Foreign AMG

[Windem]

I keep reading threads about Americans studying abroad or foreigners studying abroad trying to match into the USA.

What about a non-American who studies in an US allopathic school trying to match NRMP for moderately competitive programs like EM? I heard visa is an issue but on the NRMP statistics page it says visa is only a major concern for IMGs. How does that work? Are programs more willing to sponsor H1Bs for foreign(non-American) US MD grads?

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[first_time_poster]

You're still considered an IMG regardless. You have to go back to your home country unless you decide to do your residency training in America.

If you do your residency in America, you would need a J-1 visa which is specifically for foreigners doing a medical residency in America.

 

[qw098]

Are programs more willing to sponsor H1Bs for foreign(non-American) US MD grads?

No, H1B is H1B. The only caveat being if it's your home program and they like you a lot then they'd be willing to sponsor you.

However, the above statement can work in an IMG's favor as well. It is not uncommon to see IMGs doing derm fellows at Miami for 2-3 yrs then getting accepted for residency there. http://dermatology.med.miami.edu/education/current-residents

To the best of my knowledge, only 65,000 H1Bs can be given out each year by the government which is why programs can't be giving them out left right and center.

 

[futuremdforme]

To the best of my knowledge, only 65,000 H1Bs can be given out each year by the government which is why programs can't be giving them out left right and center.

Pretty sure non-profits are exempt.

 

[qw098]

Pretty sure non-profits are exempt.

Good point, I wasn't aware! Thanks!

 

[ACSurgeon]

I keep reading threads about Americans studying abroad or foreigners studying abroad trying to match into the USA.

What about a non-American who studies in an US allopathic school trying to match NRMP for moderately competitive programs like EM? I heard visa is an issue but on the NRMP statistics page it says visa is only a major concern for IMGs. How does that work? Are programs more willing to sponsor H1Bs for foreign(non-American) US MD grads?

I'm not sure how difficult it is to match. However, getting into med school without being a permenant resident is very very difficult.

 

[qw098]

I'm not sure how difficult it is to match. However, getting into med school without being a permenant resident is very very difficult.

I think if you're Canadian some schools treat you as an equal when applying though you aren't eligible for any scholarships nor financial aid.

 

[Mad Jack]

I think if you're Canadian some schools treat you as an equal when applying though you aren't eligible for any scholarships nor financial aid.

Not true- they are treated better than most international applicants but still are not looked at the same as US applicants due to the matching and quota issues. There's a reason every Canadian that can't get into a Canadian school doesn't just set off for the US.

 

[qw098]

Not true- they are treated better than most international applicants but still are not looked at the same as US applicants due to the matching and quota issues. There's a reason every Canadian that can't get into a Canadian school doesn't just set off for the US.

Some schools do treat you exactly the same. Of course there are quotas, but similar to how schools put quotas on OOS. GWU comes to mind. From their website:

Are there additional requirements for Canadian citizens?

We do accept Canadian citizens to the program and the admission requirements and application review process is identical to the rest of the applicant pool. Canadian citizens will receive a Financial Certificate at time of interview. The George Washington University cannot admit you or send you a student visa document (I-20 or DS-2019) until you have submitted documentation showing sufficient funds to pay for your expenses.

 

[Mad Jack]

Some schools do treat you exactly the same. Of course there are quotas, but similar to how schools put quotas on OOS. GWU comes to mind. From their website:

Are there additional requirements for Canadian citizens?

We do accept Canadian citizens to the program and the admission requirements and application review process is identical to the rest of the applicant pool. Canadian citizens will receive a Financial Certificate at time of interview. The George Washington University cannot admit you or send you a student visa document (I-20 or DS-2019) until you have submitted documentation showing sufficient funds to pay for your expenses.

Quotas though, those are what kill Canadians. At many schools they only have one or two slots available.

 

[first_time_poster]

As long as Canadians bring their sweet Canadian dollars to the US economy, it's all good by me.


Correction from my earlier post. While the J1 Visa is specific for residents, you can still get the H1B visa but it's harder to get and not all programs sponsor one.

good luck

 

[the argus]

You're still considered an IMG regardless. You have to go back to your home country unless you decide to do your residency training in America.

If you do your residency in America, you would need a J-1 visa which is specifically for foreigners doing a medical residency in America.

This is definitely wrong. A foreign citizen who goes to medical school in the US is considered an AMG, albeit an AMG that needs a visa. While this is a somewhat unique situation due to the fact that US medical schools are extremely competitive for non-citizens and hence there is no great data on the subject, I would imagine that if you did well in school, a foreign citizen AMG would have no trouble matching in most specialties.

 

[first_time_poster]

This is definitely wrong. A foreign citizen who goes to medical school in the US is considered an AMG, albeit an AMG that needs a visa. While this is a somewhat unique situation due to the fact that US medical schools are extremely competitive for non-citizens and hence there is no great data on the subject, I would imagine that if you did well in school, a foreign citizen AMG would have no trouble matching in most specialties.

I meant that he / she would still need a visa regardless of whether he went to school in the US or in another country. OP wasn't asking about chances of matching.

 

[Windem]

What about chances of matching for moderately competitive specialties like EM?

 

[deleted500612]

What about chances of matching for moderately competitive specialties like EM?

If you are a foreign citizen who is enrolled in a US allopathic medical school, you are considered an AMG and your chances of matching in any given specialty are the same as US domestic students. However, you will also need to be granted a J-1 visa.

 

[the argus]

I meant that he / she would still need a visa regardless of whether he went to school in the US or in another country. OP wasn't asking about chances of matching.

That is in fact exactly what the OP was asking.

 

[first_time_poster]

That is in fact exactly what the OP was asking.

whatever you say dude.

 

[the argus]

whatever you say dude.

Don't get your panties in a bunch dude.

1. You answered the question, "Does a foreign citizen AMG need a visa to do residency in the US?", which the answer is obviously of course they do. Everyone already knows the answer to this question, especially foreign citizens.

2. Words matter. You said the foreign-AMG would be "considered an IMG regardless," which is just factually wrong. The term IMG has a very specific meaning, and a foreign citizen who goes to medical school in the US is not an IMG. I'm sorry that that's not what you meant, but that's what you said.

The OP was very obviously asking if the need for a visa would still be an issue when applying for residency if the person went to medical school in the US, which is a good question. It's very well known that in addition to IMG status, a hurdle when applying to residency for foreign citizen-IMGs is the need for a visa, which many programs do not want to bother with. You didn't answer this question because of your poor reading comprehension skills, which is OK (well, except for your future patients), just don't get all pissy when you are corrected.