Affects of having a green card

[thewhitecoat]

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Background: Canadian citizen educated in top US college and will be attending average medical school, has an american girlfriend.

Assuming a competitive application academically, when it comes time to apply for residencies (surgical specialties), how much stronger would my application be if I were to have a green card via marriage vs applying for a H-1B visa and then later getting married?

Would getting married (if given the option) during medical school help me with scoring my dream job?

Many thanks.

*Effects*

 

[doc2beIRELAND]

are you only gonna propose to get the green card?! 😍

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Background: Canadian citizen educated in top US college and will be attending average medical school, has an american girlfriend.

Assuming a competitive application academically, when it comes time to apply for residencies (surgical specialties), how much stronger would my application be if I were to have a green card via marriage vs applying for a H-1B visa and then later getting married?

Would getting married (if given the option) during medical school help me with scoring my dream job?

Many thanks.

*Effects*

Get married before 4th year starts. I had a friend of mine do this. She is Canadian. She found her husband (who is a husband for a husband, with the added bonus of a green card) in medical school, and scheduled her marriage so that by the time she was ready to apply, it was done. It was a non-issue.

I suppose, "I'm getting married, Visa status doesn't matter" is a suitable way to get that Urology spot, but why risk it? If you want something competitive, eliminate reasons for eliminating you.

Of course, you better be getting married to someone you want to be with, not just the card. They actually have agencies which specifically investigate this stuff. Being thrown out of the country is worse than not getting Neurosurgery in Philly...

 

[Bigz]

Background: Canadian citizen educated in top US college and will be attending average medical school, has an american girlfriend.

Assuming a competitive application academically, when it comes time to apply for residencies (surgical specialties), how much stronger would my application be if I were to have a green card via marriage vs applying for a H-1B visa and then later getting married?

Would getting married (if given the option) during medical school help me with scoring my dream job?

Many thanks.

*Effects*

Do it now and become a citizen by the time you graduate. As a Canuck and a green card holder i was asked questions during interviews about my status and if intend to be in the US permanently. I applied for my citizenship the next day. GL

 

[jdh71]

Background: Canadian citizen educated in top US college and will be attending average medical school, has an american girlfriend.

Assuming a competitive application academically, when it comes time to apply for residencies (surgical specialties), how much stronger would my application be if I were to have a green card via marriage vs applying for a H-1B visa and then later getting married?

Would getting married (if given the option) during medical school help me with scoring my dream job?

Many thanks.

*Effects*

The green card is a BIG deal to an applicant because top programs won't even bother with visa issues. Your application will be helped by a green card, though I can't cynically recommend getting married just to get it.

 

[dally1025]

Background: Canadian citizen educated in top US college and will be attending average medical school, has an american girlfriend.

Assuming a competitive application academically, when it comes time to apply for residencies (surgical specialties), how much stronger would my application be if I were to have a green card via marriage vs applying for a H-1B visa and then later getting married?

Would getting married (if given the option) during medical school help me with scoring my dream job?

Many thanks.

*Effects*

Many residency programs won't sponsor your visa. My husband is from abroad and we just finished the green card process. It takes some time so getting married during 4th year probably wouldn't be enough time to fill out all the paperwork and have it accepted (it took us about 5-6months but it can take up to 1 year). You're from Canada so it probably would take you about the same (longer if you were from a country they'd be more suspicious about). As a word of advise, I wouldn't get married just for a green card-they can ask all sorts of personal questions and dig into your personal life. Even though my husband and I are legit, they made us feel a bit worried and asked for tons of paperwork/proof that we weren't committing fraud.

 

[thewhitecoat]

Many thanks for all the insightful responses.

In terms of timeline, what would be the latest time during the 4 years to get married and still have all paperwork processed in time for residency applications? Would the summer between M-3 and M-4 be enough?

 

[dally1025]

Many thanks for all the insightful responses.

In terms of timeline, what would be the latest time during the 4 years to get married and still have all paperwork processed in time for residency applications? Would the summer between M-3 and M-4 be enough?

I think that they say all the processing can take up to 1 year. However, you have to have a lot of stuff done before you apply-get a medical exam from a limited list of docs, acquire a ton of paperwork/photos showing you and your spouse are legit, and fill out all the stuff. It's faster if you hire a lawyer to do it but it will cost you a a few grand (I think here it was about $3,000). We ended up filling out something like 10 different documents each requiring supporting documents (birth certificants, marriage license, leases, bills in both of your names, etc). Given that most people apply to school during the summer between M3-M4 year I'd say you need to get started at the latest at the beginning of M3 year just to be safe. Given that you're from Canada you shouldn't have as much problem as someone coming in from other countries but you never know. My husband is from Australia and we submitted in November and he received his green card in May.

 

[Mr hawkings]

Many thanks for all the insightful responses.

In terms of timeline, what would be the latest time during the 4 years to get married and still have all paperwork processed in time for residency applications? Would the summer between M-3 and M-4 be enough?

