Physician Immigration Counsel for Hospital Systems

Your physicians deserve an attorney whose passion is strategy.

Compassion. Strategy. Results. Jolic Immigration serves hospital systems, medical groups, and residency programs navigating the full lifecycle of physician immigration — from J-1 waivers to permanent residency.

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15+ years in healthcare immigration
Best Lawyers in America • 5.0 ★ on Avvo

Hear it directly from Michael.

A 90-second overview of how Jolic Immigration works with hospital systems — and what makes this practice different from a general immigration firm.

When physician immigration stalls, everything suffers.

A delayed visa means a vacant role, a disrupted department, and months of recruitment effort lost. The immigration process shouldn't be the reason a physician can't arrive — or stay.

Patient care gaps

A delayed visa creates a physician vacancy. Departments scramble, wait times grow, and patient outcomes suffer while paperwork sits unresolved.

Recruitment timelines collapse

One missed filing window can push a physician's start date back by a full year — derailing months of recruitment effort and budget.

Compliance exposure

Filing errors carry real legal and financial consequences. The wrong attorney — or no attorney — puts your institution at measurable risk.

You've invested heavily in recruiting the right physicians. The immigration process shouldn't be the thing that stops them from arriving — or from staying once they're there.

Everything your physicians and HR team needs.

Full-spectrum representation across every physician immigration pathway — handled by one attorney who knows this terrain inside and out.

Most Requested

J-1 Visa Waivers

Conrad 30, federal agency, and Interested Government Agency waivers — handled with precision for physicians and fellows completing exchange programs

Employer Sponsored

H-1B Petitions for Physicians

Standard and cap-exempt H-1B filings, including complex cap-exemption counseling for non-profits and academic medical centers.

Green Card Pathway

National Interest Waivers (NIW)

Expedited green card pathways for physicians serving medically underserved areas — no employer PERM process required.

Most Requested

PERM Labor Certification

Full lifecycle management of employment-based green card cases, from labor certification through adjustment of status.

Alternative Pathways

O-1, TN & L-1 Visas

Extraordinary ability visas, USMCA professional visas for Canadian and Mexican physicians, and intracompany transfer options.

Employer Compliance

I-9 Audits & Training

Proactive compliance audits and HR training to keep your institution confidently aligned with employment eligibility requirements.

Not seeing your situation above? Most immigration needs can be addressed. Contact Michael to discuss your specific case.

You need a guide, not a generalist.

Michael M. Jolic has spent his entire career at the intersection of immigration law and healthcare. He is the attorney hospital systems call when the case is complex, the timeline is tight, or the stakes are too high for trial and error.

Born in Slovenia, Michael immigrated to the United States in 1996. He has lived the process his clients face — not as a bystander, but as someone who once navigated it himself. That perspective shapes every case he takes on.

For more than 15 years, Michael has been the go-to immigration counsel for residency programs, fellowship coordinators, and hospital HR leaders across the country.

Best Lawyers in America — Immigration Law, selected by peers
Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star — recognized among top Ohio attorneys
Cleveland Clinic Partnership Award — for outstanding institutional service
Marquis Who's Who in America
5.0 / 53 reviews on Avvo — consistently rated for responsiveness and results
J.D., University of Akron School of Law · B.A. summa cum laude, Cleveland State University
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Speaks English, German, Slovenian, Serbian/Croatian

Three steps to clarity.

We make it simple for your HR team, your physicians, and your administration to know exactly where things stand — and what happens next.

Schedule a consultation

A focused call with Michael to understand your institution's physician roster, upcoming needs, and any active cases requiring attention. No intake forms, no paralegal handoff — you speak directly with your attorney.

Receive a clear strategy

Michael maps out each physician's visa pathway, filing timelines, and any risks — in plain language your HR team can actually use and communicate to clinical leadership.

