The H-1B visa for physicians is a significant route for foreign doctors who seek to work in America. Unlike other careers, physicians, however, have more prerequisites to meet, which are medical licensure, passing tests, and getting sponsorship by American hospitals or medical institutions.
As a foreign doctor or international medical graduate (IMG) who seeks to work in the U.S., this guide will assist you in knowing:
✔ Doctor H-1B visa requirements
✔ Procedure to apply for an H-1B visa as a physician
✔ Requirements for exams and licensing (USMLE, ECFMG certification)
✔ Finding H-1B visa sponsorship as a doctor
✔ Alternate visa possibilities for doctors (J-1 waiver, O-1 visa, etc.)
Let’s get started! 🚀
What is the H-1B Visa for Physicians?
The H-1B visa is an immigrant work visa under which American hospitals, universities, and healthcare facilities are allowed to hire foreign physicians for speciality jobs.
Main Characteristics of the H-1B Visa for Physicians:
✔ Duration: Originally granted for 3 years, but it can be extended for a total of 6 years.
✔ Sponsorship: Physicians cannot file an H-1B themselves; a U.S. employer or hospital needs to sponsor them.
✔ Licensing Required: Foreign physicians need to pass licensing exams (USMLE) and receive ECFMG certification.
✔ Limited Cap: The H-1B visa has a yearly cap of 85,000 visas, but certain medical employers are cap-exempt (more on this below).
✔ Dual Intent: Unlike certain other visas, the H-1B is a dual intent visa, so doctors can apply for a Green Card while working in the U.S.
Related – H-1B Visa for Spouse
H-1B Visa Requirements for Doctors
To be eligible for an H-1B visa as a physician, you need to satisfy three key conditions:
1. Education & Medical Degree
✔ Hold a medical degree (MBBS, MD, or similar) from a reputable institution.
✔ Should have completed the medical studies in your home country or overseas.
2. Licensing & Certification Requirements
Foreign-born physicians educated abroad should follow the below steps before being eligible for H-1B sponsorship within the US:
A. Finish the USMLE Tests (Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3)
✔ The USMLE consists of a three-part examination required to achieve licensure to practice medicine as a physician in the U.S.
✔ Step 1 and Step 2 CK must be fulfilled before becoming certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
✔ Step 3 is necessary for the medical practice license in any state.
B. Get ECFMG Certification (For Foreign Medical Graduates)
✔ Certs the international medical graduates (IMGs) via the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
✔ ECFMG certification is required before U.S. medical residency or an H-1B visa can be obtained by foreign physicians.
C. Get a State Medical License
✔ You must get a state medical license where you will be practising medicine.
✔ Every state has a licensing board and laws.
📌 Tip: As an IMG who is not yet finished with U.S. residency, the best strategy is to finish a medical residency in the U.S. on a J-1 visa and transition later to an H-1B visa.
Step-by-Step Process to Obtain an H-1B Visa as a Physician
You will need a U.S. job offer and ECFMG certification to be eligible for an H-1B visa as a doctor. Your employer submits Form I-129 to USCIS.
Step 1: Find an H-1B Sponsoring Employer (Hospital, Clinic, or University)
✔ Foreign doctors can’t petition for an H-1B visa independently—a U.S. employer has to do it.
✔ Common employers sponsoring H-1B visas for doctors are:
- Teaching hospitals
- Research institutions
- Private medical clinics
- University-affiliated medical programs
📌 Tip: Some cap-exempt institutions (universities and not-for-profit hospitals) offer H-1B sponsorship year-round, not with lottery caps.
Step 2: Employer Submits the H-1B Petition (Form I-129)
✔ If an employer is a cap subject, they must register for the H-1B lottery in March.
✔ If selected, the employer files Form I-129 with USCIS, accompanied by documents:
- Copy of medical degree & ECFMG certificate
- USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 results
- State medical license (if applicable)
📌 Processing Time:
- Regular Processing: 3-6 months
- Premium Processing: 15 days ($2,500 extra)
Step 3: H-1B Visa Interview & Stamping at an American Consulate
✔ Make a visa interview appointment at an American consulate in your home country after the approval of the H-1B petition (India, UK, Canada, etc.).
✔ Documents:
- Passport & Form DS-160 confirmation
- H-1B approval notice (Form I-797)
- U.S. hospital/clinic job offer letter
- Medical degree, licensing, and ECFMG certification
📌 After being approved, your passport will be stamped with an H-1B visa, and you are free to enter the U.S. and start working.
Alternative Visa Options for Foreign Doctors in the U.S
If you are not eligible for an H-1B visa, there are other visas for doctors:
1. J-1 Visa (For Medical Residency & Fellowship Programs)
✔ The majority of foreign medical graduates (IMGs) do a U.S. medical residency on a J-1 visa.
✔ Physicians have to return to their native country for 2 years after residency unless they receive a J-1 waiver.
📌 J-1 Waiver Options:
- Conrad 30 Waiver: Permits physicians to remain in the United States if they work in MUA for 3 years.
- VA (Veterans Affairs) Waiver: Permits IMGs to practice in VA health centers.
2. O-1 Visa (For Physicians of Extraordinary Ability)
✔ As an exceptionally talented doctor with outstanding achievements, you can be eligible for an O-1 visa.
✔ Needs evidence of research, publications, or international awards in the medical field.
3. EB-2 & EB-3 Green Cards (Permanent Residency for Doctors)
✔ Doctors can be granted a Green Card through work-based sponsorship (EB-2 or EB-3 categories).
✔ National Interest Waiver (NIW): You may be eligible for priority Green Card approval if you are working in an area of a medically underserved population.
📌 Suitable for: Doctors who prefer to stay in the U.S. permanently.