Green card will take between 1 and 2 years. As the above poster said, you may want to get a lawyer. You could do it yourself but it helps to have a pro who will hound them and make sure all the I's are dotted. This is huge cos any type of error on your part could delay your application by months. The time frame is region-specific though. If you're on either coast, it will be closer to 2 years, maybe more unless if you are very very lucky. If you're in the mid-west or south, its much quicker. Being canadian helps to speed things up too.

If approved, you will get a conditional green card which will be made permanent after two years if you dont commit any crimes in that time frame.

Ironically, the citizenship application is much easier and much quickier. In addition to having already been on the permanent green card for at least 3 years withouot acting up too much, You pretty much only need to speak enough english to answer 10 questions verbally to get that hooked up.

 

[PistolPete]

Good luck, OP. Get married 3rd year, like the above posters have said. I can't tell you how much easier my app would be if I had a green card, almost a world of new opportunities, despite being a US med student.

 

[yorku]

Good luck, OP. Get married 3rd year, like the above posters have said. I can't tell you how much easier my app would be if I had a green card, almost a world of new opportunities, despite being a US med student.

can you please elaborate on that? I am in the same boat (Canadian) but have a wife so the marriage route is out of question. Where did you apply and where were you turned down and what was the major obstacle?

 

[runawayclock]

I should point out that entering US on an F-1 visa with the intent to marry can get you in pretty big trouble. I've heard of stories of border guards being super obnoxious at the border for even having a US citizen boyfriend/girlfriend - you'll have a lot more to prove about your ties to Canada if they know you have a US SO.

Also, if you get married right away after you arrive, and you file for Adjustment of Status from your student visa to permanent residency, your file will definitely be looking a little suspect.

</killjoy>

My cousin just went through a ton of crap with this, getting married to her American boyfriend. But she was adjusting from a tourist visa, rather than a student visa.

But it doesn't seem like you're going to the US to marry your girlfriend, so I'd say you're ok. 😉 Plus, apparently adjusting from an F-1 to a permanent residency is easier than other types of visas (like working or tourist visas).

 

[Mr hawkings]

can you please elaborate on that? I am in the same boat (Canadian) but have a wife so the marriage route is out of question. Where did you apply and where were you turned down and what was the major obstacle?

You're ****ed

 

[Mr hawkings]

I should point out that entering US on an F-1 visa with the intent to marry can get you in pretty big trouble. I've heard of stories of border guards being super obnoxious at the border for even having a US citizen boyfriend/girlfriend - you'll have a lot more to prove about your ties to Canada if they know you have a US SO.

Also, if you get married right away after you arrive, and you file for Adjustment of Status from your student visa to permanent residency, your file will definitely be looking a little suspect.

</killjoy>

My cousin just went through a ton of crap with this, getting married to her American boyfriend. But she was adjusting from a tourist visa, rather than a student visa.

But it doesn't seem like you're going to the US to marry your girlfriend, so I'd say you're ok. 😉 Plus, apparently adjusting from an F-1 to a permanent residency is easier than other types of visas (like working or tourist visas).

Its all about proof. They know that there are lots of shady "marriages" out there but they cant prove it. In the DC area for example marriage contractors are a very lucrative industry where the contractor can make between 3-6k per marriage he arranges between a citizen who is down on his/her luck and need a grand or two to get back on his feet and a desperate foreigner trying to get legal so they can work . Then they get divorced after the papers go through. They never actually spend any time together untill the day of the interview when they just have to be convincing enough to look like theyve been dating a while. Theres no law stipulating how long you should have dated before getting married for the purpose of becoming legal.

 

[runawayclock]

Its all about proof. They know that there are lots of shady "marriages" out there but they cant prove it. In the DC area for example marriage contractors are a very lucrative industry where the contractor can make between 3-6k per marriage he arranges between a citizen who is down on his/her luck and need a grand or two to get back on his feet and a desperate foreigner trying to get legal so they can work . Then they get divorced after the papers go through. They never actually spend any time together untill the day of the interview when they just have to be convincing enough to look like theyve been dating a while. Theres no law stipulating how long you should have dated before getting married for the purpose of becoming legal.

Absolutely. There are people who legit enter the country intending to do one thing but end up getting hitched right away. Like you said, it IS about proof, but you will get more crap if you get married right away, or are from a country where these things happen regularly, etc.

Anyway, back to the OP, I've seen people who've had their student status adjusted to permanent resident (had their conditional green card) in ~6 months if they get all their ducks in a row... It might be significantly less than 2 years!

 

[thewhitecoat]

If I get married between 3rd and 4th year, can I write on my residency applications that I'm "in the process" of getting the green card as opposed to saying Canadian?

Would that still help my chances? If I tie the knot in the summer, I think I could get my green card possibly sometime between Dec - March of M4, so RD's wouldn't really have to deal with visa applications.

 

[Mr hawkings]

If I get married between 3rd and 4th year, can I write on my residency applications that I'm "in the process" of getting the green card as opposed to saying Canadian?

Would that still help my chances? If I tie the knot in the summer, I think I could get my green card possibly sometime between Dec - March of M4, so RD's wouldn't really have to deal with visa applications.

No it will not. They will not want to take the chance of taking you and having your paperwork fall through a month before you're supposed to start and end up with one less resident when july comes around.

