J-1 Visa

PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW TO OBTAIN A STATEMENT OF NEED

Statements of Need are issued by Health Canada to medical graduates to assist them to obtain a J-1 Visa to pursue post-graduate medical training in the United States. The Statement of Need is one of many requirements of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) that must be met before a J-1 Visa can be issued (i.e. the J-1 visa is issued by the government of the United States). This information is available at the following link:  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/hhr-rhs/postgrad-postdoc/index-eng.php

Eligibility for a Statement of Need: Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada and must meet the requirements for obtaining a Statement of Need posted each January.

Category A:  Candidates in this category are currently enrolled in a Canadian medical specialty residency training program and are nearing completion of the residency. These applicants will be undertaking postgraduate medical specialty training - in a fellowship or sub-specialty - which is already included in provincial or territorial physician resource plans.
Please see details below.

Category A ST (short-term elective or rotation): Candidates in this category are currently enrolled in a Canadian postgraduate medical specialty residency training program and wish to pursue a short-term clinical elective or rotation of less than six months duration in the United States as part of their current residency training. This process does not require approval from the Quebec Ministry of Health.
Please consult our Out-of-Quebec Electives policy and complete this process before you apply for a Statement of Need/J-1 Visa.
Please see details below.
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Requirements to obtain a Category A Statement of Need (requiring approval from the Quebec Ministry of Health)

1. Please follow instructions available at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/hhr-rhs/postgrad-postdoc/cat_a-eng.php

2.  Contact the Postgraduate Medical Education Office (PGME) and request a letter in support of the proposed training, signed by the Associate Dean of PGME and addressed to the Provincial Health Ministry. Send your request by e-mail, via the general Residency Coordinator responsible for your program, with "Your Name, Statement of Need and J-1 Visa Request" in the subject line, and include the following information:

• your name, address, phone number, e-mail
• your current residency/specialty program: what and when
• the location and type of the proposed fellowship/sub-specialty program
• proof of acceptance into a United States fellowship/sub-specialty training program, such as a copy of your contract or letter of offer
• the start and end dates of the fellowship/sub-specialty program

3.  Upon approval of your request, the PGME office will send an e-mail to Mrs. Isabelle Savard at the Quebec Ministry of Health (MSSS, presuming you are in a discipline for which this is possible) with the Associate Dean's letter as an attachment (and a copy of your request to the Associate Dean). Both you and Health Canada will receive a copy of this e-mail.

4.  Once the request is approved, Mrs. Savard’s office will e-mail you, the PGME office and Health Canada, a letter of support.

5.  Once you have received the above letters via e-mail from the Associate Dean and from Mrs. Savard, you are in a position to complete the Health Canada's Statement of Need application and send it on with the required documents (click here for more information: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/hhr-rhs/strateg/postgrad-postdoc/index_e.html.

6.  The rest is between you and your future employer in the United States.  Please consult the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) site for information:  www.ecfmg.org, under J1-Visa Sponsorship.

7.  The Statement of Need and J-1 Visa process are to ensure that you will leave the United States upon completion of your training, as Canada has stated that they wish for you to return to Canada (i.e. statement of Need).  For all information regarding J-1 Visa's please contact Health Canada at: J1visa@hc-sc.gc.ca

8.  You must contact Health Canada to obtain the appropriate forms.
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Requirements to obtain a Category A ST Statement of Need

1. Please follow instructions available at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/hhr-rhs/postgrad-postdoc/cat_a_st-eng.php

2.  Contact the Postgraduate Medical Education Office (PGME) and request a letter in support of the proposed training, signed by the Associate Dean of PGME and addressed to the Program Administrator, Health Canada. Send your request by e-mail, via the general Residency Coordinator responsible for your program, with "Your Name, Statement of Need and J-1 Visa Request" in the subject line, and include the following information:

• your name, address, phone number, e-mail
• your current residency/specialty program: what and when
• the location and type of short-term rotation or elective
• evidence of expected attendance at the training program
• the start and end dates of the rotation or elective

Upon approval of your request, the PGME office will send an e-mail to Health Canada with the Associate Dean's letter as an attachment (and a copy of your request to the Associate Dean).

 

This page was last edited on 29 January, 2013