Challenges in Getting an H-1B Visa for Doctors
Doctors are confronted with hardship in obtaining H-1B sponsorship since most U.S. hospitals utilise J-1 visas. To escape this, they can seek cap-exempt employers such as universities or non-profit hospitals that can offer sponsorship for H-1B petitions all year round without the lottery.
1. Restricted Availability of H-1B Sponsorship for Physicians
🚫 Problem: U.S. hospitals and residency programs have a preference to sponsor physicians on a J-1 visa over an H-1B.
✔ Solution: Search for cap-exempt employers (universities, non-profit hospitals) who can file H-1B petitions at any time without a lottery.
2. High Demand for H-1B and the Lottery Process
🚫 Problem: The H-1B cap is set at 85,000 visas per year, and demand exceeds supply by many times.
✔ Solution:
- File for an H-1B with a cap-exempt employer to skip the lottery.
- If picked, use Premium Processing to expedite approval.
3. Employer Sponsorship and Requirements of USMLE Exams
🚫 Problem: Indian, Pakistani, Philippine, and other overseas physicians must sit for USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK, and 3 and it can take a few years.
✔ Solution: Prepare beforehand for USMLE exams while persisting with overseas medical training.
4. Over-reliance on Employer Sponsorship
🚫 Problem: Should your H-1B employer close down or withdraw sponsorship, your visa gets revoked.
✔ Solution: If you are in H-1B status, seek another H-1B sponsor or apply for a Green Card if feasible.
Cap-Exempt H-1B Doctors Employers (Skirting the Lottery)
Doctors who apply for an H-1B visa from cap-exempt employers can skirt the H-1B lottery and obtain a visa at any time of the year.
Who is Not Subject to the H-1B Cap?
✔ Universities and medical schools
✔ Non-profit hospitals and research institutions
✔ Government research institutions
Examples of Cap-Exempt Doctors Employers
🏥 Mayo Clinic – Research & medical training programs
🏥 Cleveland Clinic – Specialty care & residency programs
🏥 NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital – University-affiliated healthcare employment opportunities
🏥 Johns Hopkins Medicine – Research & medical staff employment
🏥 University-affiliated medical facilities – Cap-exempt employment throughout the year
📌 Tip: Applying with a cap-exempt employer avoids having to wait out the yearly H-1B lottery and also improves your odds of approval.
How to Transition from an H-1B Visa to a Green Card (Permanent Residency for Doctors)
Since H-1B is an immigrant visa, most physicians choose a Green Card (Permanent Residence) based on sponsorship on work grounds.
Step-by-Step Process to Obtain a Green Card from H-1B
✔ Step 1: Your employer must sponsor a work-based Green Card (EB-2 or EB-3 category) in your interest.
✔ Step 2: Your employer petitions for PERM Labor Certification to demonstrate that no other American worker of requisite skills and abilities is available to take your job.
✔ Step 3: Your employer petitions Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) on PERM approval.
✔ Step 4: Wait for your current priority date to appear on the Visa Bulletin.
✔ Step 5: After your priority date is current, submit Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) to obtain your Green Card.
Processing Time: Indian and Chinese physicians may have to wait 5-10+ years for a Green Card in the EB-2 or EB-3 categories with backlogs.
National Interest Waiver (NIW) – Speedy Green Card for Doctors
Doctors working at underserved sites (MUA or HPSA) qualify for a National Interest Waiver (NIW), which quickens Green Card approval without any employer sponsorship required.
✔ No PERM labor certification is necessary
✔ You can petition on your behalf for a Green Card (no employer necessary)
✔ Priority processing for doctors practising in rural & underserved locations
📌 Best suited for: H-1B doctors working in federally designated shortage areas, rural hospitals, or public health clinics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding H-1B Visa for Physicians
Q1. Can foreign doctors be eligible to apply for an H-1B visa without completion of USMLE?
Ans:- No. Qualifying USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK, and 3, along with obtaining ECFMG certification, is required for eligibility.
Q2. How long does H-1B visa processing for doctors take?
Ans:- ✔ 6-12 months, taking into account lottery selection, filing of the petition, and stamping of the visa.
Q3. Can H-1B doctors apply for a Green Card?
Ans:- ✔ Yes, on EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based sponsorships.
✔ Doctors in underserved areas may apply under the National Interest Waiver (NIW).
Q4. What is the easiest way for doctors to get a Green Card?
Ans:- Get employed in an underserved area (MUA or HPSA) and apply for NIW (National Interest Waiver).
Q5. Are medical practitioners holding J-1 visas able to change to H-1B?
Ans:- Yes, but to circumvent the 2-year home residency requirement, they must obtain a J-1 waiver (Conrad 30 or VA Waiver).
Q6. Are there other H-1B regulations for physicians in Canada or the UK?
Ans:- Canadian physicians can get a TN visa rather than an H-1B.
✔ UK physicians still must obtain their ECFMG and USMLE certifications.
Q7. May doctors on H-1B work in more than one place?
Ans:- Yes, but each location will require an H-1B amendment.
Conclusion
To obtain an H-1B visa, physicians should begin preparing early, look for cap-exempt firms, and, if necessary, explore alternative visas such as J-1 or O-1. By planning, they can increase their chances of finding employment in the United States considerably.
✔ Begin early: Start USMLE exams and ECFMG certification during medical school.
✔ Apply to cap-exempt employers: Search for university-associated hospitals or non-profit research institutions that can employ year-round.
✔ Long-term residence planning: In case your target is permanent stay, opt for H-1B to Green Card routes (EB-2, EB-3, or NIW).✔ Investigate J-1 and O-1 visa alternatives: If sponsorship under H-1B is challenging, J-1 residency programs or O-1 (Extraordinary Ability) visas can be more suitable.