Hi,

I am an Ontario resident, attend a caribbean medical school and will be applying for a J1 visa (am sitting the MCCEE this January) and am currently interviewing for the US match.

My question is in regards to statements of need and the "list of needed specialities" list published yearly.
The health Canada site states:
"Identification of Needed Specialties
The following provinces normally provide Health Canada with a list of needed specialties for the purpose of issuing Statements of Need under Category B: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland& Labrador, New Brunswick. The Ministries of Health or equivalent in these jurisdictions inform Health Canada annually of their physician resource plans and their needs for qualified practitioners in medical specialties and subspecialties in under serviced areas"
(Requirements for Obtaining a Statement of Need from the Government of Canada for Medical Graduates Seeking Postgraduate Training in the United States: for Postgraduate Medical Specialty Training Commencing in 2007)

I am applying to Emergency Medicine and have been told that this speciality was not listed last year. Does anyone know whether EM falls under the family practice or internal medicine umbrella?

Since EM is the only specialty that i've applied to, I'm a bit worried about what category this falls into and whether I'll get a J1. I've worked hard and have interviews...don't want all this to go down the drain.

Please respond - your input is appreciated!

Thanks!

does anyone happen to know which specialties are included on the list?

__________________

you have to require the list to j1visa@hc-sc.gc.ca

given that you are an Ontario resident, the province will sponsor up to 125 j-1 regardless of specialties. Just make sure to get your application in on time and once it approaches 125, they start to give priority to the list. Make sure you also have an OHIP card AND a driver's license as that is a new policy this year to make sure you are a true ontario resdient

__________________
"Remember your Hippopotamus Oath."
-H. Simpson

so once the quota is reached, the no other letters will be given out? what about the other hundreds of people that need to j1? do they just sit out a year???

__________________

No - apparently last year they went over the quota. I'm not too sure how many ppl were rejected - youll have to talk to the lady that handles the visas. just be sure to have all your paperwork ready to go and push the program coordinator for your contact once you match. you can get things done in the meantime.

__________________
"Remember your Hippopotamus Oath."
-H. Simpson

I have another question. Do we have to renew the statement of need letter every year? Also, in the request for provintial endorsement form they ask for initial and continued endorsement. Do we have to already request for provintial endorsement in the subspecialty or fellowship ?

Thanks

No - the visa is good for 7 seven years. You only need to "renew" if you change residency programs or enter fellowship.

__________________
"Remember your Hippopotamus Oath."
-H. Simpson

Thanks. The thing is that psych here is a 5 years program and in the US a 4 year program so I need a one year extra in order to meet the required duration . I guess that I ask for the provintial endorsement when I am ready to do the fellowship.

This is the plan: MCQE1 Fall 2008
MCQE2 Fall 2009
Certification by the Royale College 2012

Do I need anything else?

Thanks.

Before we sit for the royale college exam we need to ask the year before for an assessment of our training.
In the statement of need application form they ask if we give consent of personal information for recrutement purposes for when we come back. If we sign that document can we still apply for a waiver ?
thanks...