Non US Citizens:Caribbean Medical Schools

Started by JJ07
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JJ07

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hey everyone..

I need some desperate advise.

I am an Non-US Citizen who wants to be a licensed physician in the US.

>Will attending Top 4 Caribbean school(SGU,Ross..) guarantee me a place in residency provided I do my USMLEs well?
>What are the percentage of NON US Citizens getting accepted?(if known)

>Or Is it best for me to study in a Medical School(Asia) and then write the USMLE. and look for PG?

Any sincere outputs wud be appreciated.!

Cheers,

Jj07
 
JJ07 said:
hey everyone..

I need some desperate advise.

I am an Non-US Citizen who wants to be a licensed physician in the US.

>Will attending Top 4 Caribbean school(SGU,Ross..) guarantee me a place in residency provided I do my USMLEs well?
>What are the percentage of NON US Citizens getting accepted?(if known)

>Or Is it best for me to study in a Medical School(Asia) and then write the USMLE. and look for PG?

Any sincere outputs wud be appreciated.!

Cheers,

Jj07
Click to expand...

Read this post:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6862585&postcount=11

Paraphrasing myself, I wouldn't do it if you're a non-U.S. citizen who wants to come to the U.S. Go to school in your home country. You'll have a better chance.

Being a U.S. citizen trumps a non-U.S. citizen, and if you go Carib without being a U.S. citizen (or having a green card), you're going to have a doubly-hard time of getting into a good residency in the U.S. Sorry. That's my experience.

-Skip
 
Skip Intro said:
Read this post:
Being a U.S. citizen trumps a non-U.S. citizen, and if you go Carib without being a U.S. citizen (or having a green card), you're going to have a doubly-hard time of getting into a good residency in the U.S. Sorry. That's my experience.
Click to expand...

I am a non-US citizen but have greencard. I am concerned about two main issues: finance and immigration

Will I have a problem getting the federal loan for Carribean school? Am I less qualified than US citizen? I saw that Ross has some sort of federal loan.

I eventually plan to come back to the US for residency. Will there be an immigration issue for traveling out of US for an extended period of time for study? Do I have to keep entering US every 6 months to keep my greencard valid? Am I going to be able to apply for US citizenship due to prolonged period of absence out of the US? (I earned my greencard in Jan 2006 will be eligible to apply for citizenship in Jan 2011)

Thank you in advance for your answer 🙂
 
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Greencard = federal loan

NEVER guaranteed a residency even as US citizen and US med school grad.
 
JJ07 said:
>What are the percentage of NON US Citizens getting accepted?(if known)
Click to expand...

The last numbers I've seen for SGU & Ross were:

90% American
5% Canadian
5% Other

I never considered applying to AUC and Saba so I don't really know. I'm betting it's similar.
 
Allegro said:
I am a non-US citizen but have greencard. I am concerned about two main issues: finance and immigration

Will I have a problem getting the federal loan for Carribean school? Am I less qualified than US citizen? I saw that Ross has some sort of federal loan.

I eventually plan to come back to the US for residency. Will there be an immigration issue for traveling out of US for an extended period of time for study? Do I have to keep entering US every 6 months to keep my greencard valid? Am I going to be able to apply for US citizenship due to prolonged period of absence out of the US? (I earned my greencard in Jan 2006 will be eligible to apply for citizenship in Jan 2011)

Thank you in advance for your answer 🙂
Click to expand...

Aye, there's the rub

Everyone will have a problem with getting a federal loan for a Carribean school. Its at the point where perhaps only the Big4 Carribean schools are qualified for federal loans. Also, if it makes a difference to you, being a student in a Carribean school may not qualify you to defer your loan repayment for undergraduate student loans.
 
Skip Intro said:
Read this post:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6862585&postcount=11

Paraphrasing myself, I wouldn't do it if you're a non-U.S. citizen who wants to come to the U.S. Go to school in your home country. You'll have a better chance.

