license issue for international student

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

chuchudentist

Full Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2007
Messages
43
Reaction score
0
hey everyone,

i was just wondering, is it true that even after you pass the national boards and everything, they still won't give you the license if you are not a u.s. citizen and not have a green card? i just want to know if it's possible to practice dentistry in the u.s. without greencard! maybe i can apply for H1 at the hospital or a private practice? thank you guys so much for replying! oh and i live in new york state... thanks again!
 
I know a few international students that just recently graduated from dental schools in the states and are currently working here with H-1/OPT, so I am pretty sure it is alright.
 
do you know if they are working in a hospital or a private practice? the dentist i worked with right now told me that when he was a student, he has F1 visa, and so after he graduated from columbia, and went to hospital interning. After a half year working there, the hospital found out that he doesn't have a greencard, and he couldn't work there anymore!!! (but this is like, 20 years ago, so maybe it's the old rule?) Anyone?
 
do you know if they are working in a hospital or a private practice? the dentist i worked with right now told me that when he was a student, he has F1 visa, and so after he graduated from columbia, and went to hospital interning. After a half year working there, the hospital found out that he doesn't have a greencard, and he couldn't work there anymore!!! (but this is like, 20 years ago, so maybe it's the old rule?) Anyone?

See your PM.
 
Could you also send the same PM to me because I also care a lot about the licence issue for foreign dentist after graduation from US dental school.
Thanks a lot
 
i m curently at NYU and will like if you can send me the same PM
thanks
 
Guess I will just post here. This is legal advice here man! I should charge you guys for this haha.

In general, foreign students that graduate from US dental schools need to complete all the neccesarily requirement in order to practice. This includes your DDS/DMD degree, passing grade of NBDE part 1 and 2, and most importantly, clinical licensure exam which is different in each states.

Most foreign graduate apply to OPT (Optional Practical Tranning) after they graduate. This allows you to stay in the states for an extra year as an extension of F-1. Now, during this year off (or even while you are in dental school) you gotta start looking for a sponsor that is willing to petition an H-1B visa for you. (Note: You can work as a dentist during OPT, but note that the length for OPT is only a year) In addition, if I remember correctly the petition for H-1B costs a little over 1000 bucks or so. Usually most business owners are willing to do this as long as you cut a little bit of your pay during your stay there.

Now lets go to H-1B petition. US has a quota for H-1B of 65,000 a year, and last year it was filled up after one day it opened. However, since DDS/DMD are considered advanced degrees, there are additional 20,000 slots allocated just for advanced degree holders. If I remember correctly, last year the advanced degree quota wasn't filled until after almost a month or so. So it is actually a lot easier for us to get that H-1B granted you find somebody to sponsor you.

Now once you get your H-1B, you are allowed to work in the states legally. You can also apply for green card after 2 years of H-1B since the visa is considered to have "dual intent"......and then at this stage, you should be good to go!

For more information, please contact your immigration lawyer.

P.S. I am not an immigration lawyer in disguise. Check out uscis.gov for more info.
 
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
 
Top