British Medical Student -> B1 or F1 visa?

B

Blitz2010

Registered Users (C)
Hey guys,

Here's my story. I was born in England, moved to Canada when I was 4, and am now back in England studying in medical school (25 years old).

I'm a dual citizen (British and Canadian). My parents live in Canada, I live in england now.

I want to go to the U.S next year for student medical electives (non-employment, no salary, just experience).

Here's my issue:

1. Should I travel on my British or Canadian passport? I'm assuming it would be better on UK passport since I study at a british medical school, and will be travelling from england...

2. F1 visa or B1 visa?

It gets a bit tricky, because I am scheduled to be at UMass hospital (Boston) for 2 months which requires only a B-1 visa. But then I'm at Mt. Sinai hospital (NYC) after for 1 month, which requires F-1 visa..

What should I do? Should I just apply for F-1 visa for all 3 months? Or should I do a split (B-1 for 2 months, F-1 for 1 month)? Is that even possible? Will the Americans allow me to have a F-1 visa for all 3 months, even though I will be doing my elective at 2 different institutions?

Is it easy for British medical students to get B-1/F-1 visas?

Replies appreciated, thanks!
 
Applying for a Visa for US from anywhere almost always turns into a Bureacratic red tape nightmare, If i were you i will use the Canadian Passport to enter US that way you get six months of entry into US and go from there. It might sound a little odd to you but a young guy with a british passport is subject to more intense scrutiny than Canadians because of a large number of young Britons originally from high risk countries pose a threat to US security.
Things are different for Canadians and more Lax in my opinion.
 
Thx for that,

UMass requires me to go on B-1 visa, NYC on F-1 visa. How can I just get 6 months on Canadian passport then? I have to apply for these visas before hand.

Thats why I'm unsure if I should do B-1/F-1 visa split (2 months/1 month) or 3 months total on F-1 visa.

Also, do you think if I go to the US Consulate in England and apply for B1/F1 visa on Canadian passport they would be a bit suspicious since I am doing a medical elective for a UK medical school...yet applying on a Canadian passport?
 
I will still use the Canadian passport and when its time to go to UMass will schedule a appointment in a US Embassy in Canada drive up there for a day and get the F-1 Stamped from there. Getting a F-1 from Canada is gonna be a much easier task then getting it from UK. Plus your parents are in Canada, you will have access to supporting documents if they require any from you for F-1 Visa which will be easier for them to process local Canadian Doc's in US Embassy in Canada versus processing the same in UK.
And it also comes with a added benefit of visiting your parents while you are there to get the F-1 lol, well for most people you know......
 
Thx namecheck, much appreciated.

So you don't think that me being a British citizen studying a British medical school will cause suspicion when I apply for F-1 visa on Canadian passport in a U.S Consulate in Toronto?

Cheers,
 
No not at all, Canadians go to British schools and vice versa, and in your case you are not concealing anything at all your place of birth is right on your Canadian Passport, also you went to UK recently to pursue studies otherwise you have lived in Canada and hold a Canadian domicile otherwise.
 
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