r/IMGreddit

This was very well received last time few weeks ago so doing it again. Hope it helps

Been an attending several years in NYC am an IMG have some time to kill in urgent care again is not busy so happy answer any questions have been through the exams and visa process I know it inside out. Any questions happy to answer.

5/21 12pm est have to sign off leave any questions I will answer tomorrow etc or dm but prefer if leave questions here thanks

Is signing of LOI means your spot is secured now? Anything else? Should I be worried that it’s been 3 days I signed but haven’t heard from the program?

I m from india and i havent started mbbs yet but i honestly dont want to delay things..i already have given 3 years to neet..so basically i m very late…i really dont want to get any more gap years in the future…i just wanted to know that do people get matched into residency right after their internship gets completed? Is it a practical thing and like if i start my mbbs(even from private) this year..i would complete my course in 2032..so could i join the match cycle of 2032?

Hello, I want advice regarding my wife and daughter J2 visa rejection.

My J1 got approved. I visited the US last year on B1 and this year got matched.

I applied for a family appointment in Pakistan. They accepted my J1 but rejected my wife's and daughter's J2 on the basis of weak home ties.

Wife: Homemaker, married for 2 years, no travel history.

Daughter: 1.5 years old.

They asked me regarding her job, and I replied she is a homemaker. And then asked that we are related, to which I replied distant cousins.

They didn't ask anything from her.

After that they said that her visa cannot be accepted at this time, and handed me the yellow slip for her.

Any advice on what to do now?

I’m a non US-IMG planning to apply without USCE due to visa rejections. Im a fresh grad YOG 2026 - ecfmg certified.
It would be of great help if someone who matched without Usce could list all the IMG friendly programs and give advice on how to strengthen application.
I’m also looking for tele-rotations. I would much appreciate it if anyone can share info. P.S : I already heard about Brooklyn USCE but I wanna do elsewhere.

Hi everyone,

I'm an old grad (2021), went down the rabbit hole of moving to UK but by the time I ended up getting my registration and license (Jan 2025) they changed the law and I ended up pushed back as an IMG. I am now looking to start my MLE journey particularly in Anesthesia. I have been constantly working in critical care since graduation and am hoping to start home country residency in Anesthesia this summer. What are my chances of matching in '28? I would really appreciate someone who's an old grad and/or currently working in Anesthesia.

Edit: I'm a non-US visa requiring candidate

I’m looking for USCE and have not received any response from cold emailing. I also need a letter for visa. Should I go for third-party services or should I contact a physician who can give paid observership ?

Need some genuine advice from fellow IMGs regarding visa delay and Match timeline.
I’m a 2025 IMG, passed Step 1, cleared OET, and currently preparing for Step 2 CK (scheduled for July 27). Earlier this year I went to the US for an observership at Saint Mary’s Hospital and was able to get 2 US LORs from Internal Medicine physicians.
Recently, I had another visa interview for upcoming observerships planned for Aug/Sep 2026 However, the embassy placed my case under 221(g) and asked me to submit my Step 2 CK score before they make a final decision.
Now I’m feeling a bit stressed and confused about how to proceed strategically.
My concerns:
Step 2 result will likely come mid-August

Then embassy processing may take additional time

I may miss part of my observership timeline

I currently have 2 US LORs and was hoping to get a 3rd strong US LOR before applying for Match

For people who went through similar situations:
How long did visa processing take after submitting Step 2 scores under 221(g)?

Is applying with 2 strong US LORs still reasonable for IM?

Should I fully prioritize Step 2 now and stop stressing about observership timing?

Did anyone match despite visa/rotation delays?

Honestly just looking for some guidance and reassurance from people who have been through the IMG journey because this process can feel mentally exhausting sometimes.
Thank you in advance.

HELP

Hi everyone,
I never thought I’d make a post like this, but I honestly need help and advice from people who’ve been through this.
I’m an IMG with a green card, currently in New York, trying to survive while studying for USMLE. The problem is surviving itself has become the full-time job 😅
I’ve been applying everywhere for entry-level jobs with no experience clinics receptionist, research assistant, MA anything honestly and I keep getting rejected. At this point even Dunkin’ Donuts is ghosting me 💀
I’m trying really hard to stay focused on studying, but rent and bills don’t exactly care about it.
For those who were in a similar situation:
What jobs did you do to survive while studying?
How did you find something quickly in NYC?
Any jobs flexible enough to still leave time/energy to study?
Any agencies, websites, hospitals, or hidden gems I should know about?
I’m open to almost anything at this point. I just need something stable ASAP so I can keep going and not lose my mind.
Would really appreciate any advice, recommendations right now. Feeling pretty overwhelmed and alone in this process.
Thank you 🙏

I’ve done all the NBMEs and UWSA2 and take free 120 on Saturday

NBME 13: 251
NBME 14: 242
NBME 15: 253
UWSA2: 251
NBME 16: 249

Honestly if I end up scoring a 250 I’m more than happy and want to maintain these scores but I’m really worried I’ll underperform on the exam, NBME 16 felt so weird and the HPI questions really tripped me up

I’ve done Amboss most of the 200 concepts and all the QI, currently working through ethics

Should I be doing uworld incorrects?

