Non US citizen but U.S. med school graduate

[jessica99]

I am a non-US citizen (Canadian) who is in med school in syracuse. I am interested in applying to nyc for residency but unsure in what specialty (radiology or medicine). I was wondering if anyone has any information about how being a non- citizen/non-resident will affect my status for resideny application (if at all). Anyw information that anyone has on the subject would be very helpful. Thank you all in advance

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[jon_jon]

If you graduate from a US medical school, I think most residency programs will look at your application in the same way as US citizens attending a US medical school.

However, you may have to look into changing your visa status once you start your residency. I assume you are on a F-1 status unless you are a US permanent resident. The IMG's on the board will be better able to help you, but I think your visa will change to a H-1 or J-1.

I don't know if this is accurate, but I hear Canadians doing a residency in the US will not be able to go back to Canada to practice medicine. You'd have to do a Canadian residency for that.

 

[jlzp]

I'm a Canadian (F-1 visa) graduating from an American Medical school who just match in an academic medical center in a major metropolitan area.

First, we (i.e. Canadians) are in a VERY unique situation, since were are not FMGs; however, as IMGs, we come from a country with a unique relationship with the US. Certain rules/visa apply to us in a different manner than someone from a non-Canadian country.

The Canadian citizenship issue is a nebulous subject for every single person I have asked...it should not affect your application, but it may affect how a program ultimately ranks you. This is really based on personal experience and not on any hard data.

Regardless if you have graduated from an American Medical School, some research-intensive schools may have worries about your ability to apply for research grants (as a non-American). Others may only give out J-1 visas (the one where you have to leave the country for 2 years).

Please be aware that you need to be extremely vigilant with follow-up on programs...some may inadvertently delete your file because they assume, as an F-1 or a non-US citizen, you are an FMG. Obviously you are not!

Contact me directly if you'd like to discuss this more.