Need Advice please

[m_4GC]

Hi All :

I need your expert advice and comments on my situation, My brother graduated from MBBS with a good academic record and just recently completed his USMLE STEP 1 exam (results awaited). Now, he plans to take step 2 and step 3. I am in US for the past 3 years - software engineer - don't make a lot of money and am still in the queue for a GC..but anyway...

So, he is saying that he will get a letter from ECFMG (or something) which will enable him to get a tourist visa to come here and write the step 2 and step 3 exam - this will give him 6 months time, now, he says that he will come here after completely studying for step 2 and will give the exam within 2 weeks of getting here, one of my relatives works in the medical university and he has promised a research (unpaid) position to him, now he says that my brother can make some contacts there and simultaneously study and try for residency side by side, this looks like building castles in sand to me. I, on the other hand have a friend - whose brother also completed MBBS from india, then did step 1 and step 2 from india (great marks!!) - then studied for GRE (good marks as well) and then came here to do MS in some medical related course, now he has also completed step 3, got a match and is all set to do his residency. This is what I am suggesting to my brother and he does not understand this, while I am trying to do the best I can for him and ease some burden and helping him not to get disillusioned upon arrival here, he thinks I am discouraging him, anyway, my parents are not very well off and I keep sending money time and again - I make decent money but am still hanging in here, jumping from contract to contract - state to state as one job gets over and i get the next gig... to keep my GC going (Still a long way to go). I am also married and wife is expecting a baby this month...So people, I need your advice, if someone could please please spare 10 minutes and tell me what they think - it would be greatly appreciated - i am sure for you guys its a been there done that. On the other hand, if he was a software engineer, I would have gotten him here by now - he wud'nt be making great money, but we both together would.....no regrets but thats the background.....

So, I need to know which approach is better, if he comes on tourist visa I think his chances of rejection are higher and he can stay only 6 months, is 6 months enuff time to get a residency ??? I don't think so - I think he needs to get into a college and do some medical master's program, make contacts, do his research position there, get recommendation letters and study for USMLE and try to get interviews - which gives him 1.5 years time, plus that will take some burden off me - since he can also try to get a scholraship as well as he will understand how the system in USA works....am I wrong in suggesting this ? Is it good if he comes in on the tourist visa to write his exam ? if he plans to come on tourist visa, does he need to mention that I am here at all ? or he just says he is here to relax and visit ?...lot of questions....please helpppppp

Thanks and appreciate you taking the time read..
-M

 

[hadron]

I have seen people do it both ways.

Some came on a B2 and tried to get through the USMLEs in a hurry and apply for residencies. Most of them ended up in some time crunch as the times you end up waiting for USMLE results tend to add up.
It is generally a wise idea to have the step2ck result in hand before coming to the US. That way, you only have to register for step2cs and wait for the step2cs result before you can start interviewing for residencies (most won't talk to you until you have the ECFMG certificate).

Others came on F1 for either a masters or just some Kaplan courses. While it gives you extra time for USMLEs and interviewing, the downside is that you have to proove that you have enough money for tuition. And this can be difficult.

He should be very careful with any type of 'volunteer research'. Any job that would ordinarily done by an employed citizen is considered work and could land him in hot water with the immigration authorities.

If he enters on a B2 for an unreasonably long time period, there is some risk that they could see him for what he is, a potential immigrant.

No easy solution here.

 

[ferdie]

I think Hadron is right and he should finish his step2 before coming here. USMLE is not going to give him any letter which will help him in getting a B1 visa ,yes once he clears his step 2 he can use CS letter to come here and give exams.