Dear Experts Need your Advice

G

Gcardjan

Registered Users (C)
Dear Experts,

Please evalaute my credentials to let me know if I qualify for Immigration category like EB1 or NIW.

I am trying to get a Masters in Public Health (MPH) by next year August and am working on Post graduate diploma in bioinformatics. MPH is online from a reputed and accredited university in USA, but I dont know whether I should spend the 12-$15000 for the degree.

I mean will it make any difference to my application given my prior credentials.

Please let me know your suggestions.

Brief CV :

Research in Ophthalmology

Bachelor's degree? 1997

-years of full time (outside school) work experience do you >have? > : 4

-academic degrees and area of specialization, as well as >the dates attended: MBBS ( MD ) 1992-1997; I am ECFMG certified, so I guess I am equal to a US doc.

Fellowship in visual science research ( 2001- current ) at a reputed University in USA.

-specific topic of your current research? > Glaucoma and vision

- specific problem addressed by my research? > Maintaing visual function in diseased state as glaucoma.

- I hope to discover or achieve? > Identifying genes that can prevent cell death and vision loss in glaucoma.

- Discovered so far, or what progress have you made so far? > We demonstrated the mechanism of cell death and the increased statement of certain genes that lead to it.

-Developed or improved any research tools or methods? > Built a pressure chamber to grow cells in artificial environment.

- Has your research work been published in any internationally recognized >peer reviewed journals? Yes

-Number of articles > By the time I apply I expect to have about 3 publications and 18- 20 Abstracts. 2-3 as first author.

- Research work been presented at national or international >meetings? 3 national and 1 international meeting, poster.

- No major award or prizes

- No citations yet

-Not participated as a judge or reviewer

- potential application of my discovery/discoveries? > It can prevent vision loss in elderly people with glaucoma.

- benefits of research on U. S. >society, i.e. how does it affect our economy, education, health care, >affordability of housing, environment or productive use of natural >resources? Is there any government funding for this research? - It can improve the health status of the coimmunity and improve the quality of life of the elderly. No government funding.

- single term encompasses my field of research? Gluacoma and better vision.

3-4 years teaching and research experience in my academic field

-Member of 5 organizations - Like AAAS, IOVS etc.

-Probably can get a permanent job offer, from my department.

-present visa classification?. J1

-Date it expires? > 2004

 
Put the horse before the carriage

Finish your MS degree first. You will not qualify with a BS degree. Even with the MS, your case is not very strong. Not hopeless, of course, but you will require some very convicing reference letters. Brian.
 
Look, your work does qualify as outstanding, for people like the readers of this forum. But, for beancounters from INS, you need to fulfill at least two of the specified criteria: publications, judging the work of others, citations, prizes etc. You only have publications. Not to speak about your degree. Even an MS might not be enough. I am not saying you don't qualify, but it's too close to call. If I were you, I would talk to multiple lawyers and I would go with the one that sounds the most enthusiastic about your credentials.
 
Thanks

Thanks for your constructive comments !
I do reveiw papers for journals, but they actually come to my boss and he hands it over to me. I wish they sent it to me, However, I am in the process of getting an invitation letter form jounral requesting me to review their papers. Hope it will work.

The most important thing I am not able to decide, is whether to spend 15-$17K on my masters degree (MPH). I have to get a loan if I can. I am not sure how much a difference it is going to make to my application ?
 
better to get Master's degree

but I guess MPH is not that research oriented as MS would be. But it will definitely be a good idea to get Masters degree. Your MD is an advanced degree but would you be using it since you would need to show benefit/past track record based on that.
Also submitted papers do not count as published ones do. Also, is your J1 subject to 2 yr HRR.
Many points to think about.
 
Evaluation

Gcardjan,

From my view of things, it looks like you have a rather complicated situation with all these degrees and things. You have several things happening here, includng getting an MS degree while you already hold an MD. You also have the issue of the J visa, a visa category I personally don't care for because of the HRR. I think you really need to invest in a legal consultation with a reputable lawyer who will look at all your facts. It is really impossible to give an accurate evaluation on this message board for even the most clear cut of cases.

Good luck,

Brian
 
rfe cases

many niw cases get rfe based on nysdot. one of the things they ask is how have you benefited the country and your past record. since you have ecfmg certification...you would be going for clinical medicine (my guess). otherwise why would you take usmle. best way like brian says "ask a lawyer " to tailor your case.
 
age28

My reply to why ECFMG certification - First to get recognition for my foreign degree in US - and be recognized as equal to a US MD.
Second, somertimes in clincal research, patient contact is necessary for which you should be either licensed or atleast certified.

That is MY Justification - Hope it will work.
 
My opinion...No hard feelings

Hey..i am sorry if I offended you judging from your "full caps" writing. But I was speaking from my experience and from my colleagues. I too am in the same boat as yours being a foreign medical graduate but I also have an advanced degree from here which helped me in getting letters from scientists from almost all the government institutes in the field. Sorry if I hurt your feelings.
 
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age 28

I wasn't offended age28. In fact I appeciate all your comments.
capital "MY" was just meant to highlight thats all.

Infact I need your feedback, since you are a foreign medical graduate too. Yesterday one of the attorney I spoke to was mentioning MD was as good as Masters. However I dont know if he was considering me equal to MD here ( after residency ), as I didnt do any residency yet, wonder if it will have the same value.

Even If I intended to do Masters, I doubt if I can as they all are 2-3 year courses and I plan to apply for GC next year. I am considering some short diplomas or certificate course, unsure though if they would be of any help. Thanks for your feedback.
 
MD is equivalent but

the problem that FMG's face is 1. usmle 3 is required for licensing in any state. 2) FMG's may not be licensed until certain no of years are completed in residency training 3) a potential question of cutting down on medical doctors-since a foreign MD with no US degree would write mostly about clinical things related to his degree and now most people find it hard to come even for CSA or even if they match in to a program.
These are just my view points. But best bet would be talk with a good attorney and see if they have worked on such cases before. They may have. Also..place all the factors before him/her and get a frank evaluation. Hope this helps.
 
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