Doctors going thru the USMLE Process?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

If anyone checks in here and continues to follow this thread I wanted to check in with how you all are doing and share our good news too.

We've completed all the USMLE Steps and my husband has become ECFMG certified and received the certificate that says he's recognized in the United States as an M.D. according to the American Board Standards.

He's now a "Doctor, Doctor" with a MBBCh and a MD!

We're going to have an IMG party which will be the equivalent of the white coat ceremony here. It will be around the end of this month. I'm just thrilled he's passed all the medical exams since it's taken years to finally reach this point of personal medical achievement.

[lierre 224]

If anyone checks in here and continues to follow this thread I wanted to check in with how you all are doing and share our good news too.

We've completed all the USMLE Steps and my husband has become ECFMG certified and received the certificate that says he's recognized in the United States as an M.D. according to the American Board Standards.

He's now a "Doctor, Doctor" with a MBBCh and a MD!

We're going to have an IMG party which will be the equivalent of the white coat ceremony here. It will be around the end of this month. I'm just thrilled he's passed all the medical exams since it's taken years to finally reach this point of personal medical achievement.

Awww, that is wonderful, wonderful news! Congratulations!!! What is he looking to train in?

I'm sorry I haven't responded in a while. i haven't been to these forums much because we delayed our visa application by 3 months.

[lierre 224]

Research will look good and I don't think it matters which country you did it in. They like 2-3 years. Anymore than that they wonder why are you applying for residency when you belong in a lab. Psychiatry would be a good field with plenty of opportunity. You'd have good chances with family medicine too. There are over 500 programs in the States to apply to for your residency including military. I don't know about doing a residency in the military in another country such as Asia though. Sorry for the typos and spelling. Heading to bed now.

I want to take the exams after moving to the US. My timeline roughly looks like this:Step 1 June 2013Step 2 CK Jan 2014Step 2 CS June 2014Errrr looking at it now maybe I won't make the 2014 match after all. I swear learning under the British System for this entire time & having to suddenly switch to the American one is really a tough transition. If it wasn't for Dr A<3O I would still be a bit lost. I think at this rate I'd be up for the 2015 match..that seems like such a long time to me but what can I do? Steps exams aren't offered in my country & I would have to travel abroad for them..I can't do this now because my petition is at the NVC stage & I will still have to travel to Egypt for my interview. Sometimes I wonder why I never considered sitting for the Steps in the first place!I guess you could try applying for a tourist visa it wouldn't hurt but whether you get approved or not because of the IR1/CR1 is the question. Getting rid of the written Steps now is your best option..I agree with the good doctor's wife!

Sorry I didn't respond right away! We actually delayed my visa application by 3 months so I haven't gone to this forum a lot during that time.

Thank you, thank you for your responses!

I am actually pursuing a different path right now. When we are in the US in December, I will start applying to a state university that offers online masters in public health. I've realized public health is my passion. If only getting the ECFMG certificate and the eventual US license was a path that took less time and required not so much money, I would have considered continuing it THEN working on an MPH.

BUT, I had to choose one. Especially since we want to have a family soon and can't really afford to pursue both end goals.

[lierre 224]

he went back to the philippines just to go to medical schl. actually I plan to move first to US before doin all my schedule for the usmle. my fiance is telling me to take the exam in december. hoping that our k1 would come in sept. ��its very hard to wait and at the same time plan. what can u suggest about my case?

Sorry I just responded now. Plan sounds good. Update us with your good news

I came across this article in the NYT's online. It's about the process foreign doctors have to go through to practice medicine in the States. It didn't tell me anything I didn't already know or have experienced for ourselves first hand already, but I thought it might be helpful, and perhaps more articulate, for others to read about the process that are seeking information. Path to United States Practice Is Long Slog to Foreign Doctors

Oh wow. I just shared this on my facebook too. With the intention of letting people know how tough the process is. Sigh. I wish it wasn't so expensive and so risky!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Awww, that is wonderful, wonderful news! Congratulations!!! What is he looking to train in?

