Please help: questions about residency, USMLE and H1-B visa

[Jeesan]

Hello :)

I'm new here and came accross ValueMD forum searching how IMGs can get into US Residency programs. This place is pretty resourceful :cool:.

I am currently studying medicine (undergraduate entry-MBBS) in Bangladesh but I wish to do my residency/postgrad training and perhaps continue working/practicing in the USA. I have some questions and'd really appreciate if somebody was kind enough to answer them:

1) Is it absolutely mandatory to pass the USMLE Step 3 for an H1-B visa?
2) If so, is it quite possible to pass the examination without US residency experience?
3) Is a 'State Medical License' also mandatory for an H1-B visa? If so, is it possible to obtain a license without completing US residency?
*It'd be really helpful if someone would care to explain the state medical license as I'm not sure I fully know what it is and who needs to have it - Do residents require a license or is it only a requirement for G.Ps and attendings? And there's something about some states requiring and others not requiring it. Please do mention everything :confused:*
4) Is it true that programs might stop sponsoring H1-B visas in future?
5) Are IMGs at disadvantage in the matching process?
6) If I start internship(i.e. Residency year 1) here while preparing for USMLE, will I be eligible for advanced standing in the program(in other words can I get into year 2 straight)?
7) What is the typical timeline from taking USMLE Step 1 to starting residency for H1-B visa applicants?

I know it's a long list of question and some of them might sound vague, but please be generous and guide a newbie like me:please: Any help will be highly appreciated

Thanks in advance :D

[devildoc8404]

I will only tackle the ones I know about, here...

2) If so, is it quite possible to pass the examination without US residency experience?

Yeah. People do it.

4) Is it true that programs might stop sponsoring H1-B visas in future?

There are already programs that don't offer H1-B visas. It varies from place to place.

5) Are IMGs at disadvantage in the matching process?

Absolutely. No question about it.

6) If I start internship(i.e. Residency year 1) here while preparing for USMLE, will I be eligible for advanced standing in the program(in other words can I get into year 2 straight)?

No. The only time that some physicians are offered ONE YEAR of advanced standing is after completing their entire residency overseas, and that itself is not guaranteed.

7) What is the typical timeline from taking USMLE Step 1 to starting residency for H1-B visa applicants?

This totally varies. Some people take Step One after 3rd year. Others wait until later, or even after graduation. I think it is better to take it during the curriculum before you get too far removed from the basic science portion of medical school.

Good luck, and I hope that someone can help with the other visa-type questions, etc.

[anabolina]

I'm totally not sure about some of these questions, but someone asked me about how to become a doctor in the US with an MBBS yesterday, so I'll try to research it since I promised him an email tomorrow.

My parents also process forms for immigration, so I'll ask them about the H1-B when they get home. I do know that to get it, you need to have an employer already lined up and there's a quota for how many are allowed.

3. In order to practice, you need a license so you can't work without it. State License: There is no US medical license. Licensing varies by state with most seeming to have different requirements for Foreign Medical Graduates vs US ones. For example, Montana I think requires 3 years of residency for FMGs vs 1 year for USMGs before you can take the USMLE Step 3.You must take Step 1 and 2 before you can take Step 3 or even enter a residency. This chart is really helpful
fsmb.org/usmle_requirementschart dot html

Here is a thread from another forum about residency license requirements by state although the thread is almost 3 years old, it might be a good place to start looking for info.
scutdoc.com/residency-and-licensing/requirements-for-a-state-training-license-needed-to-start-residency/

I think there are externship programs aimed at MBBS graduates you may want to look into.

[Jeesan]

Thanks a bunch devildoc and anabolina.

The more I learn about the residency matching process for IMGs, the more worried and tensed I become:( Why do things always have to be so complicated:rant:

Hypothetically, if I have a really high USMLE and do a good number of externships and some impressive recommendation letters would I be able to secure a residency at a top hospital (not saying THE TOP, but in general those with a good reputation). I mentioned hypothetically and I do realise it is nowhere as easy as it sounds and I'd be lucky enough just to secure a residency, but I just want to know cause it gives me hope and something to work for. It's just that I used to get top scores in high school and I got pretty good offers for uni so I kinda like to think I'll be working at a premier hospital but apparently that's not the case and securing a residency is not the same as getting good offers for med school. But I tend to dream so could someone please wake me up with the reality?!

Oh and I've heard that getting a visa can sometimes be an obstacle for IMGs, so I was interested in trying for a green card through the DV lottery. Would that help?