Happy to report that Siskind Susser attorneys Greg Siskind and Elissa Taub are on the committee that worked on this. The letter makes seven suggestions for the State Department:
- Expediting Processing of J-1 Waiver applications for health care workers.
- Permit doctors who are performing J-1 waiver service to provide such service via telemedicine.
- Waive the normal recruiting requirements applicable to federal agency J-1 waiver.
- Have the State Department’s Waiver Review Division sponsor J-1 waivers if a state uses up all of its waiver slots.
- Allow any authorized person to sign a waiver application (versus, for example, just the governor or head of an agency).
- Provide flexibility and allow J-1 residents and fellows to provide services beyond the sponsoring employer.
- Grant J-1 extensions to doctors who cannot take their required Board examinations because the exams have been delayed.