I am trying to find out how and when we have to get these visas or if there are any other options for canadians??

Im just not sure how long it takes and how to go about it, I read that to get J1 visa we have to write some Canadian exam and get a letter from some province official ??!!!

If anyone already went through the process of applying for these visas, could you please share your experience!!!

THANK YOU

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You should contact Mr. Gelles in the NY office 212-661-8899 ext 128. He can probably put you in contact with out grad who is beginning at UofT.

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Mr. Tipton B. Carlson
Associate Director of Admissions

Thank you soooo much

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Hey Dr. Dina

If you ended up calling Bob Gelles, could you please let us know what he said..like what do canadians need for 5th /clinicals/residency?
Thank you

The grad who is currently at UfT will not be able to help you because he is currently doing his residency in Canada, not in the US. In order for the Canadians to do 5th semester and clinical rotations in the US, we need a B1 visa. The school will provide a letter which you have to take to the immigration office when crossing the border. they will issue a B1 visa for 4months or 6months.
With regards to residency, you will get a H1 or a J1 visa. It is advisable to write/take the canadian board exams along with USMLE step 1 and 2. The hospital where you will be doing your residency will assist you in this process. I only know of one Canadian who is currently doing his residency in the US. When i asked about the processs, he said it was a big hassle and too stressful to talk about. Your best bet is to contact the medical education department at the hospital where you want to do your residency and get your questions answered.

Its funny that your Canadian friend said that, but after reading more about this, I actually realized that IT WILL BE A HUGE headache without a doubt!!!

I already finished 5th, so I know about the B1 visa, its also a hassle. It doesn't make any sense, because canadians can stay in the US for a period of 6 months as long as they don't get paid, and the B1 visa is also given for 6 months, or max 1 year.

All I know is that the hospitals that are willing to sponsor H1B or J1 visas put it on their websites, if you look up the residency you are interested in, they have the guidelines for IMGs.

OKKKK..... thanks for the reply :O)

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hey dina, do you know which hospitals are willing give h1 or j1 visas to canadians? are you planning to write the canadian exams as well? i am taking step one in a few weeks and i plan to look into it right after.

Hey

After looking around in diff places this is what I got, its not the complete info, but gives you the big picture of what is ahead. Once I take my step I will post more.

So far what I found out is that if you decide that you want to do it with the J1 visa.

J1 - you will need a letter from the Canadian gov AKA "statement of need" to get this you need to write MCCEE, which seems to be required only for IMGs, this exam is what we (IMGs) have to take to be qualified for the two other tests, which are actually for licensure.
So this MCCEE test is 1250 CDN!!!!!! the other two (one is 700 and the last one is I think 1650 )....

So thats JUST to get the "statement of need". THEN, if they are over quota for that year, they may not give you the letter !!!!

Also, Im not too sure but I think they also TELL you which specialties they want to to apply for. And THEN, they want you to come back to Canada and NOT live in the US for 2 years !!!! So basically, they don't want you to work in the US for 2 years after your are done residency. Im not sure if they provide you with a job for those two years. I REALLY DOUBT IT THOUGH.

And the H1B visa: which is a much better option if you ask me, but it also has its negatives.

First of all to get this visa, the actually hospital has to sponsor and apply for it, you CAN't. Also, you can NOT get H1B if you haven't taken STEP 3.

There are only about 10 states that allow you to do STEP 3 without starting residency and I think a few of them AUA grads can't practice in. Im not sure which states but I know one of them was NY, so thats good LOL. NAd the list included Cali, Texas.... etc....I will let you know exactly which ones once I research more (end of August )

But the good side of H1B is that you dont have to go back to Canada for 2 years after you are done, and I think you can apply for a Green Card while you are there (also, not sure about this)....

Thats is so far, GOODLUCK on the Step:

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Dina, just marry Amit and you will be able to circumvent all of this.

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"If I have black pen and I want a red pen what do I do? I GET A RED PEN!" -Dr. S.

AUA Med 1-5 [X], Step 1 [20 days]

LOL NWS !!!!

Hows studying going!!????

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