I am a FMG applying for match 2006, I know that a few number of FMGs go the US for residncy each year on eitehr F-1 or B-1 visas? I would appreciate it if any one knows who would qualify for those and teh process involved. Thanks

Residency can be done on either h1b( work) or J1 (exchange student) visa.
F1 is a student visa and B1 is a visitor visa. You can't do residency on both.

You can enter on F1 or B1/B2. But you have to change status to J1 or H1b for the residency. (be careful not to file COS request before 30-60 days in the country. Otherwise CIS can void your B1/B2 or F1 visa). This can be helpful if you want to enter earlier than the 30 days before start of residency a J1 for example will allow you.

Thanks guys for your comments, well actually it is possible to do residency on B-1 or F-1 ( see statistics from American medical Association ) below...only a handful of people do that , the question is how? who is eligible?






Number Percent
Native U.S. citizen 3,257 12.6%
Naturalized U.S. citizen 2,578 10.0%
Permanent resident 6,682 25.9%
B-1, B-2 temporary visitor 70 0.3%
F-1 student 56 0.2%
H-1, H-1B, H-2, H-3 temporary worker 1,619 6.3%
J-1, J-2 exchange visitor 4,798 18.6%
Refugee/asylee/ displaced person 55 0.2%
Other 375 1.5%
Unknown 6,293 24.4%
Total 25,783 100.0%

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, Sept. 3, 2003. Data are from the 2002 National GME Census, the most current available.

After one finishes a degree granting course of study in the US (e.g. MPH), one can get something called 'OPT'. This is a 1 year limited work permit for 'occupational training'. Some people use this for internship, they would show up as F1 in such a statistic.

On B1/B2 there is absolutely NO way to do a residency in any lawful way. The statistics are flawed, probably by people who stated B1/B2 on their residency application but changed to a different visa later on.

In order to start a residency as non-citizen one needs a valid J1, H1b or O1 visa (or L1b if one is a 'loaned' employee sent for training by a foreign corporation or hospital). The other alternatives are a valid asylum document an employment authorization (EAD) or best of all a green-card.