B1/B2 Visa

In order to go for electives, residency interviews and the Step 2 CS, you need to apply for a US visit visa (B1/B2). Try and apply as early as possible. Ideally, you should have taken Step 1 and Step 2 CK before you go for the interview.

You get the application materials from American Express offices in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. They are also available online at the web site of Islamabad’s US Embassy. Fill those up and put them in the application. Nowadays, they do not accept any extra documents to be attached with the application materials as every one is called for an interview. Once your application is processed, take the earliest date available. The American Express also gives out the interview dates.

Do you mention Step 3 on the visa application and during the visa interview? The answer is NO. Step 3 is a big no-no. The reason is that people who have gone previously for residency interviews had to stay longer to do Step 3 and many of them took extensions. Visa consulars know that. So, on the application and during the interviews, mention your reasons for visit as Step 2 CS examination and residency interviews…that’s all.

Documents to take with you for the interview:
All original documents should be along with you for the interview. Needless to state, you will also take your passport and visa application.

1- Print out of Step 2 CS date and testing center
2- Print out of Scheduling Permit
3- Visa Letter from the ECFMG
4- Step 1 score, if available
5- Step 2 CK score, if available
6- AKU documents (which include Medical School Diploma, Transcript, Dean's letter etc.)
7- Job letter (if you are doing a job e.g. Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, then ask your supervisor to write you a letter saying that you are working at this place and once you come back from the US, you will continue your job). + Pay slips.
8- Evidence of last trip to US: If you have gone to US before, what did you do there? Most of the students have gone for electives. It is worthwhile to keep US recommendation letters as proof of your visit.
9- Affidavits of support from your parents (saying that my son or daughter is going abroad for medical board examinations and I will be bearing his/her expenses).
10- Affidavit of Non-immigrant Intent (saying that you will return and giving reasons why you are going to do so).
11- Proof that you can afford the trip. This proof can be in the form of Bank Statement, Property Documents and/or credit Card summaries.
12- All educational documents from school till medical school.
13- Print out of your ERAS account (if applicable).

Know which document is where otherwise you would not look good in front of the interviewer. Dress professionally but make sure that you are comfortable as well. Arrive at the parking no later than six o’clock in the morning.

Get rid of your mobiles and stand in the line where they give out bus tickets to the US embassy. Once you get the tickets, you make a run for the line where they are loading the buses for the US embassy. Please note that there are other buses for other embassies too so you need to check where to go. Once you sit in the bus, the bus takes you to Diplomatic Enclave and drops you in front of the US Consulate. There, you form two lines; one for immigrant visas and one for non-immigrant visas. You will stand in the non-immigrant visa line. Then, the security guards will call you and after a thorough security check, you go inside the Consulate where your fingerprints are taken and your passport and visa application is taken. Then, you wait for the interview. Good luck!!!

After the interview, your passport is sent to USA for security clearance (if you are a guy). This takes a very variable amount of time. Officially, the consulars tell you that it would take anywhere from 2 weeks to three months.

Note: This article has been derived from "Roadmap to Residency" authored by AKU graduates, with permission from few of the authors. Name of the original author, has purposely not been mentioned on request of one of the authors, for privacy reasons. If you are the original author of this article and want your name to be mentioned or wish this article to be modified/ removed from this website, please contact us and we would be more than happy to entertain your request. We fully respect your privacy, acknowledge your efforts put in authoring this article and appreciate your hard work involved in it.