S.744 Immigration bill - Sec. 2405: AMENDMENTS TO THE PROCEDURES, DEFINITIONS, AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO PHYSICIAN IMMIGRATION

    (a) Dual Intent for Physicians Seeking Graduate Medical Training- Section 214(b) (8 U.S.C. 1184(b)) is amended by striking `(other than a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (L) or (V) of section 101(a)(15), and other than a nonimmigrant described in any provision of section 101(a)(15)(H)(i) except subclause (b1) of such section)' and inserting `(other than a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (L) or (V) of section 101(a)(15), a nonimmigrant described in any provision of section 101(a)(15)(H)(i), except subclause (b1) of such section, and an alien coming to the United States to receive graduate medical education or training as described in section 212(j) or to take examinations required to receive graduate medical education or training as described in section 212(j))'.

    (b) Allowable Visa Status for Physicians Fulfilling Waiver Requirements in Medically Underserved Areas- Section 214(l)(2)(A) (8 U.S.C. 1184(l)(2)(A)) is amended by striking `an alien described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b).' and inserting `any status authorized for employment under this Act.'.

    (c) Physician National Interest Waiver Clarifications- Section 203(b)(2)(B)(ii)(I) (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(B)(ii)(I)) is amended by striking items (aa) and (bb) and inserting the following:

          `(aa) the alien physician agrees to work on a full-time basis practicing primary care, specialty medicine, or a combination thereof, in an area or areas designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as having a shortage of health care professionals, or at a health care facility under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or

          `(bb) the alien physician is pursuing such waiver based upon service at a facility or facilities that serve patients who reside in a geographic area or areas designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as having a shortage of health care professionals (without regard to whether such facility or facilities are located within such an area) and a Federal agency, or a local, county, regional, or State department of public health determines the alien physician's work was or will be in the public interest.'.

    (d) Short Term Work Authorization for Physicians Completing Their Residencies- A physician completing graduate medical education or training as described in section 212(j) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(j)) as a nonimmigrant described section 101(a)(15)(H)(i) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)) shall have such nonimmigrant status automatically extended until October 1 of the fiscal year for which a petition for a continuation of such nonimmigrant status has been submitted in a timely manner and where the employment start date for the beneficiary of such petition is October 1 of that fiscal year. Such physician shall be authorized to be employed incident to status during the period between the filing of such petition and October 1 of such fiscal year. However, the physician's status and employment authorization shall terminate 30 days from the date such petition is rejected, denied or revoked. A physician's status and employment authorization will automatically extend to October 1 of the next fiscal year if all visas as described in such section 101(a)(15)(H)(i) authorized to be issued for the fiscal year have been issued.

    (e) Applicability of Section 212(e) to Spouses and Children of J-1 Exchange Visitors- A spouse or child of an exchange visitor described in section 101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J)) shall not be subject to the requirements of section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(e)).

Subtitle E--Integration

2405
AMENDMENTS TO THE PROCEDURES, DEFINITIONS, AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO PHYSICIAN IMMIGRATION