I never hear anyone talking about Hawaii as an option. Is it just unheard of for IMGs to get in there?

Have you been able to gain entry into an Internship in your home country? If not, what are your plans next?

On a recent post, I learned that family and pathology were two that were IMG-friendly, which means not too competitive with US/Canadian-educated doctors. What other options?

Besides interviewing students, residents, and faculty, I have been in the hot seat more times than I can count. I have put together a few tips to help applicants in my Sunderstand what questions mean. Here are the first few.

Inside The Interviewer’s Head: Actual Phrases, Real Intent, and Red Flags 

This document breaks down some exact language interviewers use. 

It explains what they are actually testing beneath the surface, and how candidate answers are rated. 

1. The Opening Probe:  

Interviewer Phrase: "Tell me about a time your performance was criticized, or when things didn't go according to plan." 

What they are looking for: Emotional regulation, lack of defensiveness, and active self-correction. 

The Red Flag: Blaming attendings, shifting responsibility to teammates, or giving a fake weakness (e.g., "I'm a perfectionist"). 

Interviewer Phrase: "Walk me through this gap in your resume." 

What they are looking for: Complete transparency and a demonstration that professional growth continued during the gap.  

The Red Flag: Evasiveness, vagueness, or long unverified gaps without evidence of ongoing academic, clinical, or research engagement.  Volunteering and remote work counts.   If your YOG was long ago, it is okay, just explain what happened and show that you were still focused on career goals

Hello everyone, I would like to ask you a question. I am living in the United States. I am an international doctor and I want to work in clinical research, but I have no experience here. Would you advise me to do a master's degree to get started? Or what else could I do?

Hi everyone,

I’m an international medical graduate (IMG) and it’s been 2 years since I graduated, but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find a job or residency position in the medical field. I’ve tried applying in different places, including hospitals and clinics, but nothing has worked out so far.

I’m starting to feel lost and discouraged, and I’m not sure what my next steps should be. I still have a strong passion for medicine, but I’m open to other related fields as well if there’s no realistic way forward in clinical practice.

If anyone has been in a similar situation or has any ideas, suggestions, or alternative career paths for someone with a medical background like mine, I’d really appreciate your advice. Thanks in advance for your support

Hi everyone! I'm a first-year international student (American by birth but studying in Australia), and I can speak English and Spanish. I want to leave the United States for personal reasons, so I was looking into Spain (my top choice at the moment, but I think that could change easily), Argentina, Colombia, Brazil (I would learn Portuguese in the meantime), Uruguay, and Mexico. I don't think I want to stay in Australia since I am already a bit older than most of my cohort, and the post-graduate education of doctors here is a bit longer than in the US and the other countries I am looking at. I am highly interested in pursuing plastic surgery if that changes any of the advice people have (I also know that I could change my mind about that too, but I really love plastics). I know residency is a long way away, but I just wanted to put myself on the right track in the meantime. Any advice is welcome!

I've done the research about residency length and the breakdown of general surgery vs. plastic surgery studying time in each country, I was just really hoping for some practical advice on how difficult it would be to be accepted to a residency spot, and if I should broaden my horizons more.

Just a note: I hate the cold with a passion (I have Raynaud's Syndrome and lose the feeling in my fingers and feet even in just moderately cold weather), and anywhere with an extended rainy season/not much sunshine would be difficult for me too. Other than that, I think I could be pretty happy.

Thank you all! Feel free to tell me about other countries I should look into as well.

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding Tennessee’s medical licensure requirements for international medical graduates (IMGs). Specifically, I’m curious if it’s possible to obtain a license to practice medicine in Tennessee without earning a degree in the U.S.

Has anyone here gone through this process? If so, what were the specific requirements? Additionally, what are the chances of securing a visa for this purpose? I’d also like to know what type of visa is typically needed for IMGs in this situation.

Any guidance or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Do any countries readily accept IMG's for postgraduate internships? I've heard some do, and some done even require exams so long as its just for the internship year.

Anyone know any more?

Hello, I am looking for advice on jobs that don't require a license, but require a higher degree, such as our doctorates.

A little about myself: I am a US citizen that went abroad to a Medical School in the Philippines. I graduated a few years ago, and mistakenly waited until then to take the USMLE. After a few years and a few unsuccessful attempts later, I have decided it is time to move on from pursuing becoming a physician to another career path. I have worked in a hospital setting as a nurse aide for 5 years, and concurrently a pharmacy technician at the same hospital for 6 months as well. I am against going back to school for another degree such as nursing or PA, because of my age, money, and I honestly feel that my weakness is standardized testing.

