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Residents & Clinical Fellows (J-1 ECFMG)

All incoming Residents and Clinical Fellows who graduated from Foreign Medical Schools will be sponsored for a J-1 visa by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). It is JHU policy for all Foreign Medical Graduates to be sponsored by ECFMG. All U.S. Medical Graduates will be considered for clinical H-1B sponsorship by JHU. If you have questions about J-1 ECFMG sponsorship please e-mail J1-Advising@jhu.edu.

Policy

The School of Medicine sponsors incoming Residents and Fellows for J-1 ECFMG Alien Physician Exchange Visitor Status. This applies to Residents and Fellows joining the SOM from abroad, as well as those individuals in the U.S. in another U.S. nonimmigrant status.

Limited Circumstance Options

The SOM sponsors H-1B temporary worker status in limited circumstances, specifically:

  • Residents who have earned their medical degree [M.S.] in the U.S. and are currently in an ACGME-accredited clinical training program on Optional Practical Training; OR
  • Residents who are currently completing their ACGME-accredited residency in the U.S. on an H-1B *and* where there is sufficient H-1B time remaining for the offered residency or fellowship;
    OR
  • Fellows who are currently completing their ACGME-accredited fellowship in the U.S. on an H-1B *and* where there is sufficient H-1B time remaining for the offered residency or fellowship.

J-1 ECFMG Sponsorship Process   

The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) provides immigration sponsorship (in the J-1 Alien Physician category)  for foreign medical school graduates who wish to pursue programs of graduate medical education and training at accredited U.S. schools of medicine or scientific institutions.

Those accepted to a Johns Hopkins Clinical Fellowship or Residency program will receive further instruction from their hosting department or program within the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine on how to apply for J-1 immigration sponsorship through ECFMG.

Once the sponsorship process has been initiated by the Johns Hopkins department, a designated Training Program Liaison (TPL) at Johns Hopkins will work with incoming resident or fellow to submit required documentation directly to ECFMG through their online services portal (OASIS/EVNet).

The Johns Hopkins TPL can answer questions about the application process through the following email address: J1ECFMG@jhmi.edu.

ECFMG Contact Information 

While the Office of International Services and the designated TPL at Johns Hopkins can provide broad guidance for ECFMG participants, some inquiries may require consultation directly with ECFMG. ECFMG contact information is provided below:

  • Phone: (215) 386-5900 (Telephone assistance is available Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time in the U.S.)
  • Fax: (215) 386-9196
  • E-mail: info@ecfmg.org
  • Mailing Address:

ECFMG
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685 USA

Additional Information

ECFMG Extensions

Individuals in active fellowship or training programs seeking to extend for additional years should contact their hosting department coordinator at Johns Hopkins who will work with the TPL (J1ECFMG@jhmi.edu) to initiate the extension process.

ECFMG End of Program

Individuals whose fellowship or training programs at Johns Hopkins end earlier than planned should immediately notify their hosting department coordinator and the TPL (J1ECFMG@jhmi.edu) to ensure appropriate documentation is provided to ECFMG.

J-1 Change of Category

Individuals in J-1 Research Scholar status under sponsorship of Johns Hopkins, seeking to change J-1 category to Alien Physician should email J1-Advising@jhu.edu to inquire about the process.

**No Moonlighting Policy**

ECFMG has a very strict policy that strictly prohibits Moonlighting. J-1 ECFMG alien physicians are ineligible to Moonlight. This is without exception. For further details please see ECFMG’s No-Moonlighting Policy.