the quick version -
here's how physician visa paths compare at a glance.
Path
Speed
Control
Green Card
Best for
J-1 Waiver
Medium
Medium
J-1 physicians removing home residency requirement
H-1B
Varies
Low
Residents / specialists at sponsoring institutions
EB-2 NIW
Medium
High
Self-petition, national health importance
O-1A
Fast
High
Top physicians with documented recognition
EB-1A
Medium
High
Leading researchers/physicians, self-petition GC
There's no single “best” physician visa - only the one that fits your stage, your institution, and your goals.
Not sure which option fits your situation?
Explore your options →Honest Assessment
When these paths may not be the right fit.
Some physician situations require a different approach or more preparation. We check this for you - in your free call.
These options may not make sense if:
You don't have USMLE scores or ECFMG certification (required for U.S. medical practice)
Your specialty hasn't yet completed residency or fellowship equivalents
You're not willing to commit to underserved area service (required for Conrad 30 waiver)
Your current visa status creates timeline constraints that require a different approach
If none of these paths make sense - we'll tell you that.
Book a free call →Physician Stories
Healthcare professionals who made the move.
“I was on a J-1 and the two-year requirement felt like a wall. PassRight walked me through the Conrad 30 waiver, found the right state, and I was practicing within eight months.”
Anika
Germany → Tennessee
Internal medicine physician
J-1 physician matched Conrad 30 underserved area placement in Tennessee. Three-year service commitment in HPSA-designated community. Waiver approved, H-1B filed through hospital.
Why this path
Conrad 30 was the fastest path to remove the home residency bar and begin her U.S. medical career.
“I had 20 publications in cardiology research and no idea the NIW applied to me. Physicians serving underserved communities have a very direct path - I just didn't know it.”
Kwame
Ghana → Chicago
Cardiologist, FQHC
Cardiologist at a federally qualified health center in a medically underserved area, with 20 peer-reviewed publications. NIW approved based on national health importance and physician shortage area service.
Why this path
Self-petition was key - no employer dependency for the green card and the NIW framework was custom-built for his situation.
“I led clinical trials, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and still thought I needed a hospital to sponsor my green card. PassRight showed me I could do it myself.”
Irina
Russia → Boston
Clinical researcher, major academic medical center
Clinical researcher with NEJM and Lancet publications, NIH grant funding, peer review roles, and keynote presentations at international medical conferences. EB-1A self-petition approved.
Why this path
Self-petition gave her control - no institutional dependency and a direct path to permanent residency based on her research record alone.
Why PassRight
Physician immigration has specific quirks that general immigration firms miss - J-1 waiver programs, cap-exempt institutions, NIW pathways for underserved areas. We know them all.
J-1 waiver expertise
Conrad 30, IGA, NIH, VA, Appalachian Regional Commission - we know every waiver program and which one fits your situation and specialty.
95% approval rate
Our physician cases don't just get filed - they get approved. We only take cases we believe in.
We know hospital timelines
Residency start dates, fellowship transitions, hospital credentialing - we build the immigration timeline around your medical program's needs.
We work with hospital HR
Whether the petition is employer-sponsored or self-petition, we coordinate with hospital HR and compliance teams so the process runs smoothly.
Honest about NIW eligibility
Not every physician qualifies for NIW - but if you serve an underserved area or conduct nationally important research, we'll show you how strong your case actually is.
Your attorney stays on your case
No bait-and-switch to a junior associate. The attorney who reviews your profile builds your case - from first call to final approval.
“They knew the Conrad 30 program inside and out - the HPSA scores, the state quotas, the timeline. I felt like I was talking to someone who had done this a hundred times. Because they had.”
Anika
Internal medicine physician - Frankfurt → Tennessee
Conrad 30 waiver approved
The Process
Built around
your hospital's timeline.
You have patients and clinical duties. We have the immigration process. Our approach is structured to work around your schedule - and to coordinate with your institution so nothing falls through the cracks.
Attorney-led from day one.
Not a paralegal. Not a template. Your case.
Free strategy call
We review your current status, your specialty, and your timeline - and tell you honestly which paths make sense and what they require.
Attorney case review
Your attorney designs the strategy - whether that's a waiver application, H-1B petition, or NIW self-petition - before any documents are collected.
Evidence build
We guide you and your institution through collecting exactly what's needed. Every item serves a purpose.
Filing & follow-through
Your petition is submitted. We stay with you through USCIS correspondence, RFEs, and all the way to approval.
Recommended Reading
Worth knowing.
J-1 Waiver for Physicians: Conrad 30, IGA, and Your Options
The J-1 two-year home residency requirement doesn't have to end your U.S. career. Here's how the waiver programs work and which one might fit your situation.
Read more →
EB-2 NIWPhysicians and the National Interest Waiver: A Direct Path to a Green Card
Physicians serving underserved areas or conducting health research have a particularly strong NIW case. Here's how it works and what the evidence looks like.
Read more →
H-1BH-1B for Physicians: Cap-Exempt Institutions and What They Mean for You
Many healthcare institutions are H-1B cap-exempt. If your employer qualifies, you may be able to avoid the lottery entirely. Here's what to look for.
Read more →
StrategyPhysician Immigration Roadmap: Which Path Is Right at Each Career Stage
Residency, fellowship, attending, researcher - the right immigration path depends on where you are in your medical career. A stage-by-stage breakdown.
Read more →
The move is possible
Your expertise belongs in America.
Let's make it happen.
Book a free 30-minute strategy call. We'll review your current status and career stage, tell you which paths make sense, and give you an honest assessment.
No commitment. No sales pressure. Just a real conversation about your situation.
120+
Healthcare professionals guided
95%
Approval rate
J-1 waiver
Often fastest path