Canadian Applying to Us Medical School Sdn Legal Permenant Resident

• #15

I am PR, 36 and 3.99. I am on two WLs and no acceptances. Take it for what it's worth.

Numbers don't guarantee an acceptance. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that your residency status is the only thing behind your waitlists.

• #24

Legally, this would not make sense to me. I am a PR as well and I have been told that PR's and US citizens have the same status. The only difference is that PR's can't vote. Most med schools ask that you be a citizen/permanent resident. If you're a non-resident alien.. that's another story. You would have the same access to loans, and acquiring PR status isn't usually a cakewalk. You pay taxes and you live here "permanently". If a school (other than say the military med school) denied you based soley on PR status, I could see that opening huge lawsuits.

• #26

I think it's about money. Permanent residents can take educational loans like U.S. citizens, IMO this is all med schools care about in terms of your immigration status.

• #27

For the post above I agree with what you guys are both saying, but at the same time if someone wants to maintain their residency in their native country, don't you think some schools might consider this person a risk? He or she can easily leave at any time in their life, but a US citizenship makes that much less likely, b/c of the hassles involved with becoming a US citizen in the first place.

Again I am just assuming this, no one can know for sure. But I still can't help but think their is a slight bias against non-US citizens.

Spoken like someone who has never dealt with the Dept of Homeland security. . . It is a huge time and money commitment to apply for PR status. There are interviews, several application stages, collection of biometric information, fees galore. It is anything but cheap and easy. If someone makes the commitment, he/she is not going anywhere.

Furthermore, in some countries it is very easy to become a resident, so US citizens can up and leave indefinitely. Your argument that US citizens are "stable" does not really hold up.

• #28

u will be treated equally, the only additional thing is u may be asked to provide a copy of your greencard to the office.

• #32

Spoken like someone who has never dealt with the Dept of Homeland security. . . It is a huge time and money commitment to apply for PR status. There are interviews, several application stages, collection of biometric information, fees galore. It is anything but cheap and easy. If someone makes the commitment, he/she is not going anywhere.

Furthermore, in some countries it is very easy to become a resident, so US citizens can up and leave indefinitely. Your argument that US citizens are "stable" does not really hold up.

Completely agreed. I guess most SDNers who became PR through "family-based" category (most likely, the parents). Yes, it is a loooong wait and expensive process, but in general the PR status will be granted at the end - it is a matter of time. In my case, I had to go through the harder way: "employment-based (EB)" category. I came to U.S. 12 years ago to start my M.S. study, and got into a PhD program two years later. I got my PhD almost three years ago, and I have been working as a postdoc since then. Now, the problem is that postdoc is NOT considered a permanent job, so the university do not (and cannot) sponsor me for the PR. My only option is to claim National Interest Waiver (NIW) and sponsor for myself. NIW has very stringent standards, and I have to prove that I am "better" than most of the other guys in my field - a daunting task for a start-up researcher (competing and being compared with established scientists/faculty). Thank God I finally got it last year.

As for whether PR are treated differently from citizens for admission purpose, the answer is no - at least, not those schools I applied to. As DocDrakeRamoray said, the key issue is money - unless the student is coming from a very wealthy family and can afford the cost of attending medical school, he/she likely needs student loan, and everyone knows how difficult it is to get a loan if you are not a PR.

• #33

with no disrespect, don't be ******ed my dude. I've seen many ppl say this same exact dumb **** and as soon as they step outside of the country for whatever reason they dont stop complaining about how unfair it is for non US citizens

as someone who has been in this situation before
US Passport>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Well, that US passport does have some effects. I was sent to Holland for a business trip as soon as the university knew I got green card. Guess what? I had to shell out ~$150 to apply for the visitor visa to EU (the university paid it, BTW), whereas no visa is required if you have a US passport.

• #34

Well, that US passport does have some effects. I was sent to Holland for a business trip as soon as the university knew I got green card. Guess what? I had to shell out ~$150 to apply for the visitor visa to EU (the university paid it, BTW), whereas no visa is required if you have a US passport.

if you have ever been to a 3rd world country and you flash that US passport, you are treated like a King.

Last edited: Jun 27, 2009

• #35

Last edited: Jun 27, 2009

• #38

if you have ever been to a 3rd world country and you flash that US passport, you are treated like a King.

In some countries it'll get your head cut off

• #40

Hah. Have you even been outside the US? I'll just say this: post-Clinton and pre-Obama, Americans weren't very popular in many parts of the world.

In fact, from my very OWN experience, many African countries have very corrupt airport customs officials and usually harass Americans more because they think they might be able to convince Americans to bribe them with a lot of money - and, many times, they are successful.

This has been my experience as well.

• #42

Last edited: Jun 27, 2009

• #44

Interesting...my interviewers never asked me that question (or anything related to my immigration status). Maybe that's because the interviews were "blind" and such info (immigration status) was not there for interviewers to see? Anyway, my interviewers probably figured that out from my accent (not too bad though) , but no one asked.

• #46

I'm a PR from China as well, and I was offered plenty of interviews and will be attending WashU in the fall. I do have very high stats, though... (but I would call my ECs mediocre).

• #48

Green card vs. U.S. citizenship has no bearing whatsoever in medical school admissions.

• #50

Just out of curiosity and being a PR myself. If there is no difference, why do they ask the question if you are a US citizen or a 'legal resident-specify your visa status' versus US citizen/permanent resident versus 'legal resident-specify your visa status'. In addition, when you fill out in information about your residency for amcas, they also ask you the country of your 'nationality' or basically what passport do you have now. They're not optional questions. Hence, I find it hard to believe they don't factor in somewhere along the selection proves.

I've actually seen one or two schools on AMCAS that specifically state US citizens only may apply. Also isn't there is a cap put in place by the Fed government that allows allopathic schools a certain percentage of Non US citizens to matriculate. What I was told by a physician on the admissions committee for UIC was that its easier if you are a citizen to get in with lower stats.

Canadian Applying to Us Medical School Sdn Legal Permenant Resident

Source: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/applying-as-us-permanent-resident-hurts.640952/

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