Application Checklists

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• Application Checklists and Descriptions
• Cases Requiring Special Appeal to U.S. Department of State
• Minimal Sponsorship Eligibility Requirements for J-1 Physicians
• Information for U.S. Medical School Graduates and Graduates of Canadian Medical Schools Prior to July 1, 2025

J-1 sponsorship requires direct coordination between the J-1 applicant, the host institution, and Intealth. The teaching institution’s Training Program Liaison (TPL) and the J-1 applicant must coordinate the submission of the annual sponsorship application and all supporting documentation to EVSP for review.

The checklists below describe each application's steps and provide instructions on how to apply for J-1 sponsorship through Intealth.

Application Checklists and Descriptions

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ACGME-accredited or Non-standard Training (NST) at an ACGME-recognized Sponsoring Institution

Checklist	When to Use
Initial Application: View checklist.	Applicant is not currently sponsored by Intealth and seeks to engage in an ACGME-accredited training program or NST program at an ACGME-recognized Sponsoring Institution.
Continuation Application: View checklist.	Applicant is currently sponsored by Intealth and seeks to continue sponsorship to engage in an ACGME-accredited training program or NST program at an ACGME-recognized Sponsoring Institution. This checklist should be used even if the applicant is changing programs or institutions.

ABMS Member Board Exam Sponsorship Extension

Checklist	When to Use
View checklist	Applicant is currently sponsored by Intealth and seeks an extension of sponsorship to sit for an ABMS Member Board examination. Note that the applicant, not TPL, must initiate this application.

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Cases Requiring Special Appeal to U.S. Department of State

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Certain cases/applications require additional review and approval by the U.S. Department of State. The memos below outline the documentation and fees required in addition to the standard application materials.

Change of Category (CoC): Initial applicants for sponsorship who have been in J visa status in another J category (such as J-1 student or research scholar) within six months of the proposed program start date must submit a “Change of Category” request.

• CoC Direct Transfer: View memo.
• CoC with Departure: View memo.

Sponsorship Authorization: If a J-1 physician was previously approved for a Change of Category, any subsequent changes to their approved training path will require submission of a “Sponsorship Authorization” request. View memo.

Exceptional Extension: Any J-1 physician seeking to extend participation in ECFMG-sponsored training beyond 7 years must submit a formal extension request. View memo.

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Minimal Sponsorship Eligibility Requirements for J-1 Physicians

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Foreign nationals applying for sponsorship as J-1 physicians to participate in clinical training programs must meet the following general requirements:

• Pass Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
• Be certified by ECFMG. (Note that graduates of medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in the United States and Canada* are not required to be ECFMG Certified.)
• Hold a contract or an official offer letter for a position in an approved clinical training program. (Note that it is the program that initiates the J-1 visa sponsorship application process with Intealth.)
• Have an original Statement of Need issued by the Ministry of Health of the country of citizenship or most recent legal permanent residence sent directly to Intealth. More about Statements of Need can be found on this page: https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/applying-general.html#need.

*Individuals who graduate from Canadian medical schools on or after July 1, 2025 will require ECFMG Certification in order to be eligible for sponsorship as J-1 physicians, as these schools will no longer be accredited by LCME.

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Information for U.S. Medical School Graduates and Graduates of Canadian Medical Schools Prior to July 1, 2025

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MyIntealth Account Access

Applicants for initial J-1 visa sponsorship who have not already met our current identity verification requirements must complete the MyIntealth Account Establishment process.

To begin this process, please visit our Online Services Overview page and scroll down to the section for New Applicants. Step-by-step instructions on the Account Establishment process are also available from our Applicant User Guide.

To learn more about what will be required, see our MyIntealth Applicant Account Establishment & Identity Verification page. Note that at the completion of the process, you will receive a MyIntealth ID; you will not be issued an ECFMG/USMLE ID.

Once your account has been fully established, the TPL at your upcoming host institution will be able to initiate an appointment profile/application for initial J-1 sponsorship.

Verification of Medical Education

U.S. and Canadian medical school graduates are also required to upload a copy of their final medical school diploma for verification by Intealth as part of the J-1 visa sponsorship application process. Applicants must upload their diploma within MyIntealth on the “Credential Verification” tab. Applicants will be able to continue the sponsorship application process while verification of the diploma is underway.

• If the final medical school diploma is available, applicants should upload the diploma on the “Credential Verification” tab at the time of submission of the J-1 visa sponsorship application.
• If the final medical school diploma is not available at the time of submission of the J-1 visa sponsorship application, the applicant should upload the diploma once it is available. The applicant must return to the “Credential Verification” tab and upload the diploma for verification. The sponsorship application will not be approved until the final medical diploma is uploaded.

Verification of the final medical school diploma will not delay the application process; however, if the final medical school diploma cannot be primary-source verified with the medical school, it may impact the applicant’s J-1 visa sponsorship.

Canadian Medical Graduates: Please refer also to the note in the previous section.

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