niw
5-6 letters.
I read your other post too. Getting EAD by July 1, is somewhat of a long shot but certainly not something that cannot happen. Depends on the service center too. Say you file by end of March (which will require pretty strenuous work), service center RD: April 1, 2003, approximate SC ND: May 1, 2003, EAD processing time : 60-90 days. So you see July 1, 2003 would be the earliest. But then things can always happen quicker or get delayed.
The residency offer you take if it would'nt affect the offer, try to tell them (after you have the firm written offer and maybe after another couple weeks) that there might possibly be couple weeks delay or so in paperwork from INS (just say it in passing) and then hope things fall into place by then. Otherwise you can tell them there might be another couple weeks due to some unanticipated delays. Also likely you could consider geeting some credit if you start late say if you have some prior training (same field etc, ie if you could get letter from the respective Board for the credit - you could use that for the time you missed in starting late). Also if its just couple weeks-month late many a times the Board requirements are actually less than the actual length of the program (ie IM is actually 30 months and not 36 months, the last I knew- so the program directors many a times do not mind overlooking if you miss a mon th or two. Also another option would be (if your Program Director happens to be a jerk) to tell him to use your vacation for the time missed (paid vacation ofcourse)
Hope it helps. Good Luck.
ooops cannot be "paid vaction" if you do not have a working status
