NEW YORK PASSES LICENSE EXTENSION FOR FOREIGN DOCTORS

New York State generally will grant a license to practice medicine only to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. However, there has always been an exception for foreign physicians who have obtained a waiver of their home residency requirement by practicing in medically underserved areas. The state will grant them a one-time license good for three years.

It once was that three years was long enough to allow the foreign physician to achieve permanent residency. Now, with tremendous backlogs in both labor certifications and adjustment of status applications, it can take well over five years. In response to this problem the New York legislature has passed a law authorizing a second three-year license for those who are working medically underserved areas.

Not all foreign physicians will benefit from this legislation. To benefit the physician must have been in J status, and must work in a medically underserved area. Those who cannot benefit include Canadian nationals and physicians who did their residency program in H-1B status.

We would like to thank Stephen Yale-Loehr and his staff at the law firm of True, Walsh & Miller for bringing this new legislation to our attention. Questions can be e-mailed to Mr. Yale-Loehr at syl@twmlaw.com.

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