J-1 Graduates of Foreign Medical Schools

University of Washington departments that sponsor foreign medical graduates (FMG) to participate in non-clinical exchange programs, either with no patient care or where patient contact is incidental to the physician's primary activity of teaching, research, consultation, or observation, must append a letter to the Form DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. The letter, addressed "to whom it may concern" and signed by the dean of the medical school or the departmental chair, should be presented by the FMG along with the DS-2019 at the U.S. consulate when applying for a visa to enter the United States.

Foreign medical graduates who wish to participate in clinical programs of graduate medical education or training cannot be sponsored by the University's exchange visitor program. The only exchange program authorized to sponsor FMGs as J-1 exchange visitors for internships, residencies, specialized clinical training, and in other positions involving more than incidental patient contact, is the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). ECFMG does not encourage transfer to its program from nonclinical exchange programs sponsored by academic institutions.

If no patient care is involved in the FMG's duties, the letter must state, verbatim:

"This certifies that the program in which (name of FMG) is to be engaged is solely for the purpose of observation, consultation, teaching, or research and that no element of patient care services is involved."

If incidental patient care is involved in the FMG's duties, the letter must certify the following five points, verbatim:

1. "The program in which (name) will participate is predominately involved with observation, consultation, teaching or research.
2. Any incidental patient contact involving (name) will be under the direct supervision of a physician who is a U.S. citizen or resident alien and who is licensed to practice medicine in Washington State.
3. (Name) will not be given final responsibility for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
4. Any activities of (name) will conform fully with licensing requirements and regulations for medical and health care professionals in Washington State.
5. Any experience gained in this program will not be creditable toward any clinical requirements for medical specialty board certification."

If the FMG is coming to the University of Washington to participate in a public health or preventive medicine program not involving any patient care, the letter appended to the DS-2019 must state:

"This certifies that the program in which (name) is to be engaged does not include any clinical activities involving direct patient care."