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Visa Sponsorship Information

J-1 Exchange Visitor Physician Sponsorship Through ECFMG

For physicians requiring sponsorship, J-1 physician sponsorship is available through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and is the preferred sponsorship option for physician trainees entering ACGME-accredited training programs at UMass Chan Medical School. ECFMG is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a BridgeUSA sponsor for J-1 exchange visitor physicians enrolled in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training. ECFMG is the sole sponsor of J-1 physicians in clinical training programs in the United States.
Per ECFMG, UMass Chan will provide multi-year DS-2019 forms for physicians participating in multi-year training programs. Intealth remains the designated J-1 visa sponsor, and training programs will continue to coordinate with Intealth through the Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (EVSP).
All J-1 exchange visitor physicians are subject to a MANDATORY two-year foreign residency requirement (Section 212(e)), at the completion of their graduate medical education training.
The Immigration Services Office acts as the Training Program Liaison (TPL) on behalf of UMass Chan Medical School’s Graduate Medical Education training programs and will assist programs and physician trainees with the sponsorship application process. Additional information about the sponsorship application process as well as information about J-1 sponsorship regulations can be located on ECFMG’s Applying for Sponsorship website.
Effective September 12, 2025, J-1 physicians may engage in “supplemental clinical activities” within their training institutions, provided specific conditions are met. Sometimes referred to as “internal moonlighting,” this flexibility—developed in collaboration with federal partners—aims to enrich the educational experience without extending training timelines. However, J-1 physicians are still prohibited from moonlighting or billing for services, as the J-1 visa is strictly for training, not employment.

F-1 Student Status (Optional Practical Training)

U.S. Medical School students who will complete an MD or DO program while in F-1 student status are eligible to begin the first year of their residency training using their initial 12 months of F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT). This does not include students who are completing a PhD, MPH or other educational programs in the U.S., including intensive language or test-preparation courses such as Kaplan. Students must receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for OPT, prior to the start of clinical training, thus it is recommended to apply for OPT as early as possible.
UMass Chan does not support STEM OPT for clinical training programs, therefore UMass Chan Medical School will support clinical H1B sponsorship for US Medical School graduates starting at the end of their 12 months of OPT. The process to convert the F-1 student to H1B sponsorship will begin typically towards the end of the PGY 1 year (generally in March).

H-1B Sponsorship

In limited circumstances, UMass Chan will provide H-1B sponsorship for clinical training. Those circumstances include:

UMass Chan Medical School may transfer a physician’s clinical H-1B sponsorship from another U.S. clinical residency or fellowship program if there is sufficient time left to complete the UMass Chan training program to which the resident or fellow has applied. This does NOT include applicants currently holding H1B status for research* or other non-clinical employment. Note that there is a 6-year H1B sponsorship limit with limited extensions for certain individuals in the process of applying for employment-based permanent residency.
UMass Chan will support clinical H-1B sponsorship for US Medical School graduates (MD or DO programs only) following their iniitial 12 month OPT period.

All other requests for initial clinical H-1B sponsorship must be reviewed by the GME Visa Committee on a case by case basis. Applicants and programs must demonstrate why their situation warrants an exception to the sponsorship policy. Exceptions are rarely granted. Programs requesting exceptions for their applicant must ensure that the applicant meets the following conditions before bringing their case to the GME Visa Committee:

*If an applicant holds a non-clinical H-1B status, the applicant must have sufficient time remianing in H-1B status to complete the proposed training program
Applicant must be eligible for a Massachusetts Medical License
Graduates of Medical Schools outside of the U.S. must PASS USMLE Steps 1, 2 AND 3. and have ECFMG Certification (Canadian Medical School Graduates are not exempt from this requirement)
If applicant holds non-clinical H-1B status, applicant must have sufficient time remaining in H-1B status to complete their proposed training
Applicant must have previous US clinical experience
Recent clinical experience (within the past 12 months) in another country may be considered in lieu of US experience.

Please be aware that processing timelines for H1B sponsorship can be tight. Before UMass Chan is able to submit an H1B employment sponsorship petition to USCIS for a trainee, the trainee MUST meet the following requirements:

Hold a Massachusetts Medical License which will be valid on 1^st day of proposed training
Graduates of Medical Schools outside of the U.S. must PASS USMLE Steps 1, 2 AND 3. and have ECFMG Certification (Canadian Medical School Graduates are not exempt from this requirement)
Be approved by the GME Visa Committee, if they do not meet one of 2 standard sponsorship criteria outlined above

Permanent Residency Sponsorship

UMass Chan is not able to offer permanent residency sponsorship for our clinical training positions.