Franklin Balaguer

Hello Everyone!

My Fiancee is a year and a half away from finishing medical school in
Russia. Do you guys think it would be best for her to finish before moving
to the states, or should she just come to the states, transfer whatever
credits she can transfer and start over?

She definetly doesn't want to start over. Also, does anyone has any
information on this? In regards to what she should get before she leaves
for the U.S., applying to the colleges, etc.

One last question on the same subject, assumming she stayed in Russia. I
guess I couldn't marry her until she finishes school right? Because if I
did, and she got her green card, then she would have to live in the U.S.
Anyone has any experience with this?


Thanks a million!

Frank

Dekka's Angel

There are lots of books on the subject of colleges and/medical schools available in any bookstore, which will have all the information your fiance needs to decide. Every medical school is different and every state is different, so it's unlikely that anyone can give any specific advice about this. She will need to make inquiries directly.

Shawn Johnson

Frank,

Medical school is very difficult to transfer to the USA. I have
friends who are from Australia, India and Brazil in which their MD's
are from the top schools in their respective countries and they do not
transfer. For her to start over here she will have to take the TOEFEL
(English Proficiency) and pass the MCAT and then be accepted into a
Med school. Not an easy task even for Americans. The language could
be her biggest barrier.

Don't foget the cost. Med school here isn't cheap and I am not sure
about Med school in Russia but when Lara (my fiancee) studied at Law
school in Yaroslavl, she did not have to pay tuition.

You should check with the medical schools in your area to see if they
have any agreements or affiliations with schools in Russia. This
might help the transfer.

There are apostille agencies that will help determine the feasibility
of her undergraduate or previous university degrees but since she has
not graduated yet, they won't be of much help. I might be wrong as it
has been awhile since my sister-in-law applied to med school but I
thought they required an equivalent of a Bachelors degree to be
accepted and if I remember correctly from what Lara said, they go
directly into the discipline they want to study. So this might be a
hurdle for her to overcome. Don't quote me on that though.

No, you don't have to wait until she has completed school to get
married. Just because you marry her, she will not automatically
receive a green card. That is a lengthy process. Search this
newgroup and you will see how long and what it takes to obtain the
green card.

Hope this helps.

Shawn

On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 14:26:30 GMT, "Franklin Balaguer"
wrote:

    >Hello Everyone!
    >My Fiancee is a year and a half away from finishing medical school in
    >Russia. Do you guys think it would be best for her to finish before moving
    >to the states, or should she just come to the states, transfer whatever
    >credits she can transfer and start over?
    >She definetly doesn't want to start over. Also, does anyone has any
    >information on this? In regards to what she should get before she leaves
    >for the U.S., applying to the colleges, etc.
    >One last question on the same subject, assumming she stayed in Russia. I
    >guess I couldn't marry her until she finishes school right? Because if I
    >did, and she got her green card, then she would have to live in the U.S.
    >Anyone has any experience with this?
    >Thanks a million!
    >Frank

jeffreyhy

Franklin,

You can marry her any time that you and she agree to marry. The two of you getting married and her getting a 'Green Card' are 2 separate issues.

You get married when you want to get married, you apply for her immigration and 'Green Card' when she wants to immigrate.

Regards, JEff

Franklin Balaguer

Thank you Dekka.

I did buy a book, it seems to be a good one. "2003 Complete book of Medical
Schools"
It doesn't mention anything about foreign students, but at least it has
email addresses adn phone numbers. I hope to shoot the local schools and
email and see if any of them can give me some advice or maybe send me an
information pamplet.

Well, I did buy the book, just not enough -- I am looking for real-life
experiences... if anyone has them, please feel free to share them!

Thanks again,

Frank


"Dekka's Angel" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > There are lots of books on the subject of colleges and/medical schools
    > available in any bookstore, which will have all the information your
    > fiance needs to decide. Every medical school is different and every
    > state is different, so it's unlikely that anyone can give any specific
    > advice about this. She will need to make inquiries directly.
    > --
    > Dekka's Angel
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Franklin Balaguer

Shawn,

Once again, this was a great reply. My fiancee is learning english very
fast. I will write/call the three medical schools here in Virginia and see
if by chance any of them have affiliations with the Russian school where she
is studying.

