South Carolina J-1 Visa Waiver Program
Kendra Neely
803.765.8047
neelyk@dph.sc.gov
The U.S. State Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Conrad 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program offers a J-1 Visa waiver to foreign physicians who commit to serving for 3 years in an approved area of South Carolina, waiving the foreign medical residency requirement and allowing them to remain in the United States. The program is intended to provide physician services in areas that typically have difficulty attracting and retaining physicians.
All physician specialties are eligible.
This is an incentive program that offers foreign physicians a visa waiver, allowing them to work in the U.S.
Conrad 30 slot reservation through the SC PCO begins July 1, 2025 for the fiscal year starting on October 1, 2025. Applications are accepted through September 30, 2026.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health does not require any documentation beyond what is mandated by USCIS. The application should include:
- Letter from employer
- Evidence of Shortage Designation Status
- Copy of the employment contract and all addenda
- Copy of all applicable USDOS Form DS-2019/I-94
- Physician curriculum vitae
- Exchange visitor attestation/foreign medical graduate statement
- Form G-28/Letter of representation
- Copy of USDOS Form DS-3035
Applications should not be sent unless a slot has been confirmed or reserved in advance by emailing neelyk@dph.sc.gov.
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