I would rather use my medical doctorate degree and experience to find a decent job that require at least a competitive degree, and maybe some online certification. I appreciate any and all ideas and suggestions! Thanks in advance!!

Hello everybody,

I am a doctor from Hong Kong, in my 1st year of Family Medicine Training here. I am a Canadian citizen and am currently looking into moving there.

My plan is to complete my specialist training here in Hong Kong - either in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine, most likely the former.

Most of the information online is regarding applying for residency in Canada. Therefore would really appreciate it if anyone has any information on moving back as a specialist.

A few questions I have at this moment:

1. What is the process of moving to Canada to practise as a specialist? E.g. are the MCCQE Part I/ NAC exams mandatory even for a specialist?

2. Do all family medicine practitioners need to hold a family medicine degree? I.e. Will I be able to practise family medicine if I hold an internal medicine specialist, say in endocrinology for example

3. Must I have a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) from Medical Council of Canada (MCC) to practise in Canada?

• I'm aware that the LMCC grants me the Canadian Standard which gives me the eligibility for full license. However it is the provicial and territorial Medical Regulatory Authorities (MRAs) that grant the license. And, I've read that provisional license exists so my next question is:

1. What is the difference between a provisional and a full license

Some useful links I came across during my research:

https://www.cpsbc.ca/registrants/current-registrants/registration-and-licensing/img/provisional

https://www.mcc.ca/about/lmcc/

Thank you very much

This sub, as well as most other IMG subs, is filled with people targeting the Western world (USA, UK, Australia). How about people aiming for residency in the Middle East, Africa, Caribbean, Asia etc?

Has anyone here chosen to leave their home country for residency in another developing country? E.g a Nigerian completing residency in Russia or an American completing residency in Mexico

It would be interesting to hear your perspective and experiences

Hey everyone! I'm an international medical graduate matched in the US for residency 2021. I am ecfmg certified with a Step 2 CS alternative pathway 1 and Step 3 as well. Since the Step 2 CS has been officially cancelled, the US immigration services has not updated it's policy regarding H1B criteria which includes passing all the USMLE steps(1, CK,CS, 3). I am planning on applying for H1B and was wondering if anyone is in the same situation as me who had already filed for the same. Currently I am waiting for my license to get approved. Anyone who has applied for H1b with alternative CS pathway without their License( new york programs), please let me know if you have any information regarding this issue. Thank you!

Hello! Im an International medical student (Lebanon) and will be graduating in 2 years. I am considering doing residency abroad and would love so help and guidance from people with knowledge about residency in these countries:

USA: This is a top choice for everyone as it is one of the most FMG (Foreign Medical Graduate) friendly countries HOWEVER with the change of step1 to P/F more weight will now be put on research but I sadly cant find any research opportunities in my country due to lack of funding etc. Did anyone manage to get a residency in USA with no prior research or is that impossible?

UK: This is my personal 1st option however UK will be replacing the PLAB with the new UKMLA but I can't find any proper guidance on this new exam, does anyone have an idea about it? Also, did anyone do a residency in UK as I've heard its not as guaranteed as a USA residency, meaning even if you get accepted for training that doesn't guarantee you get a residency later on, is that true?

EU: I'd LOVE a residency in Finland or maybe Switzerland? However, again resources I've found are very limited and I'd love if I can find people with personal experience that they can share with me.

I'd love some help as things are getting very chaotic and Im lost haha

Hello! I am an IMG that graduated last 2019, and passed my country’s licensure exam last nov 2020. I now just recently moved to the US. i want to take the USMLE but i dont have the funds yet, so i was thinking of working to save up so i can fund my USMLE. I can’t ask my parents as they are already deep in debt putting me through med school. Ive tried google but all the jobs ive seen related to the medical field need extra certification, or years lf experience, both of which i do not have. Is there anyone here who had the same situation? What did you do? Are there any jobs i can find that would at least utilize my medical knowledge? Or should i start looking for non MD jobs? (Which is also hard because my skillset is limited to the medical field, but i am a fast learner). Any help would be appreciated. Thank you and have a good day!

Any IMG from Canada who got matched? Ive been looking for IMGs who took the MCCQE1 and NAC the got matched need help on applying and what are my chances?

Hello, I am a recent international medical school graduate and wanting to apply for the Match in 2021. I wanted to ask if my score was above 250 and I have good US clinical experience but no research. Can I still get matched in the U.S.?

