Thread: Dual citizenship

I have both Mexican and American citizenship. I am planning on attending UAG in the near future mostly because my grades here in the US and I'd be closer to home (Pto. Vallarta). I would like to go through the international program and come back to the US, but still I'm not sure if I'd like to stay and practice in Mexico. What do you guys think? How are the national programs side of things? I know doctors don't make as much money down there but its definitely a nicer lifestyle if going into private practice there. Does anyone else have dual citizenship, does it make it easier to process all the papers etc.?

Originally Posted by rasputindoc

Every country in the world usually asks for an allegiance; it is "illegal" to have more than one nationality and as a consequence more than one passport or birth certificate. Usually one have to "choose" at the age of 18 where you truly "belong". Unfortunately, I have 3 passports, 3 birth certificates and 3 countries to "choose" from depending on the occasion. I feel equally thankful of my country of birth as well as from my parent's origins. I have had the opportunity of living for a couple of years in both of my parent's birth countries so I have this feeling of ownership and attachment to those countries.

that explains why u are the way u are!

Originally Posted by brainteazer07

that explains why u are the way u are!

hey..."somos pocos pero locos"....LOL

Muchos locos...

Originally Posted by rasputindoc

hey..."somos pocos pero locos"....LOL

Originally Posted by salto_jorge

Mexican nationals cannot be in the International program, Register as a USA national.

I believe this information incorrect. I am a Mexican who attained a BA at an accredited university in the United States and fulfilled all the premed requirements. Attending the UAG International Program would allow me to still apply for residency in the US with additional hoops, such as getting a work VISA and whatnot. At the same time, if I decide to stay in Mexico I would merely have to complete an additional year of Social Service.

Seems like a win-win for my particular situation, all assuming I manage to excel in my studies.

But if you have dual citizenship when you come back to the US i would assume there would not be a need for a work visa

Originally Posted by bombas238

I believe this information incorrect. I am a Mexican who attained a BA at an accredited university in the United States and fulfilled all the premed requirements. Attending the UAG International Program would allow me to still apply for residency in the US with additional hoops, such as getting a work VISA and whatnot. At the same time, if I decide to stay in Mexico I would merely have to complete an additional year of Social Service.

Seems like a win-win for my particular situation, all assuming I manage to excel in my studies.

You are "kind of" right. The international program is open to anybody that is willing to fork out the 22K yearly. Money does not discriminate anybody and the UAG either. Now, two ways to do this if you are mexican and dont have a US residency or citizenship;
1. you are extremely rich and really dont care about money.
2. You are missing a "tornillo" in you head.

If you are Mexican with no US residency to be able to apply for US federal loans + the MAJOR hoops you mentioned above once you are done excelling with your studies and paying 4 times what would normaly cost you if you were to go to the national program. Your win-win situation seems more like a lose-suicidal situation to me. It seems like you failed to explain fully your situation because if it is the way I think it is, you are deadly wrong on your assessment. I will explain more fully if more information is given

Originally Posted by surferdude_mx

But if you have dual citizenship when you come back to the US i would assume there would not be a need for a work visa

it seems like he/she doesnt have a dual nationality. so no loans and no insurance of a spot in residency

It's complicated but I'll give you the nutshell: I have been in the United States legally since the age of 12, but with no possibility of attaining citizenship. Trust me on that regard, the explanation is a long one.

When I turned 21 I had to get a student visa to finish up my undergrad, but people in this country frown upon international applicants for a number of reasons and it is very difficult for me to get accepted anywhere even with my respectable resume (3.7 GPA, 28MCAT, tons of ECs). For this reason I have considered returning to Mexico, but my Spanish is not so good anymore and it just seems like UAG's English/Spanish program would be a good fit. Even if I do get accepted in the US I won't be eligible for financial aid and most schools are actually more expensive than 22k/year. Besides, I have family in Guadalajara.

Do you still think I should apply for the Mexican program? Would I be able to get a certificate of Medico Cirujano by taking the USMLE alone as I would under the international program *just* in case I decide to stay in MX? Any comments are appreciated.

We do not know.

5th pathway may or may not be dead, but does not apply to non-US citizens. Without it, any "certificate" is worthless.

The UAG "may" give a real diploma after 5 years, but God only knows becuase our own school does not tell us the facts.

If the school cannot give a diploma and 5th pathway is dead, you would be better with latin program (cheaper and same result, just more Spanish). If the school can give a diploma, the international program might be better.

Right now, no one can tell you what is better because the UAG has not kept us informed about anything that is developing or not developing

Originally Posted by bombas238

It's complicated but I'll give you the nutshell: I have been in the United States legally since the age of 12, but with no possibility of attaining citizenship. Trust me on that regard, the explanation is a long one.

When I turned 21 I had to get a student visa to finish up my undergrad, but people in this country frown upon international applicants for a number of reasons and it is very difficult for me to get accepted anywhere even with my respectable resume (3.7 GPA, 28MCAT, tons of ECs). For this reason I have considered returning to Mexico, but my Spanish is not so good anymore and it just seems like UAG's English/Spanish program would be a good fit. Even if I do get accepted in the US I won't be eligible for financial aid and most schools are actually more expensive than 22k/year. Besides, I have family in Guadalajara.

Do you still think I should apply for the Mexican program? Would I be able to get a certificate of Medico Cirujano by taking the USMLE alone as I would under the international program *just* in case I decide to stay in MX? Any comments are appreciated.

Originally Posted by bombas238

It's complicated but I'll give you the nutshell: I have been in the United States legally since the age of 12, but with no possibility of attaining citizenship. Trust me on that regard, the explanation is a long one.

When I turned 21 I had to get a student visa to finish up my undergrad, but people in this country frown upon international applicants for a number of reasons and it is very difficult for me to get accepted anywhere even with my respectable resume (3.7 GPA, 28MCAT, tons of ECs). For this reason I have considered returning to Mexico, but my Spanish is not so good anymore and it just seems like UAG's English/Spanish program would be a good fit. Even if I do get accepted in the US I won't be eligible for financial aid and most schools are actually more expensive than 22k/year. Besides, I have family in Guadalajara.

Do you still think I should apply for the Mexican program? Would I be able to get a certificate of Medico Cirujano by taking the USMLE alone as I would under the international program *just* in case I decide to stay in MX? Any comments are appreciated.

I dont know, somethings just dont add up. How can you be legally in the US without a residency or citizenship? which certainly means you had a temporary tourist visa which doesnt make you legally a recipient for any financial aid. Besides all those incoherences, this is what you need to consider. How you are going to finance the international program and a debt that even considering you have family in Guadalajara will amount to at least 150K? why would you be interested in spending that kind of money without any assurance that you will be back in the US to work as a doctor one day? there are millions of doctors applying for a place in the US as foreign doctors and only a VERY few actually get a chance to go there. Futhermore, the 5th pathway or ANY other route of the international program is not applicable to you since you are not even a resident. I would strongly recommend the national program and if I was you I would try to get in the U de G rather than the UAG. You can actually study for free since it is a public school and there is not much a diference betwen UAG and U de G. I would also consider UNAM or any other school where your money will be better use. Do you see my point? There is no need to spend the amount of money you want to spend when the UAG international program will be obsolete/infertile in your case. Just go into any national program. The only other possibility would be to be in the program just to see if you can get an american girlfriend, marry her and be able to get your documents in order. Then, maybe going to the international program will make sense. good luck