This is a little off topic, but I really don't like policies based on the phrase "we can't get Americans to ____, so we need to create a visa where foreigners are allowed to live in the US and apply for citizenship provided they spend __ years doing ____"

If you can't get Americans to do this, that's because it's a crap deal. And it's not going to become a better deal if you can indenture workers to do it instead - in fact, these policies virtually guarantee that nobody with choice will ever want to do this job.

Btw, I'm alright with foreign doctors coming to the US, I'm just opposed to these conditional immigration programs. Everyone who participates in the US economy should be free to make their own choices.

These jobs are three year contracts at six figures a year. A GP from Pakistan can make $170k base + extra for o.b. or ER on-call. This is in an area of the country where you can buy a suitable home for $80k or a doctor's mansion for $200k. It's not a crap deal, there is no preference for foreign workers, the pay is the same. it's that American doctors really won't do it. It's not really a problem, the small town I grew up in liked having the international diversity. Without the J1 there wouldn't have been a decent Kid's soccer coach, either.

It doesn't necessarily mean it's a 'crap deal.' It just means that it's a 'crap deal' by comparison to other opportunities out there. I'm sure being a doctor in a rural area is a 'better deal' than a lot of other jobs out there that Americans do.