I am a foreign medical graduate from Nepal. My current visa status is B1/B2. I have been shadowing US doctors and voluntarily working as a research associate. I am also applying for residency beginning from september 1, 2009.
Now the doctor has offered me a full time job of a research associate and is willing to sponsor me a working visa. I think its a great opportunity for me as i can work and earn while i continue with the application and interviews. The final result of residency match would be known by the end of march and the residency start date is always July 1.
Now , my questions are
can i change B1 status to H1b from US? I dont want to go back as it might take months before i ca come here. Residency programs usually invite for interviews between the months of october and january. I have extended My I-94 for b1 once till Jan 27 2010 as they gave me the visa for only 3 months when i entered US at the end of April 2009.
Since this is a research associate job and has nothing to do with residency , do i still have to take step 3 exam which is a prerequisite for H1b visa sponsorship for physicians entering into a residency program?
Unlike others I was initially issued B1/B2 visa to come to US , take USMLE tests and find a residency spot. I was givenB1 visa actually to find a job in US..
I dont know how USCIS would take this change of status from B1 to H1...
Please suggest me how to go about this. or Email me at
sujatd@hotmail.com
Thank you