Visas

[Sebastian85]

Does anyone know anything about visas for clinicals, or during residency?
This question is directed towards Canadians (such as myself) or other foreign students who want to practice in the States.


Does the school help students, or do students apply themselves?

Also, are there a lot of complications involved? (i.e., level of difficulty to get them, or only a certain number given out per year)

Thanks

[cahsu2005]

No, you basically do it yourself as a Canadian.
The school doesn't do a thing. They want you to basically cross the border and back a forth every 3 months. I have heard that Canadians apply at the border for a visa, but I am not certain. I just know that the school doesn't get you a visa. You can try and ask Dr. P, but everything is ok with him until you get here.

[Sebastian85]

So we have to cross the border every 3 months? That seems strange.

What are we suppose to tell the customs officers every 3months?
"I'll be doing my clinicals in the U.S. but I don't have any type of visa to be in the states other then the fact that I'm a Canadian citizen, which grants me the right to stay in the U.S. for 90 days as a visitor, then I'll leave again, but I'll be right back.";)

This seems absurd, how are upper semester students suppose to do their clinicals in the States without getting hassled?

Are there any Canadians that have gone through this process?

[Bone-saw]

Here's what I know. As a Canadian, you are only allowed to be in the USA for 6 out of every 12 months. This is easily tracked by the Department of Homeland security(DHS)You can quite easily stay in the country longer than the allowed time, and it is very unlikely that the authorities will come after you. However the problem comes with residency. If you plan to do residency in the U.S. you will need either a J-1, or a B-1 visa or a Green Card. Applying for the visas involves disclosing where you have been residing for the past few years and how much time you've spent in the US. THere isn't much point in lying on these forms because the DHS already knows when you entered and left the country. If it is determined that you've overstayed your welcome (ie. been in the country for periods longer than 6 months), you will be banned from entering the US for 10 years. THese are the rules. Feel free to contact an immigration lawyer for confirmation of this. I don't believe there is any way to obtain an educational visa for clinical rotations because the school is not based in the US
Hope this helps.

[Sebastian85]

This is ridiculous. So basically we're screwed? The purpose of doing our clinicals in the U.S. is so we can obtain residency there.

Somethings gotta be wrong here. Spartan gets students from everywhere, the Americans are fine, but how could so many other graduates obtain licensure if they from other countries?


We need some concrete info from a foreigner who graduated from Spartan and now practices in the U.S..

[dt]

Do a search. Check out "B1 visa clinical"


Here are some threads:
http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/140265-non-us-non-canadian-students-clinical-rotation.html
http://www.valuemd.com/ross-university-school-medicine/137499-canadians-doing-5th-miami.html#post623121


Now I dont know if Spartan provides this letter confirming your status. I would think that is an easy thing to do. Hey, let us, the readers, know how it goes.

[wasselm]

there are few canadians in the school but none is concerned with the visa now since it is eay to get for them, we have at least 3 in our tri and they are all saying that it is very easy to get.