I'm sorry I haven't responded in a while. i haven't been to these forums much because we delayed our visa application by 3 months.

We're going into Cardiology eventually like his older Sister so we have atleast six years of US training ahead of us provided we make it through the bottle neck of applicants this match. We received information that the ECFMG is expecting 15,000 IMG applicants this year putting the statistics of matching at 3 out of every 10 IMG candidates matching, so this year we have a 30% chance. We don't know why there is such an increase in applicants this year as compared to prior 5 years were the chances of matching were between 40-50 percent for IMGs.

I want to wish you the best of luck on your endeavors with your public health degree and starting a family. I know it's not an easy path to becoming ECFMG certified and going for the match and I can certainly understand your decision. If I'd known back then, when we were just starting out and going through the visa process to come to the States, what I know now I would never have picked this path for us to go down. It's not for the faint of heart and you really have to want to be a doctor everyday.

[lierre 224]

We're going into Cardiology eventually like his older Sister so we have atleast six years of US training ahead of us provided we make it through the bottle neck of applicants this match. We received information that the ECFMG is expecting 15,000 IMG applicants this year putting the statistics of matching at 3 out of every 10 IMG candidates matching, so this year we have a 30% chance. We don't know why there is such an increase in applicants this year as compared to prior 5 years were the chances of matching were between 40-50 percent for IMGs.

I want to wish you the best of luck on your endeavors with your public health degree and starting a family. I know it's not an easy path to becoming ECFMG certified and going for the match and I can certainly understand your decision. If I'd known back then, when we were just starting out and going through the visa process to come to the States, what I know now I would never have picked this path for us to go down. It's not for the faint of heart and you really have to want to be a doctor everyday.

Yeah! It sucks. I had my heart set on preventive medicine. We're not hurting for money even if I'm not working. But, I had to be realistic.

Spending money to be ECFMG certified + graduate studies + possibly a baby in 2014 = likely completely depleted savings account! Hahaha! So, something had to go.

Cardiology is fascinating! Hope you guys (you, too?) get in the programs you like. Perhaps the increase in applicants is from having more American med school graduates?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Yeah! It sucks. I had my heart set on preventive medicine. We're not hurting for money even if I'm not working. But, I had to be realistic.

Spending money to be ECFMG certified + graduate studies + possibly a baby in 2014 = likely completely depleted savings account! Hahaha! So, something had to go.

Cardiology is fascinating! Hope you guys (you, too?) get in the programs you like. Perhaps the increase in applicants is from having more American med school graduates?

I thought I replied to this already but guess not. I'm glad you found something that works realistically for you guys. We hope to match too. We have no idea why there is the increase in IMG applicants but I hope that it's not really the case in fact and we still have a 40-50% chance of matching this round.

Today's the day! We just finished applying to 175 programs this morning. It was a long night with lots of double and triple checks over the ERAS applications. Now we just wait to hear from programs for interview offers which could take a couple of weeks. The interview season lasts from October until February. It's the worst time to travel with winter weather and the holiday season but it's the way they've done it for years.

Here we go!!!

###

[lierre 224]

I thought I replied to this already but guess not. I'm glad you found something that works realistically for you guys. We hope to match too. We have no idea why there is the increase in IMG applicants but I hope that it's not really the case in fact and we still have a 40-50% chance of matching this round.

Today's the day! We just finished applying to 175 programs this morning. It was a long night with lots of double and triple checks over the ERAS applications. Now we just wait to hear from programs for interview offers which could take a couple of weeks. The interview season lasts from October until February. It's the worst time to travel with winter weather and the holiday season but it's the way they've done it for years.

Here we go!!!

###

Thank you! Wish me luck with my GRE and TOEFL

And good luck to your husband!!! Hope he gets interviews to the best ones!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Thank you! Wish me luck with my GRE and TOEFL

And good luck to your husband!!! Hope he gets interviews to the best ones!

Good luck with the GRE and TOEFL! I'm sure you'll do great.

