canadian applying for USA residency? Visa problem?

[Canadiangirl]

Apparently, (read somewhere) There has been up to 2 years waiting period for getting H1-b visa for canadian students graduating from a US school to start residency?

Is this information accurate? Will canadian students be left high and dry after graduation if the paper works are not finished? Any canadian students graduated from a US DO program facing or faced similar problems?

thanks your input

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[f_w]

There is no formal waiting period for an H1b. There is however recently a problem that the goverment runs out of H1bs after only a couple of weeks (after oct1st) There are only about 55.000 visas available, but far more people applying (if you do a residency at a non-profit or university hospital, you are exempt from that 'cap').

Also, if you graduate from a degree granting program (like a DO school) you can obtain a 'OPT' work permit. This employment authorization is limited to a 1 year period of occupational practical training, which is exacly what your PGY-1 year represents. During that year you can sort out your visa options.

 

[dr.z]

You can also get J-1 visa. You'll be required to spend 2 years in your home country if you want to change the visa status from J-1 to something else, but there is also way around this as well.

 

[f_w]

For canadians, the process to obtain the 'statement of need' from 'health canada' is a royal PITA.

If you intend to stay in the US for good, aim for a H1b visa (or marry a citizen).

By the way, if you graduated from a US medschool, your H1b can be charged to a special quota of 20.000 visas reserved for US graduate students.

 

[JJcandy]

are international students restricted to which residency positions they can apply to because of visa issues? Are there residency programs that do not offer position for international studnets?

 

[f_w]

are international students restricted to which residency positions they can apply to because of visa issues?

Not officially, but in reality not all residency programs will sponsor the necessary visas.