CV Fellowship Director Training: Recruitment and Match-Special Focus Video: Visa Overview and Resources

Video Transcription

Hello, my name is Dr. C.A. Sivaram. I'm a professor in cardiovascular diseases within the Department of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma and a previous program director  with a track record of being a program director for 22 years.  International Medical Graduates, also known as IMGs, comprise nearly one quarter of the U.S. physician workforce and about 40 percent of the applicants to cardiovascular  fellowships. Many IMG applicants may not be U.S. citizens or have a valid permanent resident  status, also known as a green card. So these issues will be very pertinent to these applicants  as well as programs that are planning to recruit IMG applicants to their fellowship training programs. If you're a medium or small size fellowship program, you are more likely to  have an IMG trainee. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, also known as ECFMG, evaluates the qualifications of IMGs before they can start GME in the U.S.  An ECFMG certification is an absolute requirement for IMGs before they start cardiovascular  fellowship. ECFMG certification is also required to sit for the Step 3 USMLE exam. There are two  types of visas that IMGs usually require. J-1, which is a temporary non-immigrant visa intended for educational purposes, and H-1B, which is an employment visa. Some IMGs might have  immigrant status or green card or may be permanent residents of the U.S. Institutions vary widely  regarding their policies pertaining to support of J-1 and H-1B visas, and it is required and  very well advised that you contact your GME office in advance to ascertain your institutional visa  policies before the interviews. Visa regulations also frequently change without much advanced  notice, and it is always wise to double check with the GME office prior to the fellowship interviews.  Please look for additional information on the following websites, ECFMG, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the American Medical Association.

Video Summary

Dr. C.A. Sivaram, a professor in cardiovascular diseases at the University of Oklahoma, highlights the importance of addressing visa issues for international medical graduates (IMGs) applying to cardiovascular fellowships in the U.S. IMGs make up a significant proportion of the physician workforce and fellowship applicants, but many may face challenges due to their non-citizen or non-permanent resident status. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification is a prerequisite for IMGs applying to cardiovascular fellowships and is also required for the USMLE Step 3 exam. There are different visa options, such as J-1 and H-1B, but institutions' policies regarding visa support can vary, so it is recommended to contact the GME office beforehand. It's also crucial to stay updated with visa regulations, which can change unexpectedly. Additional information can be found on the ECFMG, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and American Medical Association websites.

Keywords

visa issues

international medical graduates

cardiovascular fellowships

ECFMG certification

visa regulations