GME: Obtaining a Visa

Obtaining a Visa to Enter the United States

General Information

Do not arrange travel until you have your visa.

Contact the U.S. Consulate nearest to your place of residence; inquire about the need for an appointment or if the consulate uses a mail-in service or travel agent. Once you have your visa, you may make your travel arrangements. It is wise to wait until you have your visa, in the event there are delays. You will not be reimbursed by the Cleveland Clinic for non-refundable tickets which you are unable to use.

H-1B Temporary Workers

You will receive a Notice of Approval (Form I-797) and a copy of the petition which was filed with the Immigration & Naturalization Service on your behalf. You should follow these steps to obtain your H-1B Visa:

Take or mail the Form I-797, the copy of the petition, completed Form OF-156 (Application for Nonimmigrant Visa) and your passport to the U.S. Consulate. You may be required to pay a fee(s).
If you have family members traveling with you, submit their passports with an OF-156 requesting an H-4 visa for each of them. Fees may be required.

J-1 Exchange Visitors

Physicians sponsored by ECFMG for Graduate Medical Education
- ECFMG will send your Form IAP-66 to the Cleveland Clinic. We will forward the IAP-66 to you.
- Bring or mail your IAP-66, your passport, Form OF-156 (Application for Nonimmigrant Visa) and any fees to the U.S. Consulate.
- If you have dependents traveling with you, you will need to submit their passports, Form OF-156 for each person and any applicable fees with your documents.
Physicians and Scientists sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic for Research
The Graduate Medical Education Department at CCF will send a Form IAP-66 to you. If family members are traveling with you, you will receive a letter with their information to submit to the Consulate with your Form IAP-66. You will also receive a letter stating that you will not have any patient contact.
Bring or mail your IAP-66, your passport, Form OF-156, the no patient contact letter and any fees to the U.S. Consulate.
If you have dependents traveling with you, you will need to submit their passports, the letter from CCF about your family and a Form OF-156 for each person and any applicable fees with your documents.

Inspection at the Point of Entry

When you arrive at your first stop in the United States, you will be given a blank Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) by the flight crew before landing. You must fill out the required portions. If you have difficulty, ask the flight attendant or wait and ask the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Inspector. The forms are available in English or in your native language if your flight to the U.S. originated in your country. If the flight attendant does not give you a form, inform the INS inspector and he/she will give you one.

Upon deplaning, you will be directed to the INS inspection station. The INS officer will inspect your passport, Form I-797 (H-1B) or Form IAP-66 (J-1) and endorse your Form I-94. Do not leave the inspection station unless your form I-94 has been stamped. If the officer forgets to stamp it (YES, IT DOES HAPPEN), please ask him/her to do so. You will not be able to begin working at the Cleveland Clinic, if you do not have a properly endorsed Form I-94.

Please be sure to check the status noted on your Form I-94. Be sure that it is correct for you and all of your dependents (i.e. H-1B and H-4 or J-1 and J-2). Please also be sure to check the expiration date. For H-1B nonimmigrants, it will be the end date on your approval notice. For J-1 nonimmigrants, it should be D/S for Duration of Status.

Canadians, because you may not receive documents when traveling as tourists to the United States, it is imperative that you plainly state that you wish H-1B or J-1 status and show the appropriate documents. If the station is particularly busy, the officer may neglect to issue the Form I-94. Do NOT leave the border crossing station without a Form I-94. If they do not give you one, ask for it.

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