I am Canadian and I was reading the posts about Visas. I got really confused. I am starting 3rd year in april. I want to get started on getting a visa for residency. I have no idea where to start and what to do. Can someone please help me and lemme know what is the best way to go about so that when its residency time I dont have to worry too much about Visas. I Passed step 1 and am planning to take step 2 next summer.
Any suggestions to get me started towards the visa are welcome.
Thanks a bunch!

You cant do much to secure a visa right now, as they are offered by the hospital employing you for residency. What I do advise is taking Step 3 as early as possible, which means graduating as early as possible. This will make you eligible for the H1B. Some programs will even insist that you have passed step 3 by interview day.

__________________
CanIMG
Moderator - Canadian IMG and Immigration Visa Forums

Thank you very much for the reply. If I take the step 2 by summer next year (I will be done all my cores and one or 2 electives by then), when wud I be able to take the step 3 and the Canadian MCCE?

Since, you are are starting 3rd. year then you can do some of your clinical rotations in US and this way you will be able to get a visa to come and get some experience, and then at the time of residency do exactly what CanIMG has suggested you. I think visa is the last thing that you need to be worry about, which I think not going to be a problem at all.

Thanks asu. I will be doing all my rotations in US. I got worried about Visa after reading the posts on the Immigration forum. It seemed like people were not getting or having a hard time getting residencies coz of Visa. I got scared that I might not be able to get a residency of my choice since I am not US citizen.

As far as I know there is no cap on H1 visa for physicians, and this will stay the same and there is no change is coming in the law which is causing rumors. All you need to do is make sure befor applying for residency call them or send them an email to make sure they do H1, because there are so many programs that do not offer H1. Once you are matched and singned the contract there will be an immediate availibilty of H1 visa. People get confused with technology related (I.T) H1 visa which has a cap of 65K.

Please post a link referencing that all physicians are exempt from the cap...this is news to me.

__________________
CanIMG
Moderator - Canadian IMG and Immigration Visa Forums

Step 3 cannot be taken until after you graduate and are accredited by the ECFMG, a process which takes approximately 3 weeks if your school acts in a timely fashion.

__________________
CanIMG
Moderator - Canadian IMG and Immigration Visa Forums