After being matched, it is natural reflex to start thinking of visa process and documents . I will try to explain it in simplest effective way but let me begin with encouraging fact that
" only 1/100 residents are unable to join their program due to work visa ". :)-while 1/5 of applicants is refused a match - so if you are reading my post as matched applicant ; it means you are not that 1 in 5 ; so if you are not 1 in 5 then there is very very remote possibility that u will be that 1 in 100- so deep nice breath
🙂
" only 1/100 residents are unable to join their program due to work visa ". :)-while 1/5 of applicants is refused a match - so if you are reading my post as matched applicant ; it means you are not that 1 in 5 ; so if you are not 1 in 5 then there is very very remote possibility that u will be that 1 in 100- so deep nice breath
🙂
1- h1b is work permit sponsored by respective hospital and it has different durations depending on state ( New York gives 3 yr h1b while others give one year h1b)
2- it has sponsorship fee of 3000 dollars which good programs pay themselves while some programs ask resident to pay for it
3- premium processing is 1200 dollar fee that in simple words is fees for urgent processing of visa ( 10 days processing vs1 month )- that fees is always paid by resident
4- you will receive welcome e mail by start of April containing list of documents required for COntract/agreement . It includes :
-notarized copy of MBbs
- notarized copy of transcript
- copy of Ecfmg certificate
-copy of usmle scores
-copy of passport and current USA visa - passport should not be expired in next 6 months
You will e mail all there scanned documents .
2- it has sponsorship fee of 3000 dollars which good programs pay themselves while some programs ask resident to pay for it
3- premium processing is 1200 dollar fee that in simple words is fees for urgent processing of visa ( 10 days processing vs1 month )- that fees is always paid by resident
4- you will receive welcome e mail by start of April containing list of documents required for COntract/agreement . It includes :
-notarized copy of MBbs
- notarized copy of transcript
- copy of Ecfmg certificate
-copy of usmle scores
-copy of passport and current USA visa - passport should not be expired in next 6 months
You will e mail all there scanned documents .
5- in return , you will get contract . You will print , sign , scan and resend it to program
6-the PD will sign your signed contract and will e mail one copy to you and one copy to your attorney - all hospitals have a lawyer for their residents which they will tell you about in welcome e mail
7- lawyer office now will correspond directly with you - will send you account number if you want to pay premium fee . I will recommend all residents to go for premium process
8-once you pay premium , your petition will be filed by your lawyer and you will get a tracking ID to track your case on website www.usics
It will show four levels of petition as:
- applied>>received >>in process >> approved
7- lawyer office now will correspond directly with you - will send you account number if you want to pay premium fee . I will recommend all residents to go for premium process
8-once you pay premium , your petition will be filed by your lawyer and you will get a tracking ID to track your case on website www.usics
It will show four levels of petition as:
- applied>>received >>in process >> approved
9- will take 7-10 days for this approval . Little longer for those states that require license ( New York does not require license )
10- once approved, you will be Mailed a copy of H1b petition approval form To home adress whatever address you will tell the lawyer - it has nothing to do with ERas address ( frequently asked question in my inbox )
10- once approved, you will be Mailed a copy of H1b petition approval form To home adress whatever address you will tell the lawyer - it has nothing to do with ERas address ( frequently asked question in my inbox )
11- here I will recommend to ask the program coordinator and lawyer office to e mail you scanned copy of the form. Mail will take 10 days to reach Pakistan while e mail u will immediately receive .
12- once you receive scanned copy of form , fill H1b visa application on web as for b1/b2. Schedule an interview with USA embassy via speedex or American xpress . Now u can schedule yoursleves by making account on US visa website and paying 20000 in bank in pakistan. No online payment system yet.
12- once you receive scanned copy of form , fill H1b visa application on web as for b1/b2. Schedule an interview with USA embassy via speedex or American xpress . Now u can schedule yoursleves by making account on US visa website and paying 20000 in bank in pakistan. No online payment system yet.
13- In mean while you will get original form mailed to you and a date from embassy scheduled after paying scheduling fee in bank.
14- if you schedule via American express, attested MBbs degree is asked by American xpress at the time of scheduling interview : they ask you for:
- H1b visa application copy - similar to form DS 160
- copy of approved h1b petition
- attested degrees by HEC
- visa fee 21000
- your cv showing what did you do on last 2-3 years
15- on day of interview , you go with original h1b petition approval letter. If going with spouse,take marriage certificate along with.
16- simple interview consisting of 5 questions :
- where you matched
- what is your pay
-what did you do in last 2 visits to USA
- if you married , have you applied for spouse (h4b)
-when you hav to join your hospital
- H1b visa application copy - similar to form DS 160
- copy of approved h1b petition
- attested degrees by HEC
- visa fee 21000
- your cv showing what did you do on last 2-3 years
15- on day of interview , you go with original h1b petition approval letter. If going with spouse,take marriage certificate along with.
16- simple interview consisting of 5 questions :
- where you matched
- what is your pay
-what did you do in last 2 visits to USA
- if you married , have you applied for spouse (h4b)
-when you hav to join your hospital
17- 70 % get visa on spot and passport is received in 6 days
30 % get white letter showing that they are in process that means 2 weeks more in receiving passport .
remember H1b is USICS approved and can not be refused by embassy usually.
18- once you get passport - get to Usa 2 weeks prior to joining
19 - an important notice : few programs ask for house job certificate to be verified by MS before they issue contract - so get it signed
30 % get white letter showing that they are in process that means 2 weeks more in receiving passport .
remember H1b is USICS approved and can not be refused by embassy usually.
18- once you get passport - get to Usa 2 weeks prior to joining
19 - an important notice : few programs ask for house job certificate to be verified by MS before they issue contract - so get it signed
20- last step after you get passport with H1b is to get your visa insured at immigration and visa protection office Lahore - requirement imposed by Pakistan gov - one day process needing Rs.6000. Without it , you will not be allowed to fly from Pak. You will also need NICOP for getting this step done
21- will recommend every one on their way to USA , stop in Saudia ; perform Umra and thanks to Allah almighty .
22- if you have wife / kids , they can come with u in very first day- apply online h4b same time you fill your h1b on USA embassy site . They will do family interview and you can come together
23-every one should get international driving license from Pak during this time as it is complex to get Usa driving license
Most of programs will add you to their social web like yammer ( for Montefiore ) in their welcome e mail where all residents of that hospital can communicate .
Hope I explained most of things , if still confusion , please ask here in forum so that all will be benefitted .
Hope I explained most of things , if still confusion , please ask here in forum so that all will be benefitted .
Article by Waqas Nawaz MD
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