Residency Match & Visa Requirements Flashcards

An IMG on a J-1 visa wants to moonlight at a hospital outside their sponsoring institution. Which statement is CORRECT?

Answer: Moonlighting on a J-1 visa is generally prohibited unless ECFMG and the training program authorize a secondary site

J-1 regulations restrict employment to the program and site listed on the DS-2019; moonlighting outside that site requires program approval and a DS-2019 amendment from ECFMG.

What does SEVIS stand for and what is its relevance to IMG residents on J-1 visas?

Answer: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System — the federal database tracking J-1 status compliance

SEVIS is the DHS-managed database in which ECFMG records and updates J-1 resident information; any status change must be reported in SEVIS.

If an IMG fails to pass all required USMLE Steps within 7 years of passing the first Step, what happens to their ECFMG certification eligibility?

Answer: They must retake the first Step passed more than 7 years ago

ECFMG's seven-year rule requires that all required Steps be passed within seven years; a Step passed more than seven years before the final passing Step is no longer credited and must be retaken.

Which NRMP Match is specifically designed for current residents seeking fellowship positions?

Answer: Specialties Matching Service (SMS) / Fellowship Match

The NRMP Specialties Matching Service (SMS), commonly called the Fellowship Match, is used for subspecialty fellowship positions such as cardiology, pulmonology, and others.

An IMG residency applicant is a citizen of a country designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. Which additional step may be required for their J-1 visa application?

Answer: Security Advisory Opinion (SAO) review, which can significantly delay visa issuance

Citizens of certain countries may require a Security Advisory Opinion from the State Department, adding weeks to months of processing time before a J-1 visa can be issued.

What is the significance of the ECFMG's Certification Verification Service (CVS)?

Answer: It enables hospitals and licensing boards to verify an IMG's ECFMG certification status

ECFMG's CVS allows authorized institutions, licensing boards, and credentialing organizations to verify whether an individual holds a valid ECFMG certificate.

A residency program wishes to hire an unmatched IMG directly (outside the NRMP Match) for a preliminary position. Which NRMP rule applies?

Answer: Programs must offer any unfilled positions through SOAP before making direct offers outside the Match

NRMP policy requires programs with unfilled positions to participate in SOAP before making direct offers; bypassing SOAP violates NRMP agreement.