Delta Regional Authority Waiver

 

The Delta Regional Authority(DRA) is a federal-state partnership serving a 240-county/parish area in an eight-state region. Led by a Federal Co-Chairman and the governors of each participating state, the DRA is designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development and fostering partnerships that will have a positive impact on the region's economy. The DRA waiver requires the foreign born physician to practice at least 40 hours per week as a clinical care physician for a minimum period of three years at a health professional shortage area (HPSA) or medically underserved area (MUA) facility located in the Delta region.  The eight states included in the region are Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.
The DRA waiver requirements are very specific and requires an application processing fee of $3,000
 
The DRA J-1 waiver process takes approximately three to four months. Once the review process is completed (and if the J-1 waiver application meets the DRA requirements), the DRA sends the application to the Department of State (DOS) with its recommendation to approve it. The DOS reviews it and (if it meets all the J-1 waiver requirements) sends its recommendation to the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) for final approval.  
 
In next week's newsletter, we will discuss the Department of Veteran Affairs Waiver.  Look for your newsletter next Friday!