VISA CATEGORY CHANGE: Exchange Visitors may not, as a matter of course, change from one J-1 category designation to another. The categories most often used by foreign national physicians are: “research scholar,” “professor,” “student,” and “alien physician.” For example, physicians entering the United States in J-1 status under the category of “research scholar” may not change to the “alien physician” category for clinical training without prior DoS approval.

medmal wrote:
I don't know much details..but I know one thing for sure...it's almost impossible to convert J1 research into J1 clinical....

misty wrote:


I would not agree to tht! It also depends on who sposors ur j1 visa ( might no eb ecfmg all the time, can be the institute whre eu are working), wheher u are funded by teh US govt ot ur home country govet and finally, is teh work u are doing on teh needed skills list of ur home country.

havent done it myself.yet though.

fox wrote:



Dear Misty, J1 clinical visa can only be sponsored by the ECFMG unlike the research visa which can be sponsored by any university/ med school.

@BBB thanks for the info. I wanna hear from guys how they actually got the DoS approval that you have mentioned. Like what documents they submitted, the time line for the whole procedure, any rejections and if so, what was the reason?

So guys who already matched...c'mon guys its time to give back to the forum.

Also BBB, from a PC's point of view what documents were you required to submit (if you had handled such a case). Did your role end after issuing a letter of contract and the buck passed on to ecfmg? Were you required to furnish any other letters/ documents on behalf of the candidate?

Finally does the area of reseidency need to be exactly in the same area as of research? Like can you do research in neurosciences and apply for residency in Obs Gyn requesting a change to J1 clinical? I would imagine DoS will kick ur butt out of the US if you do that, but would like to know if any hero managed to do that.

doublhelix wrote:
Dear BBB,

You mentioned in ur previous post that"My program has never hired anyone on a J1 research visa"

Does that mean that u dont invite people with j1 research visa for interview or noone with j1 research has ever matched into ur program.

The reason i am asking this is beacuse I am on a j1 research visa and I am scared that programs might not interview me just because of my visa status.

fox wrote:

Also BBB, from a PC's point of view what documents were you required to submit (if you had handled such a case). Did your role end after issuing a letter of contract and the buck passed on to ecfmg? Were you required to furnish any other letters/ documents on behalf of the candidate?

medmal wrote:
J1 Visa is an exchange VISA....no matter what it is for..research or Clinical, once the purpose of the VISA is over, you will have to go back to your home country for the specified period of time ( 2 years )...only after this period can you apply for another J1 Visa....so there is a possibilty that you can get J1 clinical after you have been in a J1 research...but either you have to go back to your home country and stay for 2 years or get a waiver before you apply for the J1 clinical....and you cannot convert a J1 research into J1 clinical.....