Foreign Physicians Helping Underserved Areas
The Primary Care Office (PCO) helps coordinate the placement of foreign physicians in underserved areas of the state through the Physician Visa Waiver Program. This program is also known as the "Conrad Program" or the "J-1 Visa Waiver Program."
Right now, many Oregonians do not have access to a primary care doctor in their community. This is mainly true for rural areas of the state, but also applies to some urban and suburban communities. The Physician Visa Waiver Program helps address this issue by allowing international medical graduates to remain in the United States if they work in a federally designated shortage area. An M.D. or D.O. who has completed or is scheduled to complete a residency or fellowship in a U.S. medical school through the Exchange Visitor (J-1 Visa) Program is eligible to apply.
The program allows Oregon to sponsor 30 waiver applications per federal fiscal year, October 1 - September 30. An application fee of $2,000 helps fund the program.
Program Year 2025 to begin on October 1, 2024
Reserve your slot via an employment application or a letter of intent. Primary care and specialist (including FLEX) applications that meet federal and state regulations will all be accepted on a first-come basis.
NOTE: U.S. Department of State requires electronic applications
Please submit two sets of electronic documents to our office:
Please examine and use the updated program forms below
Please visit the
Department of State and obtain your tracking number in advance. The employer and the J1 physician need to work together to complete the application. The
Administrative Rules (OAR 409-035) explain the program requirements and steps necessary to complete the application process. Below are the forms you will need:
Our mailing address is:
Physician Visa Waiver Program
OHA-Health Policy & Analytics
500 Summer Street NE, E-65
Salem, OR 97301