Visa Issues & The International Medical Graduate.

B1/B2, F-1, H1-B, J-1 may be OPT?These letters mean nothing to most, but everything to a select few of us.I have held almost all those « visa classes » at some point in my life, and stressfully so.You are smart, talented and have excelled on boards. You also received good letters of recommendations but here comes the status question.How do you legally stay in the USA to achieve your medical goals?A Visa.That's how.Here is what you need to know about each of these visa classes as pertaining to the international medical student.F1 Visa: Student. This is what you will need if you attend medical school in the US. It may also be necessary if you’re a citizen of another country coming into the US to do a review course at an academic institution in preparation for the USMLE exams. Typical requirement is a form called an I-20 form provided to you by the institution you are enrolled in.B-1/B-2 Visa: tourism/business. This is what you’ll need for clinical rotations, shadowing or observerships at third part hospitals. Irrespective of whether it is a university program or not.