Actually, that's not true. You CANNOT use your MD (or substitute your MBBS for MD) or call yourself a physician, if you do not hold a valid medical license, and your use of the MD title could be construed as being able to treat patients. (I don't know about using the MBBS title, because most ordinary people really wouldn't know what it is).
There's been several cases where people got severely burned for using the MD title, without having a medical license. So you'd need more than just an ECFMG certificate. You'll need a training or full medical license, before you're even allowed to use that title.
Obviously, there's exceptions. If you're a foreigner doing research only, people probably wouldn't mind. But if you started taking out ads in the local paper seeking patients or whatnot, and use that title, then you're pretty sure to be severely burned.
I"m confused. No where did I say it was ok to use the MD title without having the license if one is trying to present themselves as a physician in the professional sense...that was the point I was trying to get across to the OP. It was ok in some situations, but not those where he was signing documents as a physician or some other similar situation.
Your response implies that no one is allowed to use the title MD (or equivalent) until they are licensed. This is not correct. If that were the case, it would be illegal to put MD on your badge, coat, chart notes, orders, etc. The MD, especially in a training situation, does not imply having an unrestricted license.
I am unsure as to why people are confused about this issue. Here are the facts...
the MD is a degree
an MBBS, MbChB, etc. are medical degrees and are acceptable equivalents to the US MD degree
you cannot practice medicine without a degree
you cannot practice medicine outside of a residency training program without a degree and a license
some states require a training license which requires a degree, being in a training program, and in most cases, completion of USMLE Steps 1 and 2
a license requires a degree, passing of USMLE Steps 1-3 and for foreign trained physicians, ECFMG certification
using the title MD implies one has a degree, but is not evidence that you are licensed. This is why interns and others without licenses are allowed to have MD on their badges and sign documents as MD - it is simply a reflection of their license.
I noted to the OP that it would be ok to use MD on a badge for example, to reduce confusion, because that does not imply he is presenting himself as anything other than what he is, which is a person who possesses a medical degree. MBBS is not well known in the US and there are no laws against using the MD in such situations; this has been well discussed herewith, by ECFMG and ACGME.
However, my problem with the OP using the MD is in signing legal documents. I do not know whether or not his job requires him to be licensed, since it appears he is not, I assume it does not require US physician licensing. I recommended to him that he use the term MBBS after his name when signing such documents because there is some semblance that he is "practicing medicine" or at the very least, offering medical opinion. Now, it is unlikely that the practice of reviewing medical charts is considered "practicing medicine" and that the OP would be sanctioned for doing so. However, I think this is a grey area and he would be best in signing MBBS for any activity which requires his use of his medical degree or knowledge. If he were in a training program, had completed the licensing process, he could comfortably use MD more frequently, but again, I think for legal documents pertaining to the practice of medicine he should still use MBBS.
Since we were no where near talking about taking out ads, etc. and practicing medicine, I did not think to include discussion of those types of situations with the OP. But obviously if he were to take out an ad, presenting himself as a physician with the intent to practice medicine, he would be unlicensed, and regardless of whether his degree was an MD or MBBS, that is illegal. But again the degree itself is not evidence of a license to practice medicine anymore than a PhD in psychology is the license to practice that field. But you can still call yourself an MD or PhD but you cannot present yourself as eligible to practice your craft without an unrestricted license outside of a training program.