Canadian prelim

[Sundancefan82]

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Hello all,
I'm a Canadian citizen (graduated from a US med school) currently doing my prelim year with the remainder of my F-1 visa (OPT). I matched into an Ophtho program starting next year 2009, so I was wondering when exactly I should start arranging for a new visa (either H1 or J1) to start my Ophtho residency. In which case, do I contact the Ophtho residency program director, or the GME office? I'd really appreciate it if I can get input from someone who's been through this!
Thanks inadvance,
SDFAN82

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Hello all,
I'm a Canadian citizen (graduated from a US med school) currently doing my prelim year with the remainder of my F-1 visa (OPT). I matched into an Ophtho program starting next year 2009, so I was wondering when exactly I should start arranging for a new visa (either H1 or J1) to start my Ophtho residency. In which case, do I contact the Ophtho residency program director, or the GME office? I'd really appreciate it if I can get input from someone who's been through this!
Thanks inadvance,
SDFAN82

Hopefully, you spoke with your ophthal program about this before the match. In any case, you should contact the PD now to sort this out. There's a huge difference between H and J visas, and it will be up to your program (not you) whether they'll sponsor you for an H. You can always get a J if you want -- then you'll need to go back to Canada after training.

If you're planning on a J, then you might as well get the paperwork moving sooner rather than later. For no reason that I can fathom, getting the paperwork from Canada seems to take much longer than the same paperwork from other countries. presumably your current program won't care if your on an OPT or a J, so they can get the J for you this year and you'll have it for next year.

If you're planning on an H, then things get more complicated. Your current program might not sponsor you for an H visa, and then your new opthal program will need to. Not sure how this works, as an H visa is tied to an employer, so if your new emplyer gets one for you, it may not be valid for your current employer. Getting H visas is complicated. You'll need a visa lawyer for sure.

Either way, your ophthal PD will know what to do.