J-1 Visa Doctors - Withdrawing Waivers Leaving U.S. Rural Practices

Interview request Hi everyone, this is Arielle Zionts again, the journalist who wrote this article: https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/hhs-exchange-visitor-program-visa-waiver-j1-h1b-delays-foreign-doctors-deadline TLDR: I'm looking to interview people who've withdrawn their applications so they can work in their home country or another country rather than risking not getting their HHS J1 waiver approved in time. I'm especially interested in talking to people who planned to work in a rural area. Please email me at [email redacted] or send me a message on Signal (Zionts\_RuralHealthNews.22) if you're interested in talking. Context: I know that applications are moving forward but also that we are getting close to the deadline. My understanding is that applications need to advance to USCIS by July 30 to maintain status in the country. I know that some people withdrew their applications a while ago so they could apply to another waiver program, or becuase they decided to extend their H-1B status through more training. But a doctor told me that some of their friends have withdrawn their applications more recently because even if HHS already forwarded their application to the State Department, or will do so soon, there's still the risk that it won't make it to USCIS in time. They are withdrawing their applications to secure a job in their home country, or another country, rather than risk having to leave the U.S. last minute without a job. I'd like to learn what this means for the doctors, the facility they planned to work at, and the patients. Thank you! Arielle