S. 2650: Directing Our Country’s Transfer of Residency Slots

The bill, titled the "Directing Our Country’s Transfer of Residency Slots" or "DOCTORS Act," aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act regarding the reallocation of unused residency requirement waivers for certain J-visa holders. The main provisions of the bill focus on the following aspects:

Reporting of Unused Waivers

Starting from September 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, each State agency that has received J-1 visa waivers will be required to report to the Secretary of State the total number of waivers it did not utilize during each fiscal year.

Reallocation of Unused Waivers

For the fiscal year 2026 and subsequent years:

• The Secretary of State will calculate the total number of unused waivers reported by all State agencies.
• These unused waivers will be reallocated for equal distribution among eligible State agencies to be used in the following fiscal year. These are referred to as "supplemental waivers."

Limit on Reallocated Waivers

The number of supplemental waivers that may be reallocated will be capped at one-third of the difference between:

• The total number of waivers under section 212(e) available for that fiscal year and
• The total number of waivers distributed during that fiscal year.

Notification of Supplemental Waivers

On January 1 of each year, the Secretary of State will inform each eligible State agency about:

• The number of supplemental waivers available to them for the upcoming fiscal year.
• The method by which the supplemental waivers will be distributed.

Usage for Underserved Communities

Moreover, the bill mandates that 10% of the supplemental waivers distributed in any fiscal year must be allocated to support positions in facilities that serve medically underserved communities, as defined in federal health legislation.

Eligibility Criteria for State Agencies

An "eligible State agency," under this bill, is defined as one that used at least 30 waivers under section 212(e) in the prior fiscal year.

Intent of the Bill

The overall intent of the bill is to ensure that unused residency slots are more effectively utilized by states, which could potentially increase the availability of medical professionals in areas that lack sufficient healthcare resources.

Relevant Companies

None found