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Medical Fellowship in the USA
To H1B or not to H1B? Which Visa do I need?
The two main visa types are the J-1 Visa and the H1B. In a nutshell, the H1B Visa is overall “better”, but is infrequently offered by most fellowship programs as it is more onerous to them. If you are not necessarily planning to stay in the USA after fellowship (and even then you can apply to an exemption for J-1), I would not exclude a program if they only offer J-1. If absolutely everything else is perfectly equal between two programs, then the one offering H1B is probably the winner.
Title | J-1 | H1B |
|---|---|---|
Visa Type | Exchange | Temporary Worker |
Non-Imigrant Visa | Yes | Yes |
Founding Source | ECFMG, Department of State and Homeland Security | Fellowship Program (Employer) |
Time Limit | 7 years | 6 years |
Yearly Renewal Required | Yes | No |
Extendible | No | Yes |
Approx. Cost | $650-800 | $1500-6000* |
Two-year Home Country Return Requirement | Yes** | No |
Eligible for Green Card | No | Yes |
Spouse eligible to work | Yes | No |
Advantages | Faster, cheaper, most common option offered by fellowship programs. Spouse can work. | Ideal for those wishing to work during fellowship or staying in the USA after completion of their training. |
Disadvantages | Participants are expected to return to Canada after completion of their fellowship, although waiver options exist. Yearly renewal required (for those doing fellowships that last >1 year) | Spouse cannot work through this visa. Most fellowships program do not offer this option (as it is more costly to them). |
ECFMG: Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
*Usually covered by employer.
**This can be waived by working three years in an underserved area or by applying for a waiver for academic positions, depending on the State.
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