August 5, 2010
Dear Partners ACGME Program Directors,
Please read this memo carefully for important information regarding:
1) Requirements for trainee selection and transfer
2) Recruitment of international medical graduates: (IMGs) & non-US citizens
3) Materials to be provided to applicants who interview with your program
1) TRAINEE SELECTION and TRANSFERS:
Institutional Policies on Trainee Selection
a. Partners Trainee Selection Policy:
http://www.partners.org/research/gme/houseofficermanuals/a/homa18selection.html
ACGME Policies on Trainee Selection:
The complete ACGME Policy on trainee selection can be found by clicking the link below:
http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/irc/irc_IRCpr703.asp
Please review this policy and be aware that enrollment of a non-eligible resident can lead
to citations or withdrawal of ACGME accreditation. ACGME programs may only select
applicants who have or will have graduated from a:

Medical school in the US or Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical
Education (LCME)

College of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the American
Osteopathic Association (AOA)

Medical school outside the United States AND completed a Fifth Pathway program
provided by an LCME-accredited medical school

Medical school outside the United States/Canada, AND WHO HAVE obtained (prior
to appointment) EITHER a full, unrestricted Massachusetts medical license OR a
valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
As stated in the Institutional policy on trainee selection, please review your RRC Program-specific
rules for any additional requirements (such as prerequisites) at
http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/navPages/nav_comPR.asp
b. Please note the responsibilities of program directors regarding trainees transferring to and
from Partners GME programs in the "Guidelines for Resident Transfers
Resident Transfer Guidelines:
http://www.partners.org/research/gme/trainee_ben/Resident_Fellow%20Transfer%20Guidelines.
pdf
c. USMLE Completion:
http://www.partners.org/research/gme/trainee_ben/Graduate-Trainee-USMLE-CompletionPolicy.doc
Revised 10/09
Please note that the Partners USMLE completion policy is more stringent than BORM
regulations. If you wish to extend an offer to an applicant who does not fulfill the Partners USMLE
completion requirements, contact Irina Knyshevski for BWH programs and Georgi Bland for MGH
programs.
For more information about USMLE, click here: http://www.usmle.org/ .
2) RECRUITMENT of IMGs/Non-U.S. CITIZENS:
Overview of visa options for clinical trainees:
Obtaining visas for clinical trainees can pose some challenges, including delays. The most
common causes for delay are obtaining exam results (especially from USMLE), Massachusetts
Board of Registration in Medicine licensing problems, and/or delays at the Embassy. Security
checks at US Consulates are mandatory. “Premium processing” (i.e., 15 day process time)
expedites visa application processing through the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Service (USCIS), for a fee. Please contact the Partners Office for International Staff,
Scholars and Students (PIO) at 617-726-9211 to discuss candidates who may need H1-B visa
sponsorship. For J-1 visas, please contact Dale Parechanian in the MGH MGPO/Medical Staff
Office (formerly the MGH Registrar's office) at 617-726-5316 or Joanna Hazell in BWH
Physician Services at 617-582-1192. Specific requirements are listed below for the most
common visa types:
F-1 Visa: Students ("plus one year" GME)
Foreign nationals holding an F-1 visa who have graduated from a U.S. medical school are eligible
for one year of practical training on the F-1 visa (often an internship year). Such employment
must be an extension of their academic studies. Students obtain an employment authorization
document (EAD) identification card with the dates of validity inscribed. A change of visa status
will be needed to continue employment (i.e., residency/fellowship training) beyond the expiration
date on the EAD. Often, students apply for H-1B visas for continued employment. There is no
guarantee of visa issuance.
J-1 Visa: Exchange Visitors Program (Clinical)
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is solely authorized by the
United States Department of State (DOS) to sponsor foreign national physicians as exchange
visitors (J-1s) in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training. Visa documents
are issued by ECFMG and submitted directly to a US Consulate for entry permits. Exchange
Visitors (J-1s) are eligible to stay for the length of time required for accreditation (or, with
permission, the length of time required to complete a longer GME program), up to a maximum of
seven years. Advancement is required each year in the approved program, and an annual
renewal is required to ensure that all requirements are being met. Physicians are required to
return home for at least 2 years following training. Foreign national physicians seeking
ECFMG sponsorship must fulfill a number of requirements in order to be eligible for a J-1
visa, as listed here: http://ecfmg.org/evsp/j1fact.html
Revised 10/09

ECFMG Sponsorship
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) generally extends
sponsorship to International Medical Graduates (IMGs) only if the trainee will be enrolled
in a nationally accredited program. If you require additional years of training beyond
accreditation, you will need to obtain formal approval of the “non-standard” training from
the Partners Education Committee AND provide documents to support the trainee's visa
application. These should be in place at least three months prior to the anticipated
appointment date for the ECFMG trainee. Please contact Georgi Bland
(gbland@partners.org) if you need an application for Partners approval of non-ACGME
training years. For more information, please click here: http://www.ecfmg.org/ .
H-1B Visa: Professionals in Specialty Occupations
The H-1B is a temporary nonimmigrant visa defined as a “specialty occupation” visa, which
permits professionals to work in the U.S. for three years, with a possible maximum stay of six
years upon approved extension. The Immigration Act of 1990 opened the door for foreign
physicians to perform clinical work via the H-1B visa. Eligibility relies upon successful completion
of the following:
1. Graduates of International Medical Schools:
 USMLE Step I and Step II (to include CK and CSA exams), as well as Step III.
 a Massachusetts medical license (limited or full) AND a valid ECFMG Certificate
(Canadian medical school graduates are exempt from the ECFMG certificate
requirement)
2. Graduates of U.S. Medical Schools:
 Proof of graduation AND a Massachusetts medical license
The H-1B application involves both the U.S. Department of Labor and the Immigration and
Naturalization Service. The Partners Office for International Staff, Scholars and Students
(PIO) prepares the visa applications (after the applicant and the Program Director complete
necessary forms and provide documentation). The program is responsible for paying filing fees
associated with H1B visas.
3) MATERIALS TO BE PROVIDED TO INTERVIEWEES:
Please be sure to provide the following documents to all who interview with your program,
in writing, prior to the rank order list certification deadline: A comprehensive description of
your program, with specific content as described in the document titled “Key Elements to
Include in a GME Program Description”, be provided to ensure a full understanding of the
program and it’s expectations of matriculants.
http://www.partners.org/research/gme/PD_Info/GME%20Program%20Description%20Key%20Ele
ments.pdf
The following link provides the documents listed below:
http://www.partners.org/research/gme/research_gme_trainee.html
 ACGME contract template
 Policy Attachments to the Contract
 Eligibility for Appointment
 USMLE Completion Policy
 Overview of the Partners Lease Guaranty program. Detailed information is available
post-match.
Additionally, you must provide relevant program-specific policies (such as drug testing policies),
as well as department-specific information regarding meals, call rooms, laundry services, etc.
Revised 10/09
Please manage the distribution of the materials above in the way that works best for your
program. Some programs have chosen to send the information in the official invitation to
interview (using the sent item as proof); others ask applicants to sign letters of receipt in person
at interviews (on paper); others send an email after interviews with a web link, and use “read
receipts” as acknowledgement. Regardless of the method you choose, our ACGME programs are
required to document that interviewees have received the required information.
Thank you for your attention, and please call if you have questions.
Cheryl Reif
Project Manager
Graduate Medical Education
Mass General Hospital; Brigham and Women's Hospital
7 Whittier Place, Suite 108, Boston, MA 02114-1408
617-643-6381 (phone) 617-643-4748 (fax)
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Revised 10/09