這次談談身份的問題. 要先聲明一點, 大部分內容都是朋友的經驗之談, 無法提供詳細解釋.
如果沒有綠卡的話, 最理想的方式是夫妻中的一方辦綠卡, 另一方去做醫生. 這樣即便沒拿到綠卡, 也可以先用EAD去做住院醫生.
既沒綠卡, 又想做醫生, 最簡單的辦法是用J1 Visa. 我覺得很多人, 包括我自己, 以前都有一個誤解: 用了J1, 以後waiver會很麻煩. 當然有點麻煩, 但是用J1簡單, 不用求人, 而且連綠卡也解決了.
1. ECFMG提供J1 sponsorship. 因為美國的住院醫生不夠用, 管理和幫助FMG是ECFMG的主要責任, 因此在J1的問題上, ECFMG只會幫助你, 而不會刁難你. 只要program提供很簡單的paperwork就可以了, 基本沒有INS的積壓問題.
2. 移民配額里, 專門有一類NIW 綠卡是為醫生準備的, 不需要你去找推薦信, 也不需要你的publications, 唯一的條件是在Underserved area (“貧困地區”) 服務5年. 這裡請注意非常重要的兩點:
A. 貧困地區並不一定是在WY 或AL的窮鄉僻壤, 相反, 所有的VA medical center和大城市的貧苦地區, 比如說LA或 NYC的downtown 都屬於Underserved area.
B. 所有的專業都可以用NIW來辦waiver和綠卡, 而不是primary care specialty only (medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN).
具體怎麼辦, 恐怕要找專業律師去諮詢去了. 但我知道有內科專科, 放射科, 麻醉科, 病理科的醫生通過這種途徑辦了綠卡.
既然說得這麼好, 大家為什麼還不願用J1呢? 第一, 你找工作的範圍小了. 第二, 你這五年的工資不會很高. 但是任何事情都有利有弊, 就看你怎麼權衡了.
第二種VISA, H1B, 大家都知道了, 必須先考過STEP3, 而且program答應sponsor H1B. 因為要辦很多paperwork, 所以有一些program甚至是整個醫學院都不給辦H1B. 這就只能找其他的program了. 因此, 送交申請前, 要先打電話問清楚.
The 3rd is a little bit of tricky. If you are pursuing a PhD in the US, you may try OPT to start your residency, then change to H1B visa after one year. This is a gray zone, because strictly speaking, OPT can only be used in the training which is related to your major. How to interpret is depend on both the lawyer and the court. I know someone used this way to do their 1st year residency, and I also know some medical schools state very specifically that OPT can’t be used for residency unless you are a graduate from a US medical school. You make your decision. It may be risky.
The 4th method might be the best one, but it has lots of criteria to fit.
Do you know that residency is an employment? Then why can’t we apply for green card based on employment? Because the residency contract is usually renewed every year, but the green card application requires a “permanent job”, i.e. at least three-year contract. Let me show you example. You worked for your boss for some time and your boss really likes you, and your boss would like to help you for what ever reason. Plus your boss is the chair of your program, and you know most attendings from your program and impress some of them, i.e. nobody is really against you. Then ask your boss to show a three-year contract to the international office for green card appliation, and start your residency meanwhile.
這最後一條純粹靠運氣, 所以放在最後.
It takes me too much time to type those words. So, I won’t put any long article from now. If you have any questions, please specify in the follow up. I will try my best to answer.
Good luck, my fellow countrymen.
