Announcements

ECFMG’s J-1 Sponsorship Application Fee Increases

(posted December 17, 2009)

Effective January 1, 2010, ECFMG’s J-1 sponsorship application fee will increase from $200 to $250. The charge for applications with payment received at ECFMG on or before December 31, 2009 will be $200. The charge for applications with payment received at ECFMG on or after January 1, 2010 will be $250.

ECFMG encourages applicants to pay the application fee through ECFMG’s On-line Applicant Status and Information System (OASIS), which can be accessed through the ECFMG website. Please note that the J-1 sponsorship application fee is non-refundable.

DHS SEVIS Fee

(posted July 23, 2004, updated September 10, 2004, October 27, 2008)

Effective October 27, 2008, the non-refundable fee charged by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to initial J-1 visa applicants will increase to $180. The fee is also required for applicants changing status to J-1 and applicants seeking J-1 reinstatement. J-2 dependents are exempt from this fee. The US government collects this fee to cover its cost of implementing the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database for monitoring students and exchange visitors in the United States.

The SEVIS fee may be paid through the Internet at www.FMJfee.com by completing the electronic version of Form I-901 and submitting a credit card payment. Payment confirmation will be available immediately and should be printed for use as a receipt when applying for J-1 status. Additionally, a receipt will be sent by postal mail to the address indicated on the payment form.

The SEVIS fee must be paid in full before appearing for a visa interview. For those initial applicants who do not need a J-1 visa to enter the US, the fee must be paid in full before arriving at the US port-of-entry. Applicants will be expected to present a SEVIS fee payment receipt for the visa interview at the embassy, or at the US port-of-entry. If, for some reason, the printed or mailed receipt is not available to the applicant before the interview at the embassy or port-of entry, the applicant can appear for the interview as long as the SEVIS payment has been processed by DHS. For information on the SEVIS fee and detailed payment instructions, visit www.FMJfee.com.

Please note the DHS fee ($180) is separate from and in addition to the ECFMG-EVSP administrative fee. The SEVIS fee must be paid directly to DHS.

Please contact the ECFMG-EVSP office with any questions regarding the SEVIS fee.

FORM DS-7002

(posted February 12, 2008)

ECFMG's Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program has received numerous inquiries about a new form created by the U.S. Department of State, Form DS-7002. Form DS-7002 is a new document to be used for J-1 Exchange Visitors in the "trainee" category ONLY and will not be used for foreign national physicians seeking to enter the United States for graduate medical education in the ECFMG-sponsored category of J-1 "alien physician." Current regulations pertaining to J-1 physicians can be found in [22 CFR 62.27].

Important Changes to Standard ECFMG Certificate

(posted July 23, 2004)

Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada, international medical graduates (IMGs), must have a valid Standard ECFMG Certificate as one of the prerequisites to enter U.S. programs of graduate medical education (GME) that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). On June 14, 2004, policy changes affecting the validity of the Standard ECFMG Certificate for entry into GME will take effect. This announcement contains important information on these changes to ECFMG's policy for revalidating and permanently validating the Standard ECFMG Certificate for entry into GME. ECFMG has communicated these changes to directors of GME programs and state medical licensing boards in the United States.

View the full announcement.

EVSP Addresses & Phone Numbers

General Correspondence

ECFMG
Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685

Telephone: (215) 823-2121
Fax: (215) 386-9766

Submitting Application Materials

If enclosing a check or money order
Via U.S. Postal Service: ECFMG Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program P.O. Box 48087 Newark, NJ 07101-4887	Via Courier Service: ECFMG C/O TD Bank Attn: Lockbox 6000 Atrium Way Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
If paying on-line (credit card or electronic check) using OASIS Via U.S. Postal Service or Courier Service: ECFMG Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program 3624 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685

Mailing your application to the incorrect address WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DELAY in the processing of your application.