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Question of the Month
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Q. I am a Canadian Physician. Must I pass a U.S. qualifying exam (United States Medical Licensing Exam, Federal Licensing Exam, National Board of Medical Examiners) to obtain an H-1B visa to work in the U.S?
A. Yes, you need to have a U.S. qualifying exam to obtain an H-1B visa.
Canadian Physicians can obtain medical licenses in most U.S. states based on their Canadian training and exams. In general, a medical license qualifies a physician for an H-1B visa. However, immigration regulations require all medical Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) to have a U.S. qualifying exam in order to obtain an H-1B visa to practice medicine. Only physicians of national or international renown are exempt from this requirement.
To submit a question to the Badmus' attorneys, click here and read the disclaimer and privacy notices before submitting your question.
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Recruiter's Resources
Got immigration questions! Visit us in Chicago at the NAPR Annual Conference! April 28-29, 2011
www.napr.org | 10 Immigration Rules Every Physician Recruiter Must Know
(webinar recording)
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Subscribe Here! |
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Greetings!
This month we start a new series, "The Road to Legal Permanent Residence." In this and upcoming issues we will explore the options for physicians to reside permanently in the U.S.
As always, in this issue we include important news and information to keep you up to date on J-1, H-1B, green card and other immigration matters so you can stay on top of your immigration process.
Angela M. Lopez
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Badmus Law Firm has a New Address! |
Badmus Law Firm will now serve its clients nationwide from the following new location:
11325 Pegasus Street
Suite S-215
Dallas, Texas 75238
For fastest postal delivery, our mailing address is:
P. O. Box 1209
Dallas, Texas 75355
Our telephone numbers remain the same:
469-916-7900 Telephone
469-916-7901 Fax
888-849-9104 Toll Free
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THE ROAD TO LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENCE ("Green Card") - Part I
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When a foreign national obtains permanent resident status, it is often referred to as earning a "green card" because the permanent resident card is green-colored.
Obtaining a green card eliminates the need to continually renew temporary visas, which gives a foreign born physician considerably more freedom to pursue other avenues of employment. In addition to the increased job flexibility, green card status is the first step towards citizenship, with a few (rare) exceptions.
That being said, the process of obtaining green card status can be arduous and can take several years. On the other hand, in some cases, the process can be as short as one year. It all depends upon the status of the immigrant and the sponsor.
There are four (4) main avenues for obtaining permanent residency in the United States:
1. Employment-based Green Cards
2. Family-based Green Cards
3. The Diversity Lottery
4. Asylum
EMPLOYMENT-BASED GREEN CARDS
Each year, the USCIS issues up to 140,000 employment-based green cards. These visas are issued based upon a system that establishes priorities for workers depending upon their skill level. In order, the five priority categories are:
- Priority workers;
- Professionals with advanced degrees and persons of exceptional ability;
- Skilled workers, professionals and other workers;
- Special workers; and
- Investors
A worker may apply for more than one category if he or she qualifies for the different categories.
In our series, "The Road to Legal Permanent Residence," we will explore only the first two categories, Priority workers and Professionals with advanced degrees and persons of exceptional ability, as these are the categories most frequently (almost exclusively) used by physicians to obtain permanent residence in the U.S.
In our next issue we will discuss the Priority workers Category as it relates to physicians.
The benefits of permanent residence are tremendous so why wait? You are invited to contact Badmus Law Firm to evaluate the best and fastest way you can become a permanent resident. Call or email 469-916-7900 or [email protected].
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J-1 Waiver Update!
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Since October 1, 2010, most states have been accepting J-1 Visa Waiver Applications for Conrad State 30 Programs for fiscal year (2010-2011). Currently, some Conrad State 30 Programs have filled all their slots and are closed, and others have deadlines that have passed so they are not accepting J-1 Visa Waiver Applications at this time, but may re-open later. Most others are open and will continue to accept J-1 Visa Waiver Applications until all their 30 slots are filled.
For the status of each state's waiver program, click here.
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New H-1B Visas Available on April 1, 2011 |
New H-1B visa and cap-exempt to cap-subject H-1B visa applications can be filed on April 1, 2011 for an October 1, 2011 employment start date. Now is the time to prepare to win one of the 65000 H-1B available visas or 20000 master degree cap H-1B visas.
