ACGME sponsoring H1B to DO student

[docmayer]

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Hello everyone,

I am a Canadian citizen who has been accepted to a DO school. From what I understand I will have to go through an ACGME program that is willing to sponsor me an H1B visa. I understand that by the time I apply all programs will be ACGME accredited, however the "DO" residency programs will still not sponsor the H1B, and I will be searching for an "MD" residency. I was wondering how much of a disadvantage I would be in terms of specializing when trying to find an "MD" residency willing to sponsor a DO an H1B visa. Are MD programs in ER and Anes completely out of question?

Any inputs are appreciated.

 

[PistolPete]

I am going through this right now. Canadian DO grad, my program agreed to sponsor H1b, and yes, DO programs don't know anything about visas and all the ones I looked at said "no." So even if all residency programs will become ACGME accredited soon, the DO hospitals still won't know anything about visas.

Yes, you will be at a certain disadvantage, because let's face it, DO's are still in general looked down upon (slightly), although this is changing. Being a DO AND an international student needing a visa may break your application at certain programs, since many don't even want to sponsor the H1b due to increased costs over the J1.

That said, you should still do OK applying to ER or anesthesia as a DO requiring an H1b, but you will probably get most of your interviews from places that only offer the J1, and those places that do offer the H1b may be in worse locations. Good luck!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I am going through this right now. Canadian DO grad, my program agreed to sponsor H1b, and yes, DO programs don't know anything about visas and all the ones I looked at said "no." So even if all residency programs will become ACGME accredited soon, the DO hospitals still won't know anything about visas.

Yes, you will be at a certain disadvantage, because let's face it, DO's are still in general looked down upon (slightly), although this is changing. Being a DO AND an international student needing a visa may break your application at certain programs, since many don't even want to sponsor the H1b due to increased costs over the J1.

That said, you should still do OK applying to ER or anesthesia as a DO requiring an H1b, but you will probably get most of your interviews from places that only offer the J1, and those places that do offer the H1b may be in worse locations. Good luck!

Did you take the USMLE? A question I would like to know the answer to is whether the COMLEX is considered acceptable for an H1b.

 

[PistolPete]

Only took USMLE Step 1 and 2CK. Have given all my H1b paperwork to the HR office, we'll see. Hopefully it will be OK because COMLEX 1-3 is both necessary and sufficient in order to get licensed, and the USMLE Step 1-3 is neither necessary nor sufficient for DO's, and the US government shouldn't be able to force me to take USMLE Steps 1-3 since they recognize COMLEX 1-3 as equivalent by accepting DO's into the military. If they do I'll put up a fight since it'll amount to discrimination.

Other fellow interns from my DO school now at ACGME programs have apparently been told by their GME that COMLEX should be OK, but I'll post an update once I know more.

 

[docmayer]

Only took USMLE Step 1 and 2CK. Have given all my H1b paperwork to the HR office, we'll see. Hopefully it will be OK because COMLEX 1-3 is both necessary and sufficient in order to get licensed, and the USMLE Step 1-3 is neither necessary nor sufficient for DO's, and the US government shouldn't be able to force me to take USMLE Steps 1-3 since they recognize COMLEX 1-3 as equivalent by accepting DO's into the military. If they do I'll put up a fight since it'll amount to discrimination.

Other fellow interns from my DO school now at ACGME programs have apparently been told by their GME that COMLEX should be OK, but I'll post an update once I know more.

Thanks for your reply. Do you think attending a more reputable school such as MSU over a less-reputable school make someone in my position more to likely build connections and be appealing to PDs? I know this shouldn't be a concern for US citizens as much, but being a Canadian needing a visa any advantage is important. What do you think?