Approved for 1-month unpaid internship at an American med school, 214(b) rejection at interview?

[SigmaLa 0]

So better not to be an international applicant, better to be a domestic applicant?

There are 2 groups which enter the Match for a residency position.

• US trained (MD/DO Schools inside the US)
• international medical graduate

Since she is a non US citizen trained at non US accredited medical school she counts as international medical graduate. An asylee status does not change this fact. Therefore she would be still at the end of the food chain.

Only way to overcome this is to restart at a US medical school. Which brings a new bag of problems.

Edited March 9, 2016 by SigmaLa

[KHas 0]

There is only one route: Take the USMLEs and enter the match. You need to be a very competitive candidate to overcome the international applicant stigma. Additional you need the funds.

She is currently studying for the USMLE, hoping to complete all three steps in time for the 2018 match at latest. She's serious about this. I floated the idea of working in the US on an H1B after graduation so as to be immersed in English while studying for it - she's considering it, but was leery at the prospect citing cost-of-living concerns, believing it would be easier to complete the tests while living in Turkey after graduation.

Not sure if HFM18's still around, but for the record, I have no interest in being used for a green card as he kept insinuating. I know it was basically your job *not* to believe such claims, but this is a good-faith effort to help someone who's making an effort.

Something I'm left wondering about, though, is the residency interview process. I understand she'd need to be physically present to interview at these schools. Would an ECFMG-certified applicant be denied a visa to come over here to interview for a residency position for fear that they'd request asylum as soon as they arrived?

If it truly is a "Syrians need not apply" situation, it would only be fair to warn her before she invests all of that time and money into taking the tests.

Edited March 9, 2016 by KHas

[SigmaLa 0]

She is currently studying for the USMLE, hoping to complete all three steps in time for the 2018 match at latest. She's serious about this. I floated the idea of working in the US on an H1B after graduation so as to be immersed in English while studying for it - she's considering it, but was leery at the prospect citing cost-of-living concerns, believing it would be easier to complete the tests while living in Turkey after graduation.

Not sure if HFM18's still around, but for the record, I have no interest in being used for a green card as he kept insinuating. I know it was basically your job *not* to believe such claims, but this is a good-faith effort to help someone who's making an effort.

Something I'm left wondering about, though, is the residency interview process. I understand she'd need to be physically present to interview at these schools. Would an ECFMG-certified applicant be denied a visa to come over here to interview for a residency position for fear that they'd request asylum as soon as they arrived?

If it truly is a "Syrians need not apply" situation, it would only be fair to warn her before she invests all of that time and money into taking the tests.

She also needs to enter the US to do the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills.

Does she has another university degree to obtain a H1B visa?

I would strongly suggest to try to go to Germany, the bar is much lower to be able to practice medicine.

[KHas 0]

She also needs to enter the US to do the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills.

Does she has another university degree to obtain a H1B visa?

I would strongly suggest to try to go to Germany, the bar is much lower to be able to practice medicine.

And I guess I can conclude she'd be barred from that citing asylum concerns, too?

She would only have her medical degree, and as I understand it the only jobs one could get in the medical field here without an actual license are research (don't know the details) or drawing blood for next to minimum wage. I have no argument with that standard, but it limits her options in a way Turkey doesn't.

What I had learned of through a Yazidi friend was a company which does translation work (including medical documents). Figure fluency in four languages and a medical degree would be worth something to them, worth looking at in any case, but would there be some red tape forbidding her to apply for something like that?

The more this goes on the more I think Germany would be a better option for her. It truly sucks to be the guy to shoot down someone's dream.

Edited March 9, 2016 by KHas

[KHas 0]

I guess what this is boiling down to is the following:

Is there any point to her applying for a B1 visa to try to redeem this internship? Pretty sure the answer is no.

Is there any point in trying to apply for a work visa after graduation?

Would she not be allowed to come to the US to complete USMLE Step 2 CS, for fear she would request asylum?

Would she not be allowed to come to the US to interview for a resident position, for fear she would request asylum?

[Boiler 45,872]

Work Visa's are usually dual intent and she does not apply, the Employer does.

Non immigrant visa seems a long shot as she is asylum ready.

[KHas 0]

Work Visa's are usually dual intent and she does not apply, the Employer does.

Non immigrant visa seems a long shot as she is asylum ready.

OK, so she wouldn't be given the chance to take USMLE Step 2 CS?

If nonimmigrant is completely off the board, it sounds, then, like her only real chance of getting a shot at medical residency would be if she were already here on a work visa... through a company or university she wouldn't be able to apply with in person.

*sigh* Wish I'd known all this before she applied the first time. The embassy was happy enough to take her money.

Edited March 9, 2016 by KHas

[Boiler 45,872]

The embassy was happy enough to take her money.

She applied, what were they supposed to do?

She can apply again, nobody here will be the one to say yes or no.