CLINICAL VISA REQUIRMENTS
Back to Immigration and VisasH-1B VISAS
The University of Florida College of Medicine (UFCOM) will, at its sole discretion and in conformity with the guidelines set forth below, sponsor H-1B peititions for foreign nationals who seek employment/appointment at the UFCOM.
This visa permits only the activities normally associated with the title or appointment. This visa is available to any professional with at least a Bachelor's degree who will engage in the practice of the profession for which s/he was trained and which requires at least a Bachelor's degree. This visa is issued in 3-year increments and is valid for a maximum stay of six years.
The following conditions, in addition to regular H-1b guidelines, must be met for prospective clinical faculty who have graduated from medical school outside of the United States and who will be performing direct patient care:
The alien doctor must have passed the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) parts I & II). Equivalent examinations designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services include the National Board of Medical Examiners certifying examinations (parts I, II, and III) and the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (steps 1, 2 & 3).
- He or she is competent in oral or written English, as demonstrated by passage of the English language proficiency test given by the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates), which currently sponsors foreign doctors for graduate medical eduation in the J-1 category;
- He or she has a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a foreign state or he or she has graduated from a medical school in a foreign state; and
- He or she has a license or other authorization required by the state of intended employment to practice medicine.
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H-1B VISAS FOR CLINICAL RESIDENCIES AND FELLOWSHIPS
Unlike the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa, the primary focus of the H-1B visa is employment, not training. Individuals enrolled in clinical residency and fellowship programs are enrolled in educational training programs and therefore, except in unusual circumstances benefitting the institution, the most appropriate visa category for these individuals at the UFCOM is the J-1 rather than the H-1B visa.
The H-1B visa category may be used for clinical residencies and fellowships in graduate medical education (in lieu of J-1) under the following limited circumstances:
1. Where the foreign national is a graduate of a U. S. medical school; or,
2. Where the foreign national currently holds an H-1B for clinical graduate medical education (at another institution): or;
3. For competitive reasons in exceptional circumstances (guidelines below).
In all cases involving clinical residencies and fellowships in graduate medical education where use of the H-1B visa category is contemplated, the foreign national must be H-1B eligible at the time of appointment. and there must be sufficient time for the UFCOM campus administrative offices and the University of Florida International Faculty and Scholar Services (UF/IFSS) to prepare, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process and approve the H-1B petition before the start of the program.
Other conditions include the following:
* The H-1B category will be used only where the program con be completed within the six-year time limit of the H-1B.
* H-1B visas are prohibited from outside employment/moonlighting.
TRAVEL COSTS & EXPENSES
H-4 dependent visa fees, required photos, border crossing fees, the cost of travel to/from a U. S. Consular post abroad and to the Uniter States, cost of lodging, meals. etc. will be the sole responsibility of the H-1B beneficiary (to the extent permitted by law).
AUTHORIZED AGENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOR H-B PURPOSES
The H-1B petition requires sponsorship by an employer. Only representatives of the UF/IFSS are authorized to sign all documents submitted to the USCIS and other state and federal agencies in which University of Florida is identified as the employer/petitioner. Any petitions submitted without the prior authorzation and signature of a designated representative of the UF/IFSS may result in a request to the government for official withdrawal of the petition.
Exception Criteria
The following factors shall be considered in deciding whether to offer exceptional H-1B sponsorship to an IMG cadidate for clinical residency/fellwoship:
* The IMG is judged to be a strong future prospect for Attending Staff appointment;
* The IMG is a medical school honors graduate or otherwise achieved an outstanding GPA;
* The IMG achieved an outstanding score/percentile on the USMLE;
* The IMG has professional achievements, recognition, awards, publications, etc, significantly above those of his /her peers.
Procedure
The following procedure will be used in considering a request for exceptional H-1B sponsorship of an IMG.
1. IMG submits request to appropriate Program Director with explanation and documentation addressing the above Exception Critieria;
2. Program Director reviews Exception Critieria to assess IMG's request and decides whether to request/recommend H-1B sponsorship;
3. Program Director recommends exceptional H-1B sponsorship to the Director of Graduate Medical Education (DGME);
4. The DGME will approve or deny the exceptional H-1B sponsorship request, and communicate that decision to the Program Director.
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0-1 VISAS
This visa class is for those who are nationally and/or internationally acclaimed in their fields. It is used for appointments as faculty and/or high-level researchers. It requires the University of Florida to demonstrate through extensive documentation that the individual is at the top of his/her field and to obtain an approved visa petition from the INS. The visa is granted initially for the term of the appointment or up to three years. There is no maximum time limit for this visa class, however, extensions only are granted in one-year increments or less
Note: Please be aware that anyone considering recruitment on an 0-1 visa will need to contact Adminstration Services.
Under certain circumstances, an international medical graduate already here may qualify for an 0-1 visa. Any one considering a current IMG/J-1 should contact Administration Services for review and consideration before recruitment is initiated.
Approval of these applications will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Dean. Necessary inclusions in the letter of request to the Dean in order to make a determination are:
- Justification that the position was sufficiently advertised (Will need copies of advertisements)
Justification that there are no U.S. physicians to fill this position
- Justification that the best applicant was chosen (Will need C.V. copies of all applicants)
A clinical 0-1 application would require a license or other authorization required by the State of Florida to practice medicine.
