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Originally Posted by PistolPete
Good post Thewonderer!
I think you can also go work for the VA, which doesn't necessarily have to be in an undeserved location.
I keep reading about how USMLE Step 1, 2 and 3 are needed in order to get the H1B visa. What about DO students? Is COMLEX 1, 2 and 3 sufficient for an H1B (i.e. could I just take Step 1 in addition to the COMLEX exam)??
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Most of DO residencies have no experience whatsoever with foreign applicants! I emailed few of them back in the days and they were like what? visa? why would you need one?
A lot of dual accredited residencies would sponsor for H1B though!
Wonderer,
Are you 100% sure that US graduates are exempt of writing step three for H1B?? are we automaticaly licensed physicians in the state we graduate from?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thewonderer
Yes, you can moonlight on H1B. But most places you want to moonlight at won't want to bother to get you a concurrent H1B work visa. Realistically, that's just not possible.
For Canadians coming down to the U.S. for medical school, you should consider going back to Canada for residency. Doing residency in the U.S. and go through this work visa hassle is not worth your time.
A few of my attendings did J1 waivers and they made lots of money (but were really bored). I guess they were lucky. It could have been worse for them!
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Some hospitals seem to turn the blind eye on this as I know of few J-1 residents who moonlighted.
There are a lot of programs willling to sponsor for H1B. I have emailed over 27 Neurosurgery programs and over 10 of them were willing to sponsor for H1B. If you are planning to stay in the USA I say go for H1B, if you want to work in Canada I say do your best to match in Canada but keep your options open because it's very hard, this year only 54% of US grads matched in Canada!!
The problems with J-1 is not only the returning home clause, it's that as a Canadian you are really limited in your choices of residencies! The other problem s that you are at risk of getting abused if you apply for a waiver. I know a Cardiologist who had to work for 90K a year in order to get his waiver. While that might not be a problem for an IMG with no debt. If you are Canadian wih 250k in debt, this simply means that you are filing for bankrupcy!