Accept IMG's but don't offer visas.

[Sage880]

I'm an IMG looking to set up an elective for next summer. I came across this on Denver's EM residency site:

"Although we are pleased to accept applications from qualified International Medical Graduates, we do not sponsor any visas."

Does anyone know what that means? Can I not get any visa to go there? How can you enter a program if you can't get a visa? Or does that just mean you can go to the program on a J1 but they won't sponser the H1b visa?

I'm confused by this visa stuff. Can someone in the know help me out?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[superoxide]

I'm an IMG looking to set up an elective for next summer. I came across this on Denver's EM residency site:

"Although we are pleased to accept applications from qualified International Medical Graduates, we do not sponsor any visas."

Does anyone know what that means? Can I not get any visa to go there? How can you enter a program if you can't get a visa? Or does that just mean you can go to the program on a J1 but they won't sponser the H1b visa?

I'm confused by this visa stuff. Can someone in the know help me out?

What it means is that they will accept IMGs who are U.S citizens/permanent residents. So they will accept applications from an american who went to an international school, but they won't accept applications from non-american citizens/permanent residents.

The best way to find out is to call them and inquire about their visa policy. From what I understand, the J1 visa is sponsored by the ECFMG (not by the program). There is a difference between 'sponsoring' a visa and 'accepting' a visa. Some places say that they do not accept J1 visa applicants, even if you have one.

Hope that all made sense. If someone else has any other information or corrections to what I've said, please feel free to add.

 

[Sage880]

Thanks for the quick answer. All this planning electives and trying to decide where to apply for a residency spot is daunting.

If anyone knows any particular "IMG Friendly" EM programs in the states please feel free to let me know. Right now I feel I'm just making random guesses about programs based on whatever info I come across.

 

[superoxide]

Thanks for the quick answer. All this planning electives and trying to decide where to apply for a residency spot is daunting.

If anyone knows any particular "IMG Friendly" EM programs in the states please feel free to let me know. Right now I feel I'm just making random guesses about programs based on whatever info I come across.

Look through this list. Click on "List of Programs by Specialty" and then click "Emergency Medicine". Go to the individual sites and look at their policy regarding IMGs.

http://www.acgme.org/adspublic/

Also look at the residency match results for the caribbean school (AUC, Ross, Saba, SGU, MUA). They have all had students who have matched into EM. The information is posted on their site.

 

[Blade28]

If you're asking about visa issues or "IMG friendly" programs you might want to check out the International Medical Forums.

 

[deleted87716]

The OP would probably get more replies in the International Forum. Moving.

 

[Sage880]

Thanks for moving - hadn't realized there was a general forum for IMGs. I thought there were just the sub-divisions for the different countries.

 

[McGillGrad]

Doing electives is usually not a problem for IMGs. Getting interviews for residencies is where they draw the line for visas.

 

[lunartune]

Hi,

about 3 years ago I did a rotation/elective at The Children's Hospital in Denver. All I needed was a B1/B2 visa. You'll need the J1 for a residency spot. As far as I know, you will lose time on your J1 visa (restricted to 7 years) if you use it for an elective/rotation.

The ECFMG can sponsor a J1 visa if you matched. The hospital will also have to do some paperwork.

lt

 

[Shinken]

...but they won't accept applications from non-american citizens/permanent residents.

Actually, permanent residents don't need any visas and can work and apply to residencies without issues. Permanent resident = green card holder.

 

[leorl]

That message above is for those applying for residency. So basically they would be lookin at IMGs who are US citizens.

Cleveland Clinic has a great EM department who are amenable to IMGs doing electives there (and free housing, and free elective). I had a fantastic time there, and also was working with an Irish-grad resident (he was IM rotating through the ED). Others have done electives in Boston. You shouldn't really find that much trouble for an elective in EM as an IMG.

 

[Cloaca]

It says they don't "sponser" a visa meaning they don't get you a J1. But that doesn't exclude people who are permanent residents (as an above poster said) - permanent residents don't need visas to work in the US because they are already permanent residents. So when a program says they don't sponser visas they mean it's fine if you have some other kind of visa to work in the US for the duration of your residency but they themselves won't go through the paperwork to get you the J1.