Re: Change of status WHILE on a medical leave of absence in

More | Report Post

Dear Ped,

I don’t know what IMG stand for (IMG- international Medical
Group) however, charging from the word residency I assumed
you mean ECFMG or FMG.
Anyway, around 1965, the United States Congress passed a law
establishing scholarships and programs to permit foreign
medical graduates to pursue advanced medical training in the
U.S. for periods normally not to exceed seven (7) years.
Thousands of such physicians apply each year to participate
in the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate's
(ECFMG) Exchange Visitor visa (J-1) program. The small
percentage who are accepted must agree that upon completion
of their training in the U. S. they will return home for two
years before they are eligible to return to the U.S. as
either an immigrant ("green card"), or H-1B non-immigrant.
They reaffirm this agreement to return home each time they
execute a form IAP-66 to continue their training in the U.S.
It is important for you to know that completed your training
under J-1 VISA you have to go back to your home country
(you’re subject to immigration provision 8 U.S.C. 1182 (e)
section 212 (e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
unless you’re from the Western European Countries or waiver
have been approved for you (usually for foreign medical
doctor who have pass all the USMLE (Flex or NBME) or
national interest waiver).
Which country did you received your degree from? Have you
take the USMLE? and if so What stage have you completed? To
you really want to change from F-1 to J-1 visa? Have you
consider work with an immigration Attorney. If you have not
may be it is time for you to consider working with an
immigration attorney so that person will better understand
your situation and it is also good for future visa
application etc.

Thanks

On 1/30/07, Ped wrote:
> Thank you very much, I truly appreciate your answer.
> I think I did not make myself understand. Here is the
> thing.
> I do have an sponsirship for J 1 (all the documents
> ready) , I am an IMG.
> The clases I am currently taking in college (as F 1) are,
> of course, not related to medicine, so, I just wanted to
> know if I can change my status to J 1 visa WHILE I am on a
> medical leave of absence from college( I am having surgery
> here in the States and my advisor told me that I can
> legally take a medical leave of absence for this
> semester). I will not be coming back next semester because
> by then I will have changed my status to J 1 (assuming I
> can do that).
> My other concern is: If I try to change my status now (
> while on a medical leave of absence), does it really
> matter that I will start my residency in July, I mean,
> will INS change my status this far ahead, ( remember that
> I am on a medical leave of absence here in the US, given
> by my school).
>
> I would really appreciate any comments on this.
> Thank you
> Ped
>