IM residency in US for Canadian citizen

B

bollywoodboyz

Registered Users (C)
Hello there everyone,

I know this question is kind of off-topic and somewhat unrelated to US immigration, but i have no sources, hence would like to pose this question to any IMG's who have been through this situation already or probably are in this situation at the current time.

I am a medical graduate from a carribean school. I have completed all my rotations in US and have passed the USMLE step 1 on the first attempt (with an OK average....Ok, lets just say i passed on the first attempt). I am trying to obtain residency in either internal medicine or family medicine. I have heard that these are the easiest to obtain for FMG/IMG's.

However, i would like to ask someone who has been through this situation (i.e. searching for residencies) and have been successful in obtaining one with a passing average on step 1. How hard is it? How is the market for an IMG?

Also, i am Canadian citizen so does that make it even harder to obtain a residency in US or am in the same boat as any other IMG's of other nationalities. (pls any canadian..feel free to reply to this)

Which route should i take J-1 or H1. Personally, i don't want to take the J-1 route as I know i wouldn't be able to do anything in Canada for the 2-yr waiting period. So if i take H1 route, then are there that many US hospitals offering H1 visas to Canadian citizens.

Please anyone with any information, feel free to reply to this inquiry
P.S. also feel free to e-mail me at bollywoodboyz@gmail.com

Also, my greencard in under process right now under Family-based category immigration, but i think it would be Millions and millions of years before i get that (according to the speed that USCIS is moving). I am under F2B category. My parents (GC holders) applied for me in Sept 2004 and my I-130 was also approved in sept 2004. Anyway, just wanted to share this information if anyone can shed some light on this as well.


Hope to hear from you guys soon.
 
Explore if TN visa is applicable. Usually after applying I-130, it is hard to get any visa except H1B and L1 and their dependents, as you would have immigrant intent.
 
> 1. How hard is it? How is the market for an IMG?

Good to very good in IM and FP.

> Also, i am Canadian citizen so does that make it even harder to
> obtain a residency in US or am in the same boat as any other IMG's
> of other nationalities. (pls any canadian..feel free to reply to this)

Easier. People here don't think you want to blow up their country, and heck, your country is the 51st state anyway (-NRA).

Less of a problem than your nationality will be your status as a caribbean grad. I don't know how it works in canada, but here the general perception of the carib schools is that the US students who had to go abroad didn't have the credentials to make it into a 'mainland' school. While some of the schools by virtue of their existence for a couple of years have some degree of a 'good reputation', still you will encounter a fair amount of prejudice agains caribbean education. (Most FMGs who come from abroad had to go through a very competitive process to get into a school in their home country. This difference in performance is reflected in a better passing rates of non-US citizen FMGs on the USMLE compared with the US citizen FMGs who went to commercial overseas schools).

> Which route should i take J-1 or H1.

H1B OR NOT TO BE.

> Personally, i don't want to take the J-1 route as I know i
> wouldn't be able to do anything in Canada for the 2-yr waiting
> period.

Well. It might be hard to get the statement of need from 'health canada' in the first place. Have you looked into their requirements ?

For the 2 years going north: Some of the provinces have these 'area of need' programs where they considerably soften up their licensure requirements if you are willing to practice in such exciting locales as '100 mile house'.

> So if i take H1 route, then are there that many US
> hospitals offering H1 visas to Canadian citizens.

And that is the rub. There are only few hospitals willing to offer H1bs. The fees have become exorbitant ($1700), and by law they have to be born by the hospital (+ attorneys expenses). Also, by defining you as an 'employee', they are afraid that you ask for the same consideration as other employees of the hospital. By keeping you as a 'trainee' on J1, they can do such unreasonable things as having you work 100hrs a week without overtime compensation etc. Hospitals that have actually looked at the legal ramifications of sponsoring a resident on H1b have shied away from it.

> I am under F2B category. My parents (GC holders) applied for me in
> Sept 2004 and my I-130 was also approved in sept 2004. Anyway,
> just wanted to share this information if anyone can shed some
> light on this as well.

I think million years away is an acurate description of the situation. The F#)#2B category is a joke.

The only thing this I130 does for you is causing you potential trouble when you go for a nonimmigrant visa such as the J1 and the TN. While 'immigration intent' is typically interpreted as the filing of an I485, having this I130 obliges you to mark the dreaded 'Yes' at the question 'have you or someone else ever filed an immigrant petition on your behalf'.

Good Luck with your plans.

Go for an H1b in primary care, do your residency, start a primary care job in the bundoks and get your GC through the employment based category. Once you are in the country for 5 years (3 years residency +2 years to get the GC), you can do whatever you please. If you did your residency in IM, you can still go for a fellowship at that point (friend of mine did IM residency, 2 years as hospitalist, now he is going into his 2nd year of a good cardiology fellowship).
 
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I prefer to answer questions in the open forum for two reasons:

- at times I am dead wrong and there might be another member with more up-to-date information
- a subject such as finding and starting an IM residency is pretty far removed from where I am right now in the whole process. there are others who have more recent experience with all this who can chime in in the open forum

If you have any questions that involve personal information that you don't want to post here, go ahead.
 
deleted all messages from mailbox

wakejump4me said:
PLease clear your PM box and let me know then , i appreciate it very much. thank you
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Hi WAKEJUMP4ME,

I deleted all my messages from PM box. Can you please e-mail me now.

I am in a very desperate situation.

Hope to hear from you soon
 
totally appreciate it

hadron said:
I prefer to answer questions in the open forum for two reasons:

- at times I am dead wrong and there might be another member with more up-to-date information
- a subject such as finding and starting an IM residency is pretty far removed from where I am right now in the whole process. there are others who have more recent experience with all this who can chime in in the open forum

If you have any questions that involve personal information that you don't want to post here, go ahead.
Click to expand...

