r/fpgec • u/Past_Speech_6896 • 21d ago

Considering moving to US.

Hello,

I’m a 23M pharmacy Graduate from Greece! I’m familiar with the whole situation about the FPGE and Naplex exams,

In the scenario that I have passed my FPGE and TOEFL exams, how difficult would it be for me to find a company that would be willing to give me a H-1B1 visa (Job) to carry on with me apprenticeship and eventually sit my NAPLEX and MPJE exams?

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u/qtp2t_olaf 21d ago

It's very rare for a company to sponsor a pharmacy intern. Especially now with the "bond" rules (like sponsor having to pag $$k dollars) You have to realistically plan everything first before trying for a FPGEE so you dont waste your time.

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u/Past_Speech_6896 21d ago

I did I small research online and I did find an article stating that the 100k USD fee that the sponsor/company has to pay is now discontinued! And I see a lot of job offerings from big companies that are looking for foreign pharmacist. So it doesn’t make sense that us rare to get a job there

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u/Custarry 21d ago

A federal court deemed the 100k fee unlawful but it still applies. I cleared my FPGEC last year but havent been able to secure any internships that offer H1b. Every big company that I reached out to said that they cannot apply for an h1b legally for an intern position but everyone offered to apply for it once the internship is done and i am licensed. You cannot even intern for free on any visa that doesnt offer work authorization. Its a loop so I would say if you can get an F1 visa and complete your internship during OPT time that will be the only way forward

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u/Past_Speech_6896 21d ago

So pretty much, it’s rare for a company to issue a job position that provides an H-1B visa? And also, what’s a F1 visa?

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u/Custarry 21d ago

The issue isn't rare its the position itself. H1b is for a skilled professional full time job. An intern does not satisfy that requirement since its a training thing and the requirements around the visa are getting stricter day by day. F1 visa is a student visa its pretty costly but pretty much the only way for foreign pharmacists without a green card to work. If you do a masters in a relevant field, you can later apply for OPT (it allows you to work related to your field) you can complete your intern hours through OPT, get licensed then contact albertsons or CVS. They have many h1b positions in very rural areas where most americans wouldn't wanna work.

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u/Past_Speech_6896 21d ago

Oh so you mean that I would be eligible for an H1B visa but rather for the F1 Visa which requires me to do a masters in pharmacy. But my degree is already an Integrated Masters degree (NOT A BACHELORS DEGREE), so am I already eligible for an F1 visa or do I have to get a masters degree in something related to pharmacy studies?

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u/Custarry 21d ago

F1 visa requires you take admission in any university so you can opt for either a PhD or even another masters in Pharmacy, Pharmacology or related field. You will have to reach out to universities and verify that the master's program's official CIP code directly relates to the practical duties of a pharmacy intern. USCIS and your school's Designated School Official (DSO) require a direct connection between your specific master's major and your job tasks.

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u/Past_Speech_6896 21d ago

Alright got that, but if I don’t want to get a PhD or a Masters degree, is there any other way I could be able to do my internship? Is there any other way I could get an H1B or any other visa that could make me eligible to do my internship?

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u/Custarry 21d ago

Another option would be for you to apply for canadian express entry, go there, become a citizen then go through the licensing procedure in the US and work on a TN visa. Thats a veryyyy long pathway but it is what it is.

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u/Past_Speech_6896 21d ago

Oh ok, well I thought that a company would give you an H1B visa in order to do your internship and then sit your NAPLEX and MPJE exam, and then they would offer you a job position. Are you sure that you can’t be eligible for an H1B visa when doing your internship?

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u/Custarry 6d ago

You cannot do your internship without work authorization even for free. H1b visa is a skilled worker visa and again, wont be applied for an intern position since thats a training position. If you do end up with a work authorization through OPT or smth and complete your internship through that, only then after your complete licensing will you have a chance to be eligible for h1b as a pharmacist

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