Category: Residency

If you have completed your medical education from a medical school outside of the United States, you are considered an International Medical Graduate (IMG). While some IMGs may have either a US citizenship or a Green Card (GC), most IMGs require a visa to enter and practice in the US. This post gives a brief outline of the different types of visas available for IMGs.

The B1/B2 visa – Electives

This is the most common category of visas applied to by people visiting the US for short trips for business/tourism.

This the the visa that will be required by most IMGs to enter the US for electives and observerships.

Note, this visa lets you stay in the US for a maximum of 6 months at a stretch.

Find out more about how to apply for the B1/B2 visa here.

The F (Student Visa) – Electives

While this is rare, some elective/ clerkship programs may require you to have an F1 visa in order to complete the elective.

I personally know some programs in Texas that require an F visa. If you have more insights on this, you can mention it in the comments section below as it will help your fellow IMGs.

Visas required for Residency Training.

While the above two visa categories are required for completing electives and observerships over the short term, you cannot complete your residency training on these visas.

There are two types of visas that are accepted for residency training – J1 and H1B. Both have their pros and cons and are discussed below.

The J visa

• The J1 visa is a temporary “non-immigration” visa given for the purposes of educational training.
• It is sponsored by the ECFMG, which is the body that deals with international medical graduates.
• Most residency programs now accept only J1 programs. This is especially true for the more prestigious University programs that almost always accept only J1 visas.
• It is easier to get a fellowship on a J1 visa as compared to an H1B visa. This is especially true for competitive fellowships like Gastroenterology and Cardiology. The reason is that even fewer fellowship programs sponsor H1Bs as compared to J1 visas.
• The J1 visa is limited to the duration of training (maximum of 7 years)
• After you finish your residency training, there is a requirement to go back to your home country and work for a minimum of 2 years before you can seek a job and permanent residency in the US
• The only way to bypass the home requirement is to do a J1 waiver. Which requires you to serve in an underserved/ underrepresented area in the US for a minimum of 3 years. You can find out more about J1 waivers here.

The H1B visa

• This is a temporary work visa.
• It is sponsored by residency programs that are willing to do so. (This means additional expenses for the residency programs to have immigration lawyers, hence very few offer H1B visas.)
• They are generally offered by large community programs. And fewer programs are offering H1Bs every passing year.
• It is limited to a period of 3 years with an extension available (up to 6 years)
• Requires you to have Step 3 before you can apply for an H1B visa. This will be mentioned on the website of the residency programs that sponsor H1B visas.
• Does NOT have the 2 year home residency requirement and therefore no question of a waiver job.

The Bottomline

Although making a choice about visas can be really tough, here are the things to consider.

• If you have your heart set on doing a competitive fellowship like GI or Cardiology, a J1 visa may be better for you.
• If you only want to train in big University programs, most will only accept J1 (They do not sponsor H1B visas, with some exceptions)
• If you are not hell bent on training in a University program and you would like to do a relatively non competitive fellowship like Nephrology, Infectious Diseases, etc choose the H1B as it does not have the home residency requirement and you can transition to a green card faster.

This article provides only the most basic overview of the different types of visas. I would love to hear your perspectives and questions in the comments section below.

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We are now offering USMLE Consultation. For a FREE seminar on USMLE as well as for various personalized consulting options check out our USMLE consultation page.

This article has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is a medical resident at NYC. Ask your questions in the comments section below.

To submit your USMLE experience, go to the Contribute page. Your experiences can help other IMGs in their journey! You can also email us at theindianmedicalstudent@gmail.com

Yes! Residency interviews are going to be virtual this year, I am sure you all know that by now. It is a new game with new rules and chances are that you have never taken virtual residency interviews before. Here are a few tips to help you be better prepared for this process.

Technology – Let it be your friend and not your enemy

The Software

While you may be totally prepared in every other aspect, having a “technical glitch” on the interview day does not sound like something you would want to happen. So make sure you get this right.

Most programs will use the standard video conference platforms like Zoom to conduct interviews, however, once you get the interview invitation, it is always good to confirm which software is going to be used. Download this before hand and make sure it is compatible with your device.

Next, ask a friend to download the app and make sure you are able to connect and that you figure out where all the different buttons are. You do not want to be muted when you introduce yourself!

The Hardware

WiFi / Internet Connection

Please make sure you have high speed Wi-Fi connection that does not keep going off. This is the time to invest in a good internet provider. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. PLEASE INVEST IN a HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

Laptop v/s Phone

Always always always please use a laptop unless you are in a situation when that is absolutely not possible, you can use your phone. There are a few reasons for this

• It looks more professional
• The laptop is easier to navigate, especially when you are in high pressure situations
• More stable, you do not want to be holding your smart phone or have it fall in the middle of an interview
• Generally has more updated hardware
• Fewer distractions. You do not want to keep getting whatsapp notifications in between the interview!

Webcam v/s built in camera

Depending on your device, it may be a good idea to invest in a good webcam. Especially if you have an older device, damaged camera or one that gives poor quality images.

Note: Make sure the poor video quality is not due to poor internet connection before you buy devices.

Headphones?

There is no right answer for this one. You have to look at 2 factors aesthetics v/s being heard clearly.

I would say give more preference to being heard clearly when you talk. Without the headphone/ microphone, your voice may echo. Again, make sure you test this before the interview day with a friend/ family member and ask them for feedback.

