Maryland health care employers and J-1 physicians who commit to serve the underserved in Maryland and who missed Conrad 30 waiver application deadline Dec. 1 are in luck: The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has reopened its application period! Physicians who completed graduate medical education in J-1 status now have additional time to secure a clinical service waiver of the two-year home residence requirement to provide medical services in Maryland.

MDH received fewer than 30 Conrad waiver applications prior to the original closing of the application period. In an effort to increase access to medical care in Maryland, MDH has reopened its application cycle and is accepting new applications through Feb. 1, 2024.

The state is accepting applications for both “flex” and “non-flex” spots – that is, for J-1 physicians to work in non-designated shortage areas as well as in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. The Conrad J-1 waiver application is a key step to employing foreign medical graduates in H-1B status authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) and alleviating the physician shortage in Maryland.

Given the short turnaround time, employers and foreign physicians who are interested in pursuing this option should consider immediately taking steps to assess eligibility and prepare and submit a waiver application as soon as possible.

Click here for my prior blog post containing detailed information about the Maryland J-1 Conrad 30 waiver program.

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