Should I be doing 1 CMS per day 2 CMS? (I’ve done pretty much all the CMS except psychiatry and Neuro since I didn’t feel like it was high yield but realized they were my weaker areas, I also haven’t done the latest surgery and IM one that’s online, should I pay for them?)

I have like 8000 flashcards

Should I also do the old free 120?

Should I just revise all my nbmes??

Should I do mehlman HY pdfs?

I’m feeling like I don’t know anything and I’m kind of freaking out, NBME 16 fucked me up and I don’t know if I’m ready for this

It just doesn’t feel like there’s enough hours in a day and every time I get a question wrong it’s like fuck why is my reasoning the worst, I’m worried day of I’ll overthink everything or under think or just straight up realize it was all luck until now

Hello all,

I am looking for some advice and tips that could potentially help me with my clinical gap. I graduated in 2025 (diploma says 2024 dec) and i have been away from clinical work since Aug 2025. I completed a clinical attachment in the UK from july-aug.

Currently i am preparing for STEP 1 and i intend to apply for the 2028 match cycle. However, i am not able to work until then because i currently live away from home where i cant practice medicine. I will be doing atleast a couple of USCEs in between for the LORs and to fill in the gap.

I have been really concerned about not having a good explanation for the clinical gap and i was wondering if getting enrolled in an online public health course or similar would greatly help. These are quite expensive but if they can cover up for my gap, i would consider them. Or will the USCEs suffice?

Has anyone is or been in a similar situation? i would greatly appreciate any and all kinds of tips.

Has anyone failed step 1 multiple times but was still able to match or get a residency outside the match? I just wanna know my real chances before I continue w this journey. Thanks!

Got this from an older post ‼️⚠️

Let me know if i need to add/ remove/ update anything on here. TIA.

1. Step scores

2. OET

3. Pathway approval - letter of good standing from medical council

4. ERAS token

5. Personal statement

6. Medical credential verification/ degree verification

7. LoRs

8. Letter of interest

9. Eras photo

10. MSPE

11. ECFMG certificate

12. Create AAMC account

13. Eras CV

14. NRMP account

I’m a non-US IMG (yog 3 now) intending to take usmle. I wonder if I should take a gap year for exam prep.
Is a gap year for exam prep without clinical or research involvement actually harmful to application?
However, doing a full- or part-time job with exam prep in the rest of time would delay yog more than taking a gap year for dedicated prep of step 1&2. I will have at least 5 years of yog until getting interviews and hope to shorten yog as much as possible.
How to weigh the pros and cons?
Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated.🙏

I plan to take part in the 2027 match cycle but I havent done an observership yet. Do i need to do it before September 2026?

for context, my visa was rejected in December of 2025 and i’m reapplying within the next month with a letter from a teaching hospital!
i’m still a medical student in india.
my first rejection was cause i didn’t have proper sleep the night before cause i took a evening plane to Delhi, got anxious which was quite visible and my interview lasted for a couple mins with like 10+ questions.
so, i was wondering what changed the second time that you think led to an approval?
I’d appreciate it if you could mention the date of approval as well!

Hi everyone, I am a non-US IMG, recently cleared Step 1, and just passed my final year MBBS. I’ve recently started my internship and am currently looking for U.S. clinical electives/externships before the end of September because my visa expires soon.

My college is VSLO-certified, but there are very limited slots available. I’ve already applied to a few programs, though they mentioned it may take several weeks to hear back, and unfortunately I can’t afford to wait too long and risk missing the timeline.

I would really appreciate any guidance regarding

Hi.

Do you think that it's possible to match nowadays with a 6 weeks USCE and a single LOR from a community hospital? What stuff on CV should I work on more apart from publications and step 2 score?

So guyssss
I am at a phase where I have to book date since my block is ending in June.
Tests so far-
UWSA 1- 220
NBME 10-242
NBME 11-244
NBme 9- 253
Nbme 13-254
Nbme 12-256
All taken 7-10 days apart with last nbme12 taken 10 days ago.
I need to take nbme14-16 the majorr ones and uwsa2.
So I thought to take a date and then spread out rest of practice test according to it.
Am I ready 😭😭??
I don’t feel like I am
Have to give in June because Need to apply to upcoming Cycle!!
Any guidance for the last days upto exam would be very helpful!