Navigating Healthcare Visa Options for International Medical Professionals: Visa Types, Eligibility, Strategic Uses
Course Details
- smart_display Format
On-Demand
- signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level
Intermediate
- work Practice Area
Immigration
- event Date
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- schedule Time
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
- timer Program Length
90 minutes
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
This CLE webinar will provide an in-depth guide to understanding the various visa options available for international medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers seeking to work in the U.S.
Ms. Garbanzo is a highly experienced attorney who specializes in immigration law, particularly in assisting corporate clients with the employment-based green card process. She has a strong track record in successfully guiding employers from various industries – including Information Technology, Engineering Services, and Healthcare – through the complex process of obtaining permanent labor certifications for foreign workers, often involving Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) labor certification.
Ms. Godfread-Brown is a highly accomplished Senior Counsel at Berardi Immigration Law with over two decades of private practice experience. With expertise in all employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa petition, and a special focus on healthcare-related immigration matters, she is a valuable asset to the firm. Ms. Godfread-Brown has extensive experience handling J waivers, H-1Bs, O-1s, NIWs and EB permanent resident petitions. She enjoys assisting clients in diverse sectors such as healthcare, higher education, IT consulting, and engineering with employment-based green cards.
In 2025, navigating the complex landscape of healthcare visas is more critical than ever due to the ongoing global demand for skilled healthcare workers and evolving U.S. immigration policies.
Among the visa options that may be available for healthcare professions are the H-1B, J-1, O-1, and TN visas. Each has specific requirements, application processes, and strategic uses. With the healthcare sector facing significant talent shortages, understanding these visa options is essential for immigration attorneys, healthcare administrators, and international medical professionals. For IMGs (international medical graduate) physicians who come to the United states in a J-1 physician status, there is a requirement to obtain a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement (212e) before they may stay and work or pursue a green card status.
Listen as our expert panel discusses the intricacies of healthcare visa options, including eligibility criteria, compliance obligations, recent trends in visa adjudications, and pathways to permanent residency.
- Overview of healthcare visa options
- Purpose and importance
- Key visa types: H-1B, J-1, O-1, TN
- Physicians – 212e Waivers
- Eligibility and application processes
- Detailed eligibility requirements for each visa type
- Application procedures and necessary documentation
- Physician Waiver options – IGAs (interested government agencies)
- Strategic uses of healthcare visas
- Common scenarios for each visa type
- Leveraging visas to address healthcare talent shortages – International nurses
- Taking advantage of early start to Permanent Resident status for international nurses/physicians
- Canadian citizens – visa flexibility and exceptions
- Compliance issues and legal considerations
- Compliance obligations for employers and employees
- Labor and employment issues specific to healthcare visas
- USCIS processes and policies
- Understanding USCIS adjudication trends
- Policy updates affecting healthcare visas
- Practical tips for navigating visa challenges
- Overcoming common obstacles in the visa process
- Best practices for successful visa applications
- Working with your physician recruiters to educate on visa options during interview process
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- What are the strategic uses of different healthcare visa options?
- What policies should you consider for support of visa and Permanent Resident petitions for your international employees?
- What compliance obligations do healthcare employers and petitioners face?
- What are the key takeaways from recent trends in healthcare visa adjudications?
- How can international medical professionals navigate the pathway to permanent residency?