Hadron,

I totally appreciate all your replies. I guess i am in a tough dilemma then right. Cuz if i take that J1 visa, i would have to go back to Canada for 2 years and hence face the unemployment (plus my loan debt (200K) would continue to accumulate during that period).

I know you mentioned that chances of getting H1 is very slim these days, but can someone else who has been through this comment on it (pls pls) really desperate here. I can't afford to be unemployed for 2 years as my student loan condition is to pay at least the interest payments every month. So for those 2 years that i will be in Canada unemployed (unless drive Taxi or labour work)....How am i gonna afford to pay for those interest payments.

I really hope to hear from someone who's been through this (pls feel free to e-mail me at bollywoodboyz@gmail.com or PM on this forum account)

Thanks everyone
 
> Cuz if i take that J1 visa, i would have to go back to Canada for 2
> years and hence face the unemployment (plus my loan debt (200K)
> would continue to accumulate during that period).

In order to 'take a J1 visa', you will need a 'statement of need' from 'Health Canada'. I read their rules maybe a year ago, and they required you to pass the MCCEE before they give you that letter. Now, if you have the MCCEE, your chances of finding a job up north for the two years shouldn't be so dismal.
You just have to anticipate that you would have to work in the bundoks. However, if you do a J1 waiver job in the US, that aspect wouldn't be so much different.

> I know you mentioned that chances of getting H1 is very
> slim these days,

I wouldn't say that. But the market is certainly small and you would have to take what you can get, typically pre-match and often in less attractive community hospitals. Yes, I do know people who got H1bs at major university programs, but that is the exception, not the rule.
 
Canadian Citizens

Can Canadian Citizens who complete their IM residencies from US, work in US on TN visa or do they need H1b visa ?

What is "Statement of Need" from Canadian gov? What is the purpose of that?


Why is J1 visa considered bad? What are my options as a Canadian ?

I am a Cdn Citizen and am applying for IM residency in US.......hence would like to know my options
 
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Green Card

In case I do my IM residency on H1b, is there any way I can start the Green card in the first year of residency itself? Do hospitals sponsor residents for GC when they are still doing their residency ? What are the odds when they are so reluctant to sponsor even an H1b in the first place
 
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> Can Canadian Citizens who complete their IM residencies from US,
> work in US on TN visa or do they need H1b visa ?

I don't believe physician is included in the group of TN jobs, I might be wrong.


> What is "Statement of Need" from Canadian gov?
> What is the purpose of that?

It is a letter by the department of health of your home country stating that:
- there is a need for medical specialists in canada with the qualifications you are intending to acquire in the Us
- you have a committment to the canadian goverment to return after your residency


> Why is J1 visa considered bad?

Because after your residency you have to either:
- go to canada for 2 years before you can return to the US
- work in a medically underserved area in the US for 3 years

> What are my options as a Canadian ?

- J1 with support from 'health canada'.
- H1b if you find a hospital willing to bear the cost
- marrying a nice american girl and get a green-card

> Do hospitals sponsor residents for GC when they are still
> doing their residency ?

Generally: No.
You can't be sponsored for the residency as it is temporary employment. And for an attending job, you can only get sponsored after you graduate residency.

> In case I do my IM residency on H1b, is there any way
> I can start the Green card in the first year of residency itself?

Yes. If you have any other way than actual employment (family, marriage, research), you can start the green-card process at any time.
 
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Thanks for your reply hadron. I actually did my med school in India and yet to obtain my Canadian Citizenship. Would I still need the 'Statement of Need' for J1?.....Also, can you write your thoughts on the Green Card question I have posted.

Thank you much for your help.
 
Thanks for your reply hadron. I actually did my med school in India and yet to obtain my Canadian Citizenship. Would I still need the 'Statement of Need' for J1?.....Also, can you write your thoughts on the Green Card question I have posted.
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You need a statement of need from the last country of 'habitual residency' or your country of citizenship. Now, you could get the statement from the indian health ministry, however then you would be obliged to go to india for 2 years after your residency.
 
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residency job is not a permenent position hence won't qualify you for a green card application, whether your employer is willing to sponsor or not.

windsorguy2005 said:
In case I do my IM residency on H1b, is there any way I can start the Green card in the first year of residency itself? Do hospitals sponsor residents for GC when they are still doing their residency ? What are the odds when they are so reluctant to sponsor even an H1b in the first place
Click to expand...
 
liaoguoxf said:
residency job is not a permenent position hence won't qualify you for a green card application, whether your employer is willing to sponsor or not.
Click to expand...

I have seen two people get their GC through their residency hospital. One was sponsored as 'physician general practice' for a position as hospitalist after graduation, the other was sponsored as 'instructor' academic grade for his chief residents year. So, while this can be done, it won't be an option for most people starting an IM residency.
 
urgent question - H4 visa

One more thing I'd like to ask. I have a H4 visa (dependent of H1b) to the USA for the the last 1.5 years but I have been living in Canada for all this while. Will these 1.5 years be deducted from the H1b 6yr limit, eventhough I was living outside USA? Should I convert this visa into a B1/B2 visitor visa instead.....This matter is very urgent and I would really appreciate a quick response

Thanks
 
The 'H/L clock' only counts time spent in the country 'in status'. The stamp in your passport doesn't establish that status as long as you are in canada. It is however important that you keep close documentation about your border crossings. Often, people don't get logged in or logged out when they cross a US/Cdn border. So, hold on to your credit card statements, rental records etc.
 
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