We handle everything from here

From document preparation to agency correspondence to proactive status updates, Jolic Immigration manages the process end to end — so your team can focus on what they do best.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

Why physician immigration is unlike any other immigration work.

Physicians operate under a unique and layered set of immigration requirements that general immigration attorneys are rarely equipped to handle. A J-1 Exchange Visitor completing a residency or fellowship is bound by a two-year home residency requirement — a rule that, if not properly managed, can prevent them from remaining in the United States and joining your medical staff.

Navigating that waiver requires deep familiarity with state health departments, federal agency relationships, and mastery of the Conrad 30 program — a program with strict annual caps and razor-thin filing windows that do not wait for anyone.

Beyond the J-1, physicians face a carefully sequenced gauntlet: H-1B petitions, National Interest Waivers, PERM labor certifications, and EB immigrant visa categories — each with its own timelines, documentation requirements, and strategic tradeoffs. A delay in one stage can cascade into years of waiting. A filing error can reset the clock entirely.

Michael Jolic has been navigating this terrain for more than 15 years. He has become a trusted resource for residency programs, fellowship coordinators, and hospital HR leaders who need to know that when a physician's immigration case is filed, it is filed correctly — the first time. His approach is direct, proactive, and built on the understanding that for your physicians, this process is not administrative. It is the foundation of their career in America.

What clients say.

From physicians navigating their first J-1 waiver to hospital HR teams managing rosters of international doctors.

★★★★★

"I worked with Mr. Jolic for six years, through the J-1 waiver process and then the green card process, and could not have asked for a better lawyer. I especially appreciated that he communicated with me directly — I never had to go through an assistant."

Rama

Physician Client · Avvo 2024

★★★★★

"Michael was excellent — we successfully obtained a J-1 waiver and filed for H-1B/H-4 visas with no extra hassle. He is very knowledgeable and insightful on the physician immigration process, and made sure everything went smoothly."

Anonymous

Physician Client · Avvo 2024

★★★★★

"Our company hired Attorney Jolic for an H-1B visa petition. He was extremely thorough, very responsive, and kept us informed throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend."

Corporate Client

Hospital HR · Avvo

★★★★★

"He was able to anticipate potential roadblocks in my visa application and worked to avoid them proactively. He is professional and maintains open communication. My overall impression: he knows what he is doing."

Anonymous

Physician Client · Avvo 2019

How we work together.

Jolic Immigration works with institutions and physicians at every stage. Choose the engagement that fits your situation.

For institutions

Institutional Retainer

Ongoing counsel for hospital systems and medical groups managing multiple physician immigration matters. Priority access, consistent representation, and proactive compliance monitoring.

Pricing by case volume & scope · Contact for details

Flexible

Per-Case Representation

Full representation on a specific immigration matter — J-1 waiver, H-1B petition, NIW, green card, or other case type. Flat-fee or hourly depending on complexity.

Fees discussed at consultation · No surprise billing

For individuals

Physician Consultation

A focused consultation for physicians who need clarity on their current status, options, and next steps — whether your employer is involved or not.

Initial consultation available · Speak with Michael directly

Full service list

J-1 Visa Waivers (Conrad 30, federal agency, IGA)
H-1B Petitions (standard & cap-exempt)
National Interest Waivers for Physicians (NIW)
PERM Labor Certification
EB-1 / EB-2 Immigrant Visas
O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visas
TN Visas for Canadian & Mexican Physicians
L-1A / L-1B Intracompany Transfers
E-1 / E-2 Treaty Visas
I-9 Employer Compliance & Audits
Family-based Petitions (I-130, K-1, K-3)
Adjustment of Status / Consular Processing
Naturalization

Speaking engagements

Available to speak at your institution

Michael is an experienced speaker on J-1 waivers, H-1B petitions, and physician immigration pathways for grand rounds, HR training sessions, and residency program director meetings.

Languages

English, German, Slovenian, and Serbian/Croatian — a meaningful advantage for international physicians navigating a complex system in their second language.