Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in a press release in late April 2012 announced that medical students applying for higher education in the U.S. would have to submit a “No Objection Certificate” from India. It is understood that this certificate will be issued once the aspiring student executes a “Bond”, assuring to return to India after completion of the higher education.

If a students fail to return and fulfill the Bond obligation in India, s/he will not be permitted to practice in the U.S. This release further indicates that this has been necessitated by the fact that over 3000 medical students have chosen to stay in the U.S. after their higher education there. If this becomes a requirement, this will have a significant impact on medical students intending to pursue their higher education in the U.S.

At this time, the press release refers to “students”. It is not clear if this applies to F1 students or J1 exchange student / visitors alone. Regular visitors to MurthyIndiaDotCom may be aware that most of the J1 exchange scholars are subject to the two year “home residency” requirement and this may be waived if certain conditions are met.

We at Murthy Immigration Services will continue to bring any significant development on this policy.

Copyright © 2012, MISPL – All Rights Reserved