Starting September 2018, ECFMG has now made it compulsory for international medical graduates to fill out an ECFMG Form 186. This process is required in order to proceed further with your USMLE applications. Without filling Form 186, you cannot get access to the link to apply for USMLE.
Here is a complete guide about how you should go about filling ECFMG Form 186.
Step 1: Download ECFMG Form 186
When you log in to your ECFMG applicant portal, you will see a link that opens up your form 18 in a PDF format. The first page of the PDF looks like this:
The second page will have your personal details pre filled. It will look something like this:
Read through the information carefully.
Step 2: Upload your documents on the NotaryCam Website
This is a website that provides online notary services. Go to the ECFMG portal of NotaryCam. The page will look like this
On the next screen, you will be asked to fill your personal details as well as upload the Form 186 that you downloaded from the ECFMG website.
Click Submit.
Step 3: Book an interview appointment
Once you submit the form, you will receive an email from NotaryCam saying that they will verify your document.
This is a relatively quick process and you will receive another email (typically within 15-20 minutes) saying that your document is verified and you can proceed for your session with an online notary.
You have one of two options here
- Proceed with the online session immediately
- Book a date for your online session
Step 4 : The Online Session
Before you start your session make sure you have 2 important things
- You are dressed appropriately
- Your passport should be handy
You will be taken to an online chatroom with your document already uploaded. Once the notary official is ready for the session, you will see a blinking message that allows you to turn on your computer’s webcam.
The people on the other end are really nice, they will ask you for a few things:
- To confirm your personal details
- To show your passport on the laptop screen for verification
- To place a digital signature on the already uploaded form 186
Once this is done, they will tell you that everything is OK and that they will forward the document to ECFMG. You can exit the chat screen now.
Step 5 : Waiting for ECFMG Verification
This can take a few days. The ECFMG will notify you once your Form 186 is accepted!
Congratulations! You have just completed your Form 186. You can now log into your ECFMG account and find a link to the Form 183. The steps for the rest of the application are the same as mentioned in my article on The [6 Step] USMLE Application guide.
This article has been written by Dr. Rohit Nathani who is an intern at Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, India. To ask questions, use the comments section below.
27 replies on “ECFMG Form 186 : Everything you need to know about Form 186 for IMGs”
Hello
I have already filled form 186 and 183 in 2014 but it has expired and i am due to renew my form 186. my question is : will i have to refill form 183 as my medical credentials have already been verified in 2014? thanks
after form 186.. is it still required that form 183 should be sent to ECFMG by the college ? as they might delay not taking it seriously
Yes. You do need to send form 183. What you can do is get it signed by the dean and then pay to mail it on your own by a fast courier service like FedEx or DHL
what is the payment for ecfmg do they accept visa debit card or paypal or only credot cards ??
They accept all those forms of payment
My form 186 expired now I need to resend it again.Is it necessary to send form 183/345 etc all over again.
My medical school credentials are verified.
for graduates first one has to fill ecfmg certification and pay 135usd and then fill up form 186 correct??
Yes that is right
for graduates first one has to fill the ecfmg form and has to fill up form 186 right??
Thanks a lot for the information. Do we need to also send the original Form 186 to Philadelphia ?
No, you just need to send form 183 to ECFMG
Should the signature in notary cam session be same as in the passport ?
Yes. Try to keep the same signature.
What if both don’t match ???
What if both are different?
So I got the form 186 and I need to log in to notarycam website. The problem is I don’t have my passport with me and I can’t go and get it now due to lockdown. It is mentioned in the ecfmg portal in notarycam website that if you don’t have passport due to refugee status or if the government has withheld your passport or if you don’t have a passport yet you can upload any other government approved ID. But I don’t belong to any of these groups and I can’t ask the ecfmg people as they have suspended email queries at the moment. What should I do?
Did u sign differently in both ?? What happened next ?
I still don’t know how to upload documents to form 186
I just see a space for a photo
And spaces for signing
How do I do that?
You just upload it on notary cam without signing or attaching a photo, that will be done when you have the online session on notarycam. You just need to download the form 186 and upload the same file WITHOUT signing or editing it
I download the form 186 in PDF format by using Adobe acrobat reader program but I can’t open this file.i can upload it and I wonder if the form can open in notarycam session.what can I do.
I am a graduate and I have submitted my form 186 and it has been accepted. Now u am getting option to fill application for the exams. I don’t see form 183
You can go ahead and fill out the application, then you will get the link for form 183
Is form 186 compulsory for international medical students who are still at medical school?
Yes it is
For how long is the form 186 valid?
I have filled it got the confirmation from ecfmg that they received it last month. Can i fill form 183 next year?
in 2017 , i filled form 186 and have validity till may 2022. but i graduated in 2018. what should i do now, if i am planning to participate in 2023 match..!!
should i have to refill form 186? or fill new 183?
is that possible only after my present form 186 is expired??
HI I NEED HELP. while trying to fix appointment with notarycam, after i upload my passport copy & certificate of identification, a pop up is asking me to fill in my details. In the option where i have to fill my address, it is offering options of only US states; no option of opting my country (INDIA) and opting for my state (an indian state)
what to do