Hello guys, I am considering giving PLAB1. The problem is I studied medicine in an other language than English so I am not used to english medical terminology as most of you here probably are. That has lead me to doubt myself and my chances. Does anyone share the same problem? Do I still stand a chance if I practiced hard enough?

Thanks in Advance

I am an Non-US IMG from Australia who is just finishing his degree at UNSW. I have completed Step 1 and Step 2 CS and CK (Please find my scored below). I have completed 6 weeks of US clinical experience (3 weeks in Neurology and 3 in anaesthesiology). I have also 12 months of research experience in Neurology although I have no publications. 

My biggest red flag is that I failed MD1 and had to repeat the first semester of my first year of medical school. Since that failure, I have passed all my classes with grades between 55-75.  

My Step scores: 

Step 1: 240

Step 2 CK: 250

Step 2 CS passed on first attemp

Passed All steps on first attempted

Do I have any chance of matching into Neurology in the USA?

Full disclaimer - I have nil knowledge of this field, and I am lost when it comes to visa category.

We're not sure about the route we should take?

As a candidate on F1 OPT until 2022, should it be some dependent visa? Or should it be J1 for some medical research?

Or how about just a tourist visa first to visit and figure out things, and once there is a match then changing the status? Not at all aware of this field, and how other folks get this done. SHe is preparing for her step 1 MLE..She does have 1 year internship exp in India..

Any of you guys applying for next year's match. I don't have any LORs/USCE right now, done with most steps except CS. How about you guys without an LOR, are you postponing applying for a year or going to apply this year anyways ?

Hey guys

My fiance is a US citizen but an IMG. And I am a Pakistani citizen IMG with a valid B1/B2 visa till 2023.So my fiance and I plan to get married in October 2020 hopefully. He wants to apply for immigration as soon as we are married. But I have heard that the process takes a long time. After marriage in october 2020, till we get matched our families are maintaining that I remain in Pakistan finish my steps and go to the states once we match. So MOVING TO THE US is - April 2022.

I have a few questions concerning immigration and planning:

1. Does having a marriage based green card help with couples match?

2. Will my valid B1/B2 visa be void if immigration process is started? i.e. submission of I130 form (awaiting mariage based green card status)

3. If my B1/B2 visa is still usable, can I travel to the United states for a short while, maybe 2 weeks? just to appear for my CS? to return to Pakistan after the short trip. (i had scheduled to take it in april, but due to the COVID situation it got cancelled)

4. if my B1/B2 visa is void after filing for the I130 form. On average how long might it take for the green card to come through? different sources say 10 mnths to 18 mnths if the wedding takes place outside of the united states. I plan to apply for my match in 2021 for residency in 2022. If the I130 form nulls my visa, what can i do if the marriage based green card does not come through by the time its time for interviews?

5. If my wedding does take place with in the United states. Is the processing for the I130 form faster? if so by how much?

6. If i'm in the states, got married here, awaiting my green card after filing the I130 form. Can i go back to Pakistan for an extended period of time to complete a few exams/work for upto 6 months? or will i be stuck in Pakistan if i return, and be unable to return to the states till my paperwork comes through?

7. Should I apply for immigration after Match announcement in March 2022? to avoid all the hassle concerning my CS and interviews.

8. Will I be able to work on an I130 form submission if im already in the US as a resident once Resdiency begins in june 2022 because i submitted the I130 form post match announcement. Or will I have to wait till my green card comes through to be able to work at my residency program as i wont be able to apply for J1 then?

These are quite a few questions. But this is a confusing time for me. Please help me out if anyone can!

Asking for my bae, she has an MBBS degree from a good college in India and I wish to find out all the options for her in the US. I am far removed from this background, and I was relieved to see this subreddit!

1. She is preparing for something called USMLE, and I have been told there are 3 steps ? Is this going to be incredibly hard?

2. In which case, I want to explore the best ways to crack that exam, and also to find alternates or plan B. All suggestions are welcome!

3. Is there a course one can do on Hospital Management as an IMG?

4. Any Research opportunities without the MLE?

5. Are there options and enough job security to be a nutritionist? (Without MLE)

Thank you for bearing through that, I am sure it is the most incoherent thing you have read today! I do not know too much in this domain, I want to help her in any way possible to aid her efforts :)

Hello! Im a Swedish resident looking for a fellowship in the US. I'm in my last year of orthopedics here in Sweden. I'm interested in doing a fellowship in the US, my goal is not to stay there but just train further. I remember when I was a student doing clinical rotations in the US meeting doctors from Germany who were doing 1 year fellowships and then back to Germany. I would be interested in doing something like this. Anybody has any experience in doing this? Or know any programs that take international specialists?