Residency in Internal Medicine

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Hi folks,

A friend of mine completed her graduate degree in medicine with 1 year intership in India. She then did an observership in renal transplantation in the UK for 2 months. She has cleared USMLE step1 and will be coming to the US on a visitor visa to give USMLE step 2 CS in LA. She intends to wait for the results of the USMLE step2 and then look to interviews to apply for a residency in Internal Medicine .

Need some advice from you folks on what procedure/guidelines to be followed here so that my friend can tread though this...

- Is it the usual way for folks to come on visitor visa for USMLE step 2?
- At port of entry does she have to truthfully tell the immigration officer that she needs a 6 month stay since the results are declared 2 months after the exams and after that she will be looking for interviews ??
- What happens if the immigration officer gives an I-94 valid only untill a couple of days after the exam ?
- Assuming she does get a stay for 6 months, what is the best way to find positions for residency in internal medicine ?

Really appreciate if you provide advice or the correct process or guidilines or anything other info which could help my friend.

thanks in advance
 
> - Is it the usual way for folks to come on visitor visa for USMLE step 2?

Yes. Coming to the US for an educational exam is a legitimate reason for entry on a visitors/business visa.

> - At port of entry does she have to truthfully tell the immigration officer

You allways have to be truthful, however telling them what you 'need' often leads to the opposite result.
Mentioning any sort of 'interview' and the will to seek employment in the US during entry on a visitors visa is a big no-no. This brands the applicant as likely immigrant and may lead to denial of entry.

> that she needs a 6 month stay since the results are declared 2
> months after the exams and after that she will be looking for interviews ??

Your friend should probably acquaint herself with the application process for residencies. The application season starts in the summer with applicants entering their information on the electronic application database. September 1st is the date applicants send out their files. Interviews are typically between november and january. Positions start July 1st.
While many physicians try to stay in the country after step2cs until the interviews, often this is very difficult due to the time limits on visitors visas.

> - What happens if the immigration officer gives an I-94 valid only
> untill a couple of days after the exam ?

She will have to leave the country a couple of days after the exam.

> - Assuming she does get a stay for 6 months, what is the best way
> to find positions for residency in internal medicine ?

www.nrmp.org
http://www.ecfmg.org/eras/index.html

In addition, it is often possible to secure internal medicine positions 'outside of the match'. But the match and ERAS are the standard procedure to obtain residency positions.
 
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