If you have really bulky headphones that cover your head, it may be a good idea to invest in earphones like airpods that are aesthetically more pleasing.

Make sure that any devices that you may be using (eg. webcam, headphones/ microphone) are compatible and work with the software being used.

Set the Scene

The room

Make sure you designate a particular room in your house for interviews. This is your “interview room”, make sure everyone in the house knows about it so that they don’t disturb you or walk into the room on interview day.

Other factors to consider when choosing your interview room are

• Connection to Wi-Fi!
• Good natural light
• Free from loud sounds
• Your comfort level
• Minimum distractions

The Background

Make sure you have a relatively neutral background. It may be better to start of by selecting a spot that has a white (or any other subtle color) background.

You can leave the background plain or you may chose to have some decor. But, make sure it is not too busy and has things that distract the interviewer or display political/ religious preferences.

It may be a good idea to have a plant, a subtle painting, etc. It is your space and you can get creative with it. Once again, make sure you do this before hand and not a day before the interview.

Lighting

Lighting is a one of those things that is easy to over look and something that can make a huge difference in your presentation.

• Try to maximize natural lighting to ensure your face is well lit and there are no shadows. This will mean having the light coming from the front and falling on your face. A light source from the side will create a shadow on the opposite side.
• Use a 3 point lighting system: Imagine a clock, if your face is at the 12 position, place lights at 10 and 2 o’clock positions.
• If you want to take it a step ahead, invest in a ring light.

So basically to sum it up, take care of your Lights, Sound, Camera………….. ACTION!

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Want help with interviews? We are now offering practice virtual interview sessions by current residents who have been through the interview process and thoroughly researched on how to succeed in interviews. Find more information here.

This article has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is a medical resident at NYC. Ask your questions in the comments section below.

To submit your USMLE experience, go to the Contribute page. Your experiences can help other IMGs in their journey! You can also email us at theindianmedicalstudent@gmail.com

Contacts, contacts, contacts! You must have heard a lot of people tell you the importance of contacts in your USMLE journey. And, they are not wrong.

Contacts do play an important role in influencing your position in the eyes of the program director to get you an interview or ultimately to match in a residency program.

But, I don’t know any doctors in the US? A lot of IMGs have this fear. But, that does not mean you can’t develop contacts. Here’s how you can go about networking your way to a successful match.

Where can I find people to network with?

United States Clinical Experience

There are a number of clerkship opportunities out there. Depending on whether you have graduated or not, you may be eligible for electives or observerships.

Although electives are hands on and are considered more valuable than observerships, both provide an excellent opportunity to experience the US Healthcare system as well as network.

During these rotations, you get a chance to interact with faculty members, residents, interns, medical students, program coordinators…. over a long period (generally one month).

The list can go on and on. Each person you meet during these rotations is a potential contact. It all depends on you how you interact with these people and whether you can form a lasting impression.

Not to forget your fellow students who may also be on the same rotation. These people may be your co residents in the future and may be some of your best friends for life.

Any of these rotations whether clinical or research based are probably your best bet to make contacts and network as an International Medical Student.

Rotations in the US are your absolute best networking opportunity. So, make the most of it.

Read our posts on Clinical Electives here.

Conferences and Workshops

If you have done any kind of research, make sure you submit your abstract to conferences.

For example, if you have done some research in the field of Cardiology, google “Cardiology conferences in USA”. You will have to do a bit of surfing around the web.

Apply to a number of conferences so that your chances of getting accepted at any one increase.

The more prestigious meetings are attended by senior faculty from all over the States and can be a good opportunity to showcase your work and build contacts.

To know more about Research as a Medical Student, check out our posts here.

Seniors from Medical School

Talk to people from your med school who are in the same boat as you. Talk to people from your medical school or home country who are pursuing or have completed their medical residency in the US.

It doesn’t harm to shoot an email telling them that you are on the same journey and would appreciate help.

Don’t be disheartened if they do not revert back as many people may be busy. But, if they do reply, you have yourself a contact!

Family

Some international medical students will have family or relatives in the US. It will never harm you to reach out to them and ask them to connect you to someone they know.

Networking tips

Networking can go a long way in your journey to a medical residency in the US, if done right.

• Remember you do not want to come off as too pushy and desperate.
• Show genuine interest. Reach on time and contribute meaningfully to the team you are working with (if on a rotation).
• If you are meeting people at a conference, discuss your research interest and let them know you will be interested in working with them in the future.
• Highlight your accomplishments without bragging.
• Always keep your eyes open for networking opportunities.
• Follow up with the people you meet.
• Email is generally considered a professional and non invasive way to reach out. So do not hesitate to ask for business cards and provide yours if you have one.
• If you meet a residency program director, do let them know your interest in their program and send your CV across after talking to them and if they agree.

Networking is a double edged sword. So be pleasant. Do not try too hard to impress someone or push them too much to get their contact. Assess the conversation and take it ahead depending on the kind of rapport you are able to build.

Once again, I would love to hear your perspective on this topic and if you have any additional tips that will be helpful to your fellow IMGs do share them in the comments section below. Share this post with your friends on Facebook!

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If you have any questions, use the comments section below. For personalized consultation and help with your timeline, resources and strategies, fill out the consult request form and I will get back to you.

This post has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is a medical graduate from Seth GS Medical College. Ask your questions in the comments section below.

To submit your USMLE experience, go to the Contribute page. Your experiences can help other IMGs in their journey! You can also email us at theindianmedicalstudent@gmail.com