Canadian Moonlight

[raining4days]

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I don't know if this topic has been done before. But I am a Canadian and I am thinking about doing residency in the US. My question is, are Canadians able to moonlight in the US? under the recent 80-hour rule? (that is, under the H1B working class visa). Is there actually a written law that states that moonlighting is/is not allowed? Do you think moonlighting is worth doing or not?

 

[Mike59]

I don't know the exact answer to your question, but do think about how your Visa would come into play.

As a Canadian you need an H1B from the residency program that allows you to get paid. However, this only allows you to work for that program. I would think you need special work authorization from the INS to moonlight since you would be contracted with a different employer for the extra money.

Again, I don't know, just throwing in my $.02 🙂

 

[Apollyon]

...Unless the moonlighting was in-house.

There are as many policies as there are programs. You have to see what is in place where you are at. Really.

(As an example, there is a policy at Duke, that you can moonlight - but only OUTSIDE your specialty; I cannot rationalize this, no matter how hard I try.)

 

[im2003]

You can not moonlight on an H1B... period. Some physicians have chosen to ignore this (especially in their last year) and I have not heard of anyone being punished. However, with all of the immigration things going on, I believe they we be less lenient with people who think they don't have to follow the rules.

 

[donkeypuncher]

fellow canuck,
i agree with IM 2003, whatever the visa, you are obligated to stay within the job parameters which strictly means no moonlighting. I am just finishing fellowship here in the US and am moonlighting on an H1B, but only do it in our hospital. My "moonlighting" is actually noted in my H-1 as part of my job, so I have been allowed to continue since it is the same employer.. It is really a gamble overall and other people may hire you, but after 9/11, everyone is wary. PS> to get an H1, I think you need all 3 steps of USMLE, so you should be sure what visa you qualify for. If J-1, it would be very hard to even incorporate extra hours as part of your contract.
Good luck.

 

[nothingman]

This might be a bit off topic, but just out of curiosity...

I'm a Canadian citizen and have just become an MS1 in a US school, and am thinking a bit about my future training. Seeing as it's common knowledge that getting into a US med school as a foreigner is pretty difficult, I'm wondering whether I'd be facing the same hurdles in NRMP (i.e. as a US medical graduate, but a non-US citizen/perm res). Are there some programs that take citizens only? What sort of limitations are there?

If anyone knows, please PM me.

Thanks!

 

[Renovar]

Originally posted by nothingman
This might be a bit off topic, but just out of curiosity...

I'm a Canadian citizen and have just become an MS1 in a US school, and am thinking a bit about my future training. Seeing as it's common knowledge that getting into a US med school as a foreigner is pretty difficult, I'm wondering whether I'd be facing the same hurdles in NRMP (i.e. as a US medical graduate, but a non-US citizen/perm res). Are there some programs that take citizens only? What sort of limitations are there?

If anyone knows, please PM me.

Thanks!

Your problem wont be exactly "getting in" but what you gonna do if you "get in." Visa is going to be your biggest headache. You need H1B, because J1 is going to eat you alive for 2 years, and as if you can get the Canadian govt to give you a letter of need. Some programs are strict and wont even sponsor H1Bs no matter what, and some programs can do whichever kind you need.

Where do you go to school, btw? Sometimes a good person to ask is the program coordinator/director of the specialty you want to eventually do at your school which can give you some insight. If your school's medicine/surgery/whatever dept can give you H1B, then you can be at least sure that you can stay there for your training (since most residencies would gladly take their own MS graduates). But if your home department doesn't, you might want to start looking/asking.