Being a U.S. citizen trumps a non-U.S. citizen, and if you go Carib without being a U.S. citizen (or having a green card), you're going to have a doubly-hard time of getting into a good residency in the U.S. Sorry. That's my experience.

-Skip
Click to expand...
I am a Canadian citizen, born and raised in Toronto, I have a 3.38GPA and a dismal 26S on my MCAT, I was wondering what are the chances of me going to a top 4 carribean school and getting a residency in US?

Even the fact that im just north of the border wont be easier than if i was a continent away?

my whole fear, the only thing holding me back from going to the SGU or Ross or what have you, is the fear of going there for 4 years and NOT getting a residency.

any advice is greatly appreciated.
 
If you do reasonably well on the USMLEs you are going to get a residency. Period. Obviously nothing in life is "guaranteed" but if you don't have any black marks on your record you will get a residency. Unless you are able to get a green card, your biggest hurdle will be the visa issue - J1 vs H1B. You need to do some research on that before committing. But in terms of just getting "a" residency in something you shouldnt worry.
 
Meat Cookie said:
If you do reasonably well on the USMLEs you are going to get a residency. Period. Obviously nothing in life is "guaranteed" but if you don't have any black marks on your record you will get a residency. Unless you are able to get a green card, your biggest hurdle will be the visa issue - J1 vs H1B. You need to do some research on that before committing. But in terms of just getting "a" residency in something you shouldnt worry.
Click to expand...

👍:banana:.....I heard the J1 makes it harder in the end, since you have to return to Canada...and there you are more or less stuck (well...94% chance of being stuck). Did anybody experience this first hand, or heard about anybody being set back by this?
 
coralis said:
👍:banana:.....I heard the J1 makes it harder in the end, since you have to return to Canada...and there you are more or less stuck (well...94% chance of being stuck). Did anybody experience this first hand, or heard about anybody being set back by this?
Click to expand...

Do some research.

If you apply for a J1 waiver, you can stay but have to work for 3 years in an underserved area.
 
McGillGrad said:
Do some research.

If you apply for a J1 waiver, you can stay but have to work for 3 years in an underserved area.
Click to expand...

I have done research....I wanted some concrete experience stories. How certain it is? If anybody didn't get the residency in the rural area? ETC.

I am asking this because I would not have any problem whatsoever to go to a rural area for 2 years. This just seems to good to be true. Hence was wondering what the trick was??
 
Last edited:
thebossman said:
whats this J1 and H1B stuff?
Click to expand...

J1 visa for residency training in the U.S. Check for the requirements you have to fulfill to get this Visa:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/hhr-rhs/strateg/postgrad-postdoc/cat_b-eng.php
www.ecfmg.org/evsp/index.html



To get this visa from the ECFMG you will first need to get an offer from a residency program in the U.S. and you will need to get a "Statement of Need" from the Canadian Health Ministry.


Also, you need to pass the MCCEE before you can get that "Statement of Need" from Canada. If you get the J1 visa, then you are entitled to stay in the U.S. to do a residency, but after the residency is completed MUST return to Canada for a minimum of two years.
When you return to Canada, you have to get your U.S. residency training assessed by the Royal College of Canada (for which they charge a hefty fee). Then you have pass the Canadian board exams in order to obtain a license to practice medicine in Canada.



Now, when you go back to Canada, your U.S. training alone is not eligible for Ontario, so forget about Ontario. You will have to go to some other province, where they will place you in some small rural town.


If you are doing a residency in the U.S. on a J-1 visa, it is possible to stay in the U.S. after your residency, if you get a J-1 waiver. You can obtain this waiver by agreeing to work as a physician in a health manpower shortage area (rural/underserviced area in the U.S.) for 3-5 years. Each state in the U.S. has 30 J-1 Waiver spots per year.


The H-1B visa


To get the H-1B visa a residency program in the U.S. has to be willing to sponsor you. Not all states have hospitals willing to do this, but they are findable.


