Incidental Patient Contact Policy
J-1 Medically Related Scholars: Five-Point Statement
overview
requirements
For those wishing to bring Exchange Visitors into medically related areas, the J-1 program provides opportunities of an academic nature such as studying, observing, teaching or research. Only incidental patient contact is permitted. If the J-1 visitor will have any patient contact, the State Department requires a letter describing the incidental nature of the patient contact. This letter will need to be attached to the EV's J-1 application. This letter must be signed by the Dean of the medical school (or his or her designee).
Any medical student or foreign medical graduate pursuing a J-1 Research Scholar/Professor program in the United States that involve incidental patient contact must apply for their J-1 visa with the "Five-Point Statement" (see Medically Related Sample Letter) appended to their application materials. International Student & Scholar Services will attach this Five-Point Statement to the Certificate of Eligibility for a J-1 Visa (Form DS-2019) it issues to the prospective J-1 Exchange Visitor. The wording of the Five-Point Statement is prescribed by federal regulation at 22 CFR§62.27(c)(iii), and is reviewed by consular officers at the time of visa application and by immigration inspectors at the port of entry to the United States.
Clinical Training Program
If the foreign medical graduate will be involved in a clinical training program, you must contact GME. The GME office oversees all J-1 visas for graduate medical education, which are issued by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
Patient Care (Beyond Incidental Contact)
If you wish to bring a foreign physician to be involved in patient care (beyond incidental contact) who will not be engaged in a GME program, you will need to contact the Office of General Counsel for information on other visa options for foreign physicians.
Request from the Dean of the School of Medicine
The Dean of the School of Medicine has requested that the doctor inviting the exchange visitor to their department prepare one of the above letters and the dean will countersign the letter.
Departments associated with the School of Medicine will also need the signature of the Dean of the School of Medicine. After you have completed this application send it and all the backup documents to the Dean's office in AC109 SOM. The Dean will need to approve the application and forward the materials to our office.