Immigration Information
Q: How do Canadians fare in the US?
A: Canadian physicians fare very well in the US. However, although the cultures are similar, there are some significant regional differences between the two countries. It takes about 18 months for families to settle in and get t heir roots down in a new community. Sometimes within those 18 months there are periods of homesickness. However, most of the physicians we have placed enjoy exploring and getting involved in their new communities.
Americans have a participative culture. They like you to be engaged in community life, in religion, in sports and in civic affairs. They like you to buy locally. The participatory lifestyle is one of the reasons why most facilities want their physicians to live in the community.
There are some medical difference between Canada and the US systems. Drug names can be different, although the pharmacopoeia is easy to learn. It sometimes takes a while to get used to having many "payers" instead of one provincial government payer. Managing the billing requires more office staff and higher overheads than in Canada.
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Q: What do I need for State Licensing?
A: As a Canadian graduate with two years of residency you can get a license in 41 states. With a one-year rotating internship, you can get a license in 32 states. The states that require you to have the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) are: Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina. Check with the Board of Medical Examiners for more details on the state in which you are interested. (http://www.fsmb.org )
You will also need to ensure that you can be Board Certified in your specialty and that you qualify for immigration. You have to deal with three separate accrediting bodies: state (licensing), federal (immigration) and national (certification).
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Q: What are some types of Visas?
A:
H1-B: A dual intent visa, good for three years and renewable for an additional three years. Allows you to apply for permanent residency. You will need the USMLE, a job offer and a state license.
J-1 Visa: A student visa. You will be obliged to return to the country of origin for two years when you finish your studies. Sometimes you can get a waiver if you can find a medically underserved area to take you.
Green Card: Permanent residency. Allows you most of the privileges of a citizen.
O Visa: For candidates of exceptional ability.
TN Visa: Good for research and teaching but not for clinical work. The only clinical work that you may do is incidental to the teaching. Sometimes it is hard to convert a TN to other visas.
Check with an immigration attorney for the latest routes through the
immigration swamp. (http://www.Shusterman.com) and (http://www.RobertLubin.com)
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Q: How long will it take to get a work permit?
A: Depends on the type of visa you want and which filing centre you use. More information is available at this government site:
(http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/lawsregs/index.htm)
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Q: How do I get a license?
A: You can download the application form from the relevant State Board. Send away for everything you need, such as original copies of degrees or notarized copies of transcripts. (While you are at it get extra, notarized copies of each.) You will need to contact the LMCC and pay them to send your marks to the relevant State Board. You will need to provide references.
Make sure to fill-out the application completely. The most frequent cause for rejection of applications is that they are incomplete. The State Board will not necessarily inform you of what is missing.
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Q: What is a DEA license?
A: A DEA license allows you to prescribe controlled drugs. Although you don't need it to practice medicine, you will need it for many other purposes beyond prescribing narcotics. For example, many pharmacies have started tracking physicians by the physician's DEA license.(http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/)
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