To find out which states, visit:
FSMB (Federation of State Medical Boards): www.fsmb.org


To get this visa you will have to write USMLE Step 3 before starting your residency. Around twelve states allow candidates to register for this exam before residency (Step 3 is normally written DURING residency).



The great thing about this visa, is that once you get it, you can then apply for a Green Card, which will allow you to live and work in the U.S. permanently.



References: http://www.caribbeanmedicine.com/openletter.htm

Hope this helps thebossman!
Cheers.
 
Last edited:
Canadians should really think twice before heading to the carribean. The assumption that you'll graduate, pass all the USMLEs and get an H1B for residency and live happily ever after is wrong.

The number of programs sponsoring H1Bs is rapidly declining with the increase in US grads, and US-FMGs.
As mentioned, the J1 requires a statement of need from Canada, which requires passing the MCCEE. That said if you jump through the hoops and get the J-1 your chances of obtaining a residency position are greater than looking for the H1B.

A new interesting question is how will canadians pay. CanHelp is apparently gone, and most other loans require a strong co-sign, possibly putting ones parents at risk.
 
There is no trick. They need doctors in certain specialties in underserved areas.

Primary care is what they usually need and you can apply to all states since they all have underserved areas.

You do your three years of slave labour and then you get on track for the green card.



coralis said:
I have done research....I wanted some concrete experience stories. How certain it is? If anybody didn't get the residency in the rural area? ETC.

I am asking this because I would not have any problem whatsoever to go to a rural area for 2 years. This just seems to good to be true. Hence was wondering what the trick was??
Click to expand...
 
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If you're a weak student then this is valid advice.

Are you a weak Canadian student? Is this why you posted this?



JPR22 said:
Canadians should really think twice before heading to the carribean. The assumption that you'll graduate, pass all the USMLEs and get an H1B for residency and live happily ever after is wrong.

The number of programs sponsoring H1Bs is rapidly declining with the increase in US grads, and US-FMGs.
As mentioned, the J1 requires a statement of need from Canada, which requires passing the MCCEE. That said if you jump through the hoops and get the J-1 your chances of obtaining a residency position are greater than looking for the H1B.

A new interesting question is how will canadians pay. CanHelp is apparently gone, and most other loans require a strong co-sign, possibly putting ones parents at risk.
Click to expand...
 
McGillGrad said:
If you're a weak student then this is valid advice.

Are you a weak Canadian student? Is this why you posted this?
Click to expand...

ok pretend you're a program director. You have limited spots, with many applicants. Most of the applicants are capable of becoming excellent physicians, so who do you choose? Spend thousands of your departments dollars and sponsor an H1B..maybe.
But if there's an equal candidate, who requires no paperwork or $, who would you choose?
Being good only gets you so far.
btw Im a resident.
 
JPR22 said:
ok pretend you're a program director. You have limited spots, with many applicants. Most of the applicants are capable of becoming excellent physicians, so who do you choose? Spend thousands of your departments dollars and sponsor an H1B..maybe.
But if there's an equal candidate, who requires no paperwork or $, who would you choose?
Being good only gets you so far.
btw Im a resident.
Click to expand...

If you have two perfectly equal candidates and one requires a H1B? There is no doubt that a PD will choose the US candidate.

That is common sense and not up for debate.

What is up for debate is the attractiveness of a Canadian applicant with good scores vs. a lesser US candidate or an equal non-North American candidate (i.e. Chinese, Indian, Pakistani..etc).

A Canadian candidate with good scores (average and above steps 1/2 and LOR from US attendings) will be in a great position for an H1B if he applies widely in certain specialties (IM, FM, Neuro, Psych, Peds...etc), in underserved areas, and with programs at which he has done rotations.

PDs are looking for the best candidate to fill the roster. They will gladly reject lesser US candidates for IMGs if they are superior.

