The Intealth Exchange Visitor Physician Exit Survey is the final J-1 visa sponsorship requirement. Exit survey invitations are sent to exchange visitor physicians who do not seek an extension of their J-1 visa sponsorship, or who are no longer attached to a training institution because their sponsorship has been extended for a board examination. The information you provide will be used to improve our program for future J-1 physicians.
Following completion of their clinical training, Intealth-sponsored J-1 physicians may apply for a sponsorship extension if registered to take an examination for initial board certification administered by a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). There is no employment and/or training authorization associated with this sponsorship extension. Review the ABMS Member Board examination checklist for information on the application process and requirements.
J-1 physicians must depart the United States within 30 days of completion of full-time participation in a training program, as defined by the dates on Form DS-2019 . While there is a “30-day grace period” during which J-1 physicians and J-2 dependents can remain in the United States, there is no employment or training authorization during this time. Remaining in the United States beyond the grace period can have serious repercussions for future immigration or visa applications. The 30-day grace period may not apply in certain instances of early departure due to termination from a training program (refer to our SEVIS termination page for further details).
Following J-1 visa sponsorship, the two-year home-country physical presence (foreign residence) requirement [ยง212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended] requires that J-1 physicians and accompanying J-2 dependents reside in the home country for an aggregate of at least two years before being eligible for certain other U.S. visa statuses.
If a J-1 physician receives a U.S. Department of State waiver recommendation, s/he is no longer eligible for an extension of Intealth J-1 sponsorship for any training activity. Intealth has no authority to make exceptions to extend J-1 sponsorship to allow for continued training for any individual who has received a favorable waiver recommendation, regardless of circumstances. Sponsorship extensions for waiver recipients to prepare to sit for an ABMS Member Board examination are permitted, as such extensions carry no training authorization.
Exchange visitor physicians who exit the sponsorship program are invited to participate in the Exchange Visitor Physician Alumni Program.
[Last update: February 27, 2026]
