advice on returning to India

[sj7]

Hi, I finished my residency in psychiatry on a j1 visa and am finishing up my fellowship at the university in the next five months. I wanted some advice about returning to India for good vs going through a j1 waiver/hib/NIW process. I have a job offer here that looks very good but I'm not looking forward to the whle 5 year visa process. My parents are doctors in New Delhi, India, I am an only child and life may not be bad if I go home. I know there are advantages and disadvantages to both, but I need some help making an informed decision.
1) I don't have any family committments here in US that necessitate being here.
2) what is the reception of US trained doctors in India.
3) Not taken my boards yet. Will that be a problem. I had planned to come back from India to take teh exams at some point if I go back. But I would like to first go settle down adn establish a practise etc.
I'm torn. I have good friends and support system here, but I'll have to move whether I go take the job(j1 waiver) or go back home. Five years to get a NIW seems like a long time...
Please advise.

 

[tangohi]

I returned from India after two year home requirement two years ago. I did residency in Medicine and then a fellowship. In private practice you can find jobs that will pay 40,000- 50,000 per month and more depending on where you apply and how you play the game. Psychiatry practice is booming these days and if you get an appt in a big city hospital you can make decent living and have a good lifestlyle. My issue was the same as yours plus I wanted a research career and did not want to compromise on that at that time though I am having second thoughts now. Five years NIW is not much if you want to come back after two years. MY advice to friends is if you intend to settle in US after 2 year HRR then it makes sense to stay here- do waiver and settle down. If you do not intend to come back then that is a different issue. Other option is to find an employer who will start your GC process while you are in India. That way you retain an early priority date, come back on H1 after 2 years and then get your GC based on the PERM started by your employer.
On average I have seen that GC takes 4 years if you do LC, situation might have changed now that there is retrogession but in any case five years for GC is not bad. I returned to India in 2002 and returned as faculty in 2004 and I have a family based GC pending since Feb 05-so it has taken me almost 4 years and still waiting. Sometimes I think taking the waiver jobs I had would have been the best option although I would not been able to pursue an academic career.

Board certification is required, it does give some benefits and people in good hospitals know about it. It gives credibility.

Two years is nothing, you can really have a good time. India has changed tremedously. There are a lot of pshychiatrists who are making a ton load of money and doing good work in private practice. My reason of returning was research career/ academic career and second my fiancee was in US and is starting her fellowship this year.

If you need to talk to me send me a pm and tel number and we can chat over the weekend.

 

[Hari_Gowda]

Please Contact Me

Dear Sir,

My name is Hari Gowda and I live in Wisconsin. I have a brother who is finishing up his residency and has an offer for fellowship. He is on J-1 visa and need to obtain a new J-1 renewal from ECFMG.

He did send his letter to Indian Embassy in DC and they have not issued him a NOC letter yet. They are giving him a hard time to give NOC so that he can apply for a new J-1 extension.

I am a Permanent resident and my brother do not know much about changing his status from J-1 to any other status. He is running out of time. If it is acceptable I would like to talk to you about what he should do to get into fellowship program. Please reply ASAP.

Thanks

 

[tangohi]

If embassy is not giving him NOC try to get it from India. few thousand rupees and you will get it. Why is he having a hard time in getting it from embassy.