Renewal or Transfer of J1 Visa for GME Residents and Fellows
Congratulations on your reappointment at / transfer to the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS).
In order to obtain your ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) issued Form DS-2019, please review the instructions below. The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) acts as the liaison between all UMMS J-1 residents and ECFMG. Please contact the ISSO directly if you have any questions.
The ISSO will need the following documents in order to process a request for ECFMG sponsorship:
- Reappointment Agreement (front page only). This must be signed by you, your program director, and Graduate Medical Education. The dates should be July 1 to June 30, unless you are "off-cycle." The ISSO will accept a faxed copy of this form.
- Fellowship Program Description if you are entering into a Fellowship Program at UMMS: Your Residency Coordinator must create this document by going to the
ECFMG website. The Guidelines for Fellowship Program Description are listed on page 5 and must be followed exactly.
- Application form for Continuation of J1 Visa Sponsorship. Page 2 of this document is the application form. Complete section A (left side). Please be sure to print clearly. For the question about health insurance, enter the name "UMass Medical School" if you are new to UMMS. Sign the Exchange Visitor Certification in the lower left of the page and return this form to the ISSO. The ISSO will complete the rest of the application form.
If you have dependents who will also require a new form DS-2019, complete page 3, Application for J-2 Dependent Visa Sponsorship. Attach a copy of each of your dependents passport biographical information page(s).
- Form I-644, Supplementary Statement for Graduate Medical Trainees. Complete the top half of this page (4th page of the document). The ISSO will complete the bottom half. If you are transferring to UMMS, your current Program Director will complete the bottom half, thus verifying that you are in Good Standing with your current visa and employer.
- I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Copy BOTH sides of your current I-94 card which is the small white card found stapled to your passport.
- $200 Administrative Fee (non-refundable). Include the USMLE/ECFMG number on your personal check or money order, payable to ECFMG. For credit card payment, see OASIS on the ECFMG website and provide the confirmation number to the ISSO. Online payment allows your J application to be processed one week faster.
- Statement of Need (from the central office of the Ministry of Health in your country of most recent legal permanent residence): Please see ECFMG’s Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program Reference Guide for more information about the Statement of Need. Statement of Need letters may be date-specific. Note that if your Statement of Need has a specific ending date, you will need to apply for another Statement of Need upon its expiration. If you have been accepted into a UMMS Fellowship position to start on July 1, you will need to apply for a new Statement of Need in the new program. The rule is every time you change programs, you need to apply for another Statement of Need. The ISSO will accept a faxed copy of your statement.
All documents should be mailed to the ISSO. After the ISSO completes the application forms, the completed package will be sent to ECFMG in Pennsylvania. ECFMG processing time is 4 to 6 weeks.
When ECFMG approves your renewal SEVIS DS-2019, the DS-2019 will be sent to the ISSO. We will contact you to meet with an ISSO Specialist to update any related tax or employment paperwork and to receive the original DS-2019.
If you are transferring to UMMS, FORWARD YOUR MAILING ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER to the ISSO.
To avoid payroll delays on July 1, we recommend that all renewals and transfers be sent to ISSO before April 1. If your DS-2019 is not received by June 30, you will not be considered employable for the requested July 1. The ISSO will notify the Graduate Medical Education Office of your earliest start-date, if not July 1.
Renewal/Transfer to another program outside of UMMS
Your new Program Coordinator will assist you with the process. However, the process is almost the same as the one listed above with the exception of #1 and #4 (the bottom should be signed by your CURRENT program director).
If you have questions about this process or the J1 ECFMG application, please email issoumms@umassmed.edu and put ECFMG on the subject line. The ISSO is the liaison between you and the ECFMG.