[samreen23 461]

Guys I know it's a pretty old thread but it's the only one I found concerning my issue. I plan to sit in the 2015 match but the problem is my 130 is in process so it doesn't look like I will be able to give the cs on time. I will be done with both steps till march hopefully. Do u guys think I could apply for a tourist visa? Or try to get an expedite on this basis would it work? I really dint wanna lose this match everything was going according to time and now uscis decides to make the processing time so long. Please reply! And also lemme know till what month do u thnk I could give the cs on Time to sit in the match?

If anyone checks in here and continues to follow this thread I wanted to check in with how you all are doing and share our good news too.

We've completed all the USMLE Steps and my husband has become ECFMG certified and received the certificate that says he's recognized in the United States as an M.D. according to the American Board Standards.

He's now a "Doctor, Doctor" with a MBBCh and a MD!

We're going to have an IMG party which will be the equivalent of the white coat ceremony here. It will be around the end of this month. I'm just thrilled he's passed all the medical exams since it's taken years to finally reach this point of personal medical achievement.

Thanks for the well wishes!

He is in Asia. http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/smile.gif He will be moving late 2013. We have to get this CR-1 thing all sorted before then so I can move with him.

Thank you! I hope this plan works out.

What's your timeline like? Mine is this:

Nov 2012 - Step 1

March 2013 - Step 2 CK

Nov 2013 - Step 2 CS (since we're moving to US late Dec)

I've read up on getting a tourist visa, so I can take the CS exam at an earlier date, prior to the September residency application. BUT... I've also read that most US citizen spouses with pending immigration applications don't get approved for tourist visas.

Do you think I should risk applying for the tourist visa to take the CS?

Yes, sadly, this is what I fear might happen if I don't take the CS early enough.

Do you think that my getting a permanent resident card would make the programs want to interview me even if I haven't passed the CS yet?

Oh! This will be awesome. Are their spouses civilian doctors? Can you please ask which specialty offers more civilian jobs in the military? http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/smile.gif

About "physician specific" questions, I do believe I am a member of the sites you're referring to. http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/wink.gif

I finished med school internship last 2009. I haven't gone into training here in my country since I have been involved more with health science research rather than clinical training. But, I have been also working as a general practitioner. My plan is to go into either Family Medicine or Psychiatry. Those are my interests. http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/smile.gif

Were u able to get the tourist visa?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Guys I know it's a pretty old thread but it's the only one I found concerning my issue. I plan to sit in the 2015 match but the problem is my 130 is in process so it doesn't look like I will be able to give the cs on time. I will be done with both steps till march hopefully. Do u guys think I could apply for a tourist visa? Or try to get an expedite on this basis would it work? I really dint wanna lose this match everything was going according to time and now uscis decides to make the processing time so long. Please reply! And also lemme know till what month do u thnk I could give the cs on Time to sit in the match?

Were u able to get the tourist visa?

What does the Indian/Pakistani online medical groups going for the USMLE say? I know they have a large network and may be of better help to your with more current information.

I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my knowledge. If you're going for the 2015 match that means you are submitting your applications in September 2014 for the medical residency which means that you can take the CS at the very latest by Dec. 31st, 2014. It takes 8 weeks for the scores to come back which means they will be due before the Rank Order List (ROL) deadline. On the IMG forums they recommend Dec. 31st as the last day to take the CS too. I know one Indian woman right now who hasn't taken the CS yet and says she's got 9 interviews this season. Her scores are very high in the 250+/270+ range. I asked how that's possible she has that many interviews without the CS and she said 6 of them are from contacts. So it's still possible to apply for the match without the CS like American medical grads do and take the CS during the interview season. As long as you're ECFMG certified before the ROL deadline you should be good to go.

You may try for a tourist visa to take the CS but there is no guarantee you'll get it. It all depends on your embassy. In the past few years we've known a few doctors who sat for the match, went through the interview season, got matched, and then their work visa didn't come in time for them to start their residency so they had to give up their spot to be filled by someone else. There was absolutely nothing any of them could do about it. This has happened several times and there is no control over the visa process so I highly doubt they will expedite for a tourist visa when they won't expedite for a work a visa for international doctors who've already matched.