True that some programs will absolutely not consider IMGs. That is to be expected because there are programs that will only consider top tier medical school candidates. Luckily, there are far more programs that are merit based vs. exclusionary.
 
coralis said:
J1 visa for residency training in the U.S. Check for the requirements you have to fulfill to get this Visa:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/hhr-rhs/strateg/postgrad-postdoc/cat_b-eng.php
www.ecfmg.org/evsp/index.html



To get this visa from the ECFMG you will first need to get an offer from a residency program in the U.S. and you will need to get a "Statement of Need" from the Canadian Health Ministry.


Also, you need to pass the MCCEE before you can get that "Statement of Need" from Canada. If you get the J1 visa, then you are entitled to stay in the U.S. to do a residency, but after the residency is completed MUST return to Canada for a minimum of two years.
When you return to Canada, you have to get your U.S. residency training assessed by the Royal College of Canada (for which they charge a hefty fee). Then you have pass the Canadian board exams in order to obtain a license to practice medicine in Canada.



Now, when you go back to Canada, your U.S. training alone is not eligible for Ontario, so forget about Ontario. You will have to go to some other province, where they will place you in some small rural town.


If you are doing a residency in the U.S. on a J-1 visa, it is possible to stay in the U.S. after your residency, if you get a J-1 waiver. You can obtain this waiver by agreeing to work as a physician in a health manpower shortage area (rural/underserviced area in the U.S.) for 3-5 years. Each state in the U.S. has 30 J-1 Waiver spots per year.


The H-1B visa


To get the H-1B visa a residency program in the U.S. has to be willing to sponsor you. Not all states have hospitals willing to do this, but they are findable.


To find out which states, visit:
FSMB (Federation of State Medical Boards): www.fsmb.org


To get this visa you will have to write USMLE Step 3 before starting your residency. Around twelve states allow candidates to register for this exam before residency (Step 3 is normally written DURING residency).



The great thing about this visa, is that once you get it, you can then apply for a Green Card, which will allow you to live and work in the U.S. permanently.



References: http://www.caribbeanmedicine.com/openletter.htm

Hope this helps thebossman!
Cheers.
Click to expand...


coralis thanks a bunch for this.

I dont know if im more scared now or less?!


is there a link for How becoming a doctor works? all the details?
 
thebossman said:
I checked through the different forum and couldn't seem to find it. Could you please share the link(s) if you know where they are located?

Thanks
Click to expand...

PLEASE check GOOGLE and any University Website, even the government`s website or medical colleges....it`s EVERYWHERE. Try to think outside forums. Ppl here come for advice AFTER they have found all that....and dicsuss different issues with it.
 
McGillGrad said:
If you have two perfectly equal candidates and one requires a H1B? There is no doubt that a PD will choose the US candidate.

That is common sense and not up for debate.

What is up for debate is the attractiveness of a Canadian applicant with good scores vs. a lesser US candidate or an equal non-North American candidate (i.e. Chinese, Indian, Pakistani..etc).

A Canadian candidate with good scores (average and above steps 1/2 and LOR from US attendings) will be in a great position for an H1B if he applies widely in certain specialties (IM, FM, Neuro, Psych, Peds...etc), in underserved areas, and with programs at which he has done rotations.

PDs are looking for the best candidate to fill the roster. They will gladly reject lesser US candidates for IMGs if they are superior.

True that some programs will absolutely not consider IMGs. That is to be expected because there are programs that will only consider top tier medical school candidates. Luckily, there are far more programs that are merit based vs. exclusionary.
Click to expand...

With the expansion of both allo and osteo schools there are far fewer spots for IMGs and of those the majority are J1s. How is a Candidate from the caribbean supposed to distinguish him/herself...board scores-theres enough IMGs with 99's on the USMLEs, and a 10-20 point spread really doesnt make that much of a difference. Rotations and letters-probably the best way, however, theres not much stopping other candidates from rotating at the same program, and getting the same form letter. Now, the american citizen doesnt need to pass the MCCEE, and such for the J1 paperwork.
My issue is this, take 10 canadians who head to the caribbean, obviously some will do well, its the ones who dont that concern me. How will they pay off these $200,000 + USD loans?
 
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