For more information about H-1B visas or other work visas or fast and expert assistance with an H1-B petition, you are invited to contact us at 469-916-7900 or [email protected].
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Green Card Availability
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U.S. immigration law imposes a worldwide limit to the number of immigrant visas (green cards) given out each year. If more people from a country apply than there are available visas, there will be a shortage of visas and the U. S. State Department will set up a waiting list of people. The list is kept in Priority Date order with the earliest Priority Date at the top of the list. The Priority Date is usually the date the immigration petition was received by the United State Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) or the date the application for labor certification was received by the U. S. Department of Labor.
The Department of State (DOS) maintains the "waiting list" for family and employment-based green cards and publishes the status of the waiting list monthly through its visa bulletin.
Physicians are generally included in the employment-based second preference category (EB-2) because they hold advanced degrees. For most physicians, green cards are available and there is no "queue." However, physicians born in India or China must wait many years for a green card because of the high immigration rate of nationals from those countries. This is commonly called a "visa retrogression."
Here are some highlights of the March 2011 visa bulletin.
EB1 - all current
EB2 - all current, except China (July 8, 2006) and India (May 8, 2006)
EB3 - all July 1, 2005, except China (January 22, 2004), India (March 15, 2002), Dominican Republic (July 1, 2005), Philippines (July 1, 2005, and Mexico (January 8, 2004).
The benefits of permanent residence are tremendous so why wait? You are invited to contact Badmus Law Firm to evaluate the fastest way you can become a permanent resident. Call or email 469-916-7900 or [email protected].
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FEATURED JOB OPPORTUNITIES |
The Schumacher Group has numerous hospitalist opportunities including an available position at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Paragould, AR. Thriving hospitalist program is seeking two full time physicians to join established group.
- Community is two hours from Little Rock and two hours from Memphis, TN.
- Permanent shceduling will be 7 days on and 7 days off with rounds and call coverage. Part time is 2-3 shifts in a row.
- Total patient encounters total 25 per day. Including admits, consults and rounding.
- ICU procedures are required (vent management)
- The program will look at full time (15 shifts per month) or part time candidates.
- Prefer Board Certified Internal Medicine or Family Practice physicians
- Malpractice insurance provided
- Unrestricted Arkansas medical license is required
Schumacher Group is establishing a hospitalist program at Bothwell Regional Medical Center in Sedalia, Missouri. We are currently recruiting for full and part time hospitalists. Bothwell is a 160 bed hospital with good specialty backup. The average daily census is around 45-50/day over the next year. Initially the schedule will be a 10 hour day shift from 7 am - 5 pm and then on call throughout the evening. We are planning on covering ICU and there is Pulmonology backup. Procedures like central lines and basic vent management are requirements of the job. As more hospitalists are hired, the schedule will transition to a 12 hour shift model with a Nocturnist shift.
Schumacher Group offers a competitive employee salary plus incentives and benefits package. Sedalia, Missouri is a picturesque community with convenient access to Kansas City (1 hour), The University of Missouri (45 minutes) and the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks area of Missouri (30 minutes). For more information, contact Frank Galvani at 1 800-893-9698 ext 2598 or [email protected].
View our job opportunities and see what we have to offer at www.schumachergroup.com.
For other employers and job opportunities, visit us at www.badmuslaw.com.
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Thank You! |
Thank you for recommending your friends and colleagues to us! To help your friends or colleagues learn the true facts about immigration, please forward this newsletter and invite them to contact us.
The information in this newsletter has been provided as an educational service. If you have specific questions or issues related to immigration, you are invited to call us at 469-916-7900 or email me at [email protected].
Until next time,
Angela M. Lopez
Attorney
Badmus Law Firm
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NOTE: Immigration law changes frequently. The resources and information provided in this newsletter are intended to help you understand basic issues involved in the immigration process, and are offered only for general informational and educational purposes. This information is not offered as, nor does it constitute legal advice or legal opinions. Although we strive to keep this information current, we neither promise nor guarantee that the information is the latest available, or that it applies to your specific situation. You should not act or rely upon the information in these articles without seeking the advice of an attorney. To consult with Badmus Law Firm regarding your case, click here.
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