Login

Blogs

Syrian National Granted J-1 Persecution Waiver due to Religious Persecution

February 5, 2014 - This Syrian national is an Internal Medicine Physician that came to Ohio on a J-1 visa in order to complete his residency training in Internal Medicine. Upon expiration of his J-1 visa, a hospital in Michigan that wished to employ him sponsored him for a J-1 visa waiver in order for him to work three years in an underserved community in Michigan where access to healthcare is limited.

Once retained, we filed a J-1 visa persecution waiver stating that this physician should be waved of the 2-year foreign residence requirement as 1) Syria is still in an ongoing civil war and persecuting Christians due to their religious belief; and 2) the hospital in Michigan is in desperate needs of this physician’s services. As a practicing Eastern Orthodox Christian, this physician would face severe violence due to his beliefs. In addition, the Department of State has indicated that violence in Syria is still prevalent and constant due to terrorism. Moreover, we also demonstrated that granting this J-1 persecution waiver would be in the public interest as the physician would be treating an underserved and underprivileged community in Michigan. After a request for evidence, USCIS granted this physician’s J-1 visa waiver on February 5, 2014.

-->