If they have a candidate with your qualifications but without your immigration issues, they will take the easy way out and take the other person.

 

[runawayclock]

If I get married between 3rd and 4th year, can I write on my residency applications that I'm "in the process" of getting the green card as opposed to saying Canadian?

Would that still help my chances? If I tie the knot in the summer, I think I could get my green card possibly sometime between Dec - March of M4, so RD's wouldn't really have to deal with visa applications.

Wait, what year are you in right now? For some reason, i thought you were just entering.... 😕

But if you get married after your 2nd year, would it be possible to ask for a leave of absence to deal with the paper work and health exams etc. while you wait for your paper work to clear up? You would also have the added benefit of being able to apply for a US gov. student loan instead of taking more money from a line of credit (whether it be student or home owner's). When you get your employment approval (i think it takes a few months after your initial application for adjustment of status) you could work, help pay some of your loans back, then come back for MS3 with your green card...

I have no idea if a school would let you take a leave of absence just for this, though.

 

[sindadel]

If you do decide to go the marriage route, you MUST have a wedding both families attend with photos etc. They will want to see them. I'd never say get married for immigration purposes, but sit down together and decide whether the two of you want to move up the timeline for improved chances of being able to stay together through residency.

BTW, I entered the US for graduate school on an F-1 visa (specifically obtained just before marrying an American citizen) and then adjusted my status a couple of months later. They asked me at the border if I planned to come back and I said truthfully that I did plan to live in Canada again. I could equally truthfully say I planned to live in the US again. When the countries are so close, the rules are a little slacker.

 

[PistolPete]

can you please elaborate on that? I am in the same boat (Canadian) but have a wife so the marriage route is out of question. Where did you apply and where were you turned down and what was the major obstacle?

I haven't applied yet. I'll be applying this coming year. I can just tell you that many hospitals refuse to sponsor ANY visa, be it J1 or H1B, which closes those doors. I am already at a disadvantage before I even get out of the gate, so to speak. It sucks.

Needing a visa is a disadvantage because you have to be consistently better than your U.S. citizen colleagues. This is very tiring.

And even if I do get into a program that only sponsors a J1, I can't get a green card through that visa, even if I marry a US citizen. On top of this, I have to leave the US after residency, unless I work for the VA or some under-served area for like 4-5 years, and even that isn't guaranteed. This sucks majorly. I want to live and work in the US, since all of my post-secondary education has been in the US, but I am not any closer to being a permanent resident or citizen than I was the first day I arrived.

So yeah, do what you have to in order to get that green card. It will help immensely when time comes to apply to residencies.

Anybody know a cute American chick that is looking for a ridiculously good looking and smart Canuck? 😎

 

[dally1025]

And even if I do get into a program that only sponsors a J1, I can't get a green card through that visa, even if I marry a US citizen.

If you get hired somewhere here then they can sponsor you for a green card. I'm not certain about residency programs but my husband is a post-doc and his program would have sponsored his green card application so maybe residency programs will do the same thing. Should you meet an American girl to marry, you don't need another visa to apply for a green card. You can just apply for the green card after you get married. It makes the paperwork a little weird but that's what my husband and I did without a problem. If that fails, you can always apply for the diversity green card lottery!

 

[runawayclock]

If that fails, you can always apply for the diversity green card lottery!

Unfortunately, Canucks are not eligible. 👎

 

[PistolPete]

Should you meet an American girl to marry, you don't need another visa to apply for a green card. You can just apply for the green card after you get married. It makes the paperwork a little weird but that's what my husband and I did without a problem. If that fails, you can always apply for the diversity green card lottery!

I think for a post-doc it might be a bit different (I think there are some differences between clinical J1 vs. research). Anyway what I mean to say is that even IF marriage is a possibility while I am on a J1 visa, I still CANNOT get a green card even after marriage. In other words, if I am on a J1, and I get married, I still would have to leave the country for 2 years or work in an underserved area for 5 years before I can get the "leave the country" requirement waived. Only THEN can I adjust and get permanent residency/green card.

Totally sucks.

Hence, why most people who want to say in the US try for the H1B. Much less hassle. Of course, most hospitals don't want to sponsor the H1B, fuuuuu....

 

[runawayclock]

I think for a post-doc it might be a bit different (I think there are some differences between clinical J1 vs. research). Anyway what I mean to say is that even IF marriage is a possibility while I am on a J1 visa, I still CANNOT get a green card even after marriage. In other words, if I am on a J1, and I get married, I still would have to leave the country for 2 years or work in an underserved area for 5 years before I can get the "leave the country" requirement waived. Only THEN can I adjust and get permanent residency/green card.

Totally sucks.

Hence, why most people who want to say in the US try for the H1B. Much less hassle. Of course, most hospitals don't want to sponsor the H1B, fuuuuu....

I've read from other posts that if you feel that you have a good shot at a spot at a hospital, you can ask to speak with the director or someone high up and tell them about the visa and see if you can get them to evaluate your case individually. Sometimes the student will know more about the visa than the hospital and if you're convincing enough, they'll sponsor you for the H1B rather than the J1.

Good luck, though. sounds like a serious pain in the ass... 🙁