Also I know in years past that you can only take the CS in the States but that they've been looking at expanding to an international location in Dubai for international applicants to have access to take the CS. You may check to see if that's available now.

I wouldn't schedule the CS before the proper paperwork was in order to come here and take it. I also don't think they'll approve a tourist visa from your country while the I-130 is in process because they may view that as intent to immigrate instead. I think you have some time for the I-130 to be processed before the 2015 Match and that it may be finished in time. I wouldn't sit for the match and spend the thousands of dollars applying without the I-130 paperwork and visa being in order encase anything goes wrong with the immigration process and there are delays.

We think we can plan our lives accordingly and everything will go smoothly but the immigration process is fickle. We waited three years for our family based visa for my husband to come here. We couldn't have foreseen that kind of delay but it's just the way it worked out. I know one couple who've waiting nine years for a family based visa from Pakistan to the US and they're still waiting. The husband eventually immigrated to Canada and became a naturalized citizen there while still waiting on the US process. The US government doesn't elaborate on the circumstances and Senators and Congressmen can't seem to help them. It is what it is.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Dr. A ♥ O

[samreen23 461]

Thankyou soooo much for such a detailed anwer! Yes I think u r right that expedite might not work but I was thinking I might be there Till June July atleast to sit for the match and I thought that my deadline is something like may that's y I was aj anxious. But if people can give it even till December then it's not a big issue. And the people u r tellig who lost the residency because of the visa they were applying for tourist or j1 right? It must be sooo depressing for them to give it up just because of uscis! I can imagine it. But still Thankyou very much! I guess I should just sit back and wait and see what fate has there and when I get approved and plan accordingly after that

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Thankyou soooo much for such a detailed anwer! Yes I think u r right that expedite might not work but I was thinking I might be there Till June July atleast to sit for the match and I thought that my deadline is something like may that's y I was aj anxious. But if people can give it even till December then it's not a big issue. And the people u r tellig who lost the residency because of the visa they were applying for tourist or j1 right? It must be sooo depressing for them to give it up just because of uscis! I can imagine it. But still Thankyou very much! I guess I should just sit back and wait and see what fate has there and when I get approved and plan accordingly after that

Yes they were going for the J-1 or H1-B visas to work here.

Also if you plan to sit for the CS before the Sept. 15th application date in order to become ECFMG certified I know there is an annual delay for sitting for Steps July through August where the scores won't be available until after the application date. This year the last day to sit for a Step was June. 27th in order to get the scores in time for the Sept. 15th application date to become ECFMG certified. Some say being ECFMG certified before the date gives them an edge to getting interviews.

Just know Steps taken between July and August will go longer than the 3-4 weeks for the score reports to be released. They do this every year.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Dr. A ♥ O

[samreen23 461]

Yup exactly. I have gone thru their score reporting schedule. That's the thing I m worried about. But oh well...there is nothing much I can do. My only hope was applying for expidate on this basis. So r u practicing doctor their? Or doing residency?

Yes they were going for the J-1 or H1-B visas to work here.

Also if you plan to sit for the CS before the Sept. 15th application date in order to become ECFMG certified I know there is an annual delay for sitting for Steps July through August where the scores won't be available until after the application date. This year the last day to sit for a Step was June. 27th in order to get the scores in time for the Sept. 15th application date to become ECFMG certified. Some say being ECFMG certified before the date gives them an edge to getting interviews.

Just know Steps taken between July and August will go longer than the 3-4 weeks for the score reports to be released. They do this every year.

[Love_Hopes 0]

HI Guys!!!

Congratulations to all those who are in residency now.

I am a ECFMG certified medical graduate from India. I am done with all the steps including step 3. My question is what kind of work i can find in healthcare now while waiting for matching for residency.

Thank you for reply. I hope someone answers.