Thank you,

Frank


"Shawn Johnson" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Frank,
    > Medical school is very difficult to transfer to the USA. I have
    > friends who are from Australia, India and Brazil in which their MD's
    > are from the top schools in their respective countries and they do not
    > transfer. For her to start over here she will have to take the TOEFEL
    > (English Proficiency) and pass the MCAT and then be accepted into a
    > Med school. Not an easy task even for Americans. The language could
    > be her biggest barrier.
    > Don't foget the cost. Med school here isn't cheap and I am not sure
    > about Med school in Russia but when Lara (my fiancee) studied at Law
    > school in Yaroslavl, she did not have to pay tuition.
    > You should check with the medical schools in your area to see if they
    > have any agreements or affiliations with schools in Russia. This
    > might help the transfer.
    > There are apostille agencies that will help determine the feasibility
    > of her undergraduate or previous university degrees but since she has
    > not graduated yet, they won't be of much help. I might be wrong as it
    > has been awhile since my sister-in-law applied to med school but I
    > thought they required an equivalent of a Bachelors degree to be
    > accepted and if I remember correctly from what Lara said, they go
    > directly into the discipline they want to study. So this might be a
    > hurdle for her to overcome. Don't quote me on that though.
    > No, you don't have to wait until she has completed school to get
    > married. Just because you marry her, she will not automatically
    > receive a green card. That is a lengthy process. Search this
    > newgroup and you will see how long and what it takes to obtain the
    > green card.
    > Hope this helps.
    > Shawn
    > On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 14:26:30 GMT, "Franklin Balaguer"
    > wrote:
    > >Hello Everyone!
    > >
    > >My Fiancee is a year and a half away from finishing medical school in
    > >Russia. Do you guys think it would be best for her to finish before
moving
    > >to the states, or should she just come to the states, transfer whatever
    > >credits she can transfer and start over?
    > >
    > >She definetly doesn't want to start over. Also, does anyone has any
    > >information on this? In regards to what she should get before she leaves
    > >for the U.S., applying to the colleges, etc.
    > >
    > >One last question on the same subject, assumming she stayed in Russia. I
    > >guess I couldn't marry her until she finishes school right? Because if I
    > >did, and she got her green card, then she would have to live in the U.S.
    > >Anyone has any experience with this?
    > >
    > >
    > >Thanks a million!
    > >
    > >Frank
    > >

Margaret

Frank

You mentioned previously on a post a few days ago that your fiancee is
coming to visit you in August and had looked into options of possibly
her marrying you then. But....then you mentioned she had a 6 year old
son back in Russia who's father will not allow him to immigrate to the
U.S. If you were successful in having her come over to attend school
in the U.S., once again what happens to that child?

Forgive me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you are trying finding
another way to marry your fiancee in the U.S. asap. Please give that
child consideration first.

Franklin Balaguer

Thank you for your concern about the child. Her mother is as concerned
about him as I am, and we keep him very much in mind. We have several
issues that we need to work out and I am just asking the questions.

We are not leaving the child behind, the father changes his mind every day.
Some days he says yes, some days he says no. All in all, the next time he
says yes, we'll take him up on it.

Since we have a full century ahead of us before she can come, we are trying
to work all the issues out, including her finishing her degree and where we
are going to go for our honeymoon if that day ever comes. If you have
something to add, I would very much like to hear it.

Thank you and have a nice evening,

Frank

"Margaret" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Frank
    > You mentioned previously on a post a few days ago that your fiancee is
    > coming to visit you in August and had looked into options of possibly
    > her marrying you then. But....then you mentioned she had a 6 year old
    > son back in Russia who's father will not allow him to immigrate to the
    > U.S. If you were successful in having her come over to attend school
    > in the U.S., once again what happens to that child?
    > Forgive me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you are trying finding
    > another way to marry your fiancee in the U.S. asap. Please give that
    > child consideration first.

Alzerom

-Anyone has any experience with this? Frank

Frank, the rest of these posts are simply WRONG. I've done this.
There is no chance she will EVER enter a US Medical School from
Russia.
Forget the "books on the subject" because they don't exist.

The only way for a Russian to ever practice in the US is to FINISH
medical school completely AND have a license in the country of origin.

Then take the USMLE exams and pass.
Pass the English proficiency exams, these are not easy like a drivers
license.
Enter an internship/residency program "as a new graduate"...
Complete the residency, minimum of 3 years, More exams, then a US
license.

In other words finish in Russia, then enter an internship here.

By the way most of the rest of the world starts Medical school after
Highschool, so these are just kids compared to the maturity of the
American applicant. The American Med School Applicant Pool is far too
competitive for the foreign High School Graduate.

you may email me direct if you like.
D Brown MD

Margaret

Just make sure that when he says yes you have it in writing - him
giving the child permission to immigrate as that is what the U.S.
Consulate will require. Good luck to you, it will all work out in the
end.




"Franklin Balaguer" wrote in message news:...
    > Thank you for your concern about the child. Her mother is as concerned
    > about him as I am, and we keep him very much in mind. We have several
    > issues that we need to work out and I am just asking the questions.
    >
    > We are not leaving the child behind, the father changes his mind every day.
    > Some days he says yes, some days he says no. All in all, the next time he
    > says yes, we'll take him up on it.
    >
    > Since we have a full century ahead of us before she can come, we are trying
    > to work all the issues out, including her finishing her degree and where we
    > are going to go for our honeymoon if that day ever comes. If you have
    > something to add, I would very much like to hear it.
    >
    > Thank you and have a nice evening,
    >
    > Frank
    >
    > "Margaret" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Frank
    > >
    > > You mentioned previously on a post a few days ago that your fiancee is
    > > coming to visit you in August and had looked into options of possibly
    > > her marrying you then. But....then you mentioned she had a 6 year old
    > > son back in Russia who's father will not allow him to immigrate to the
    > > U.S. If you were successful in having her come over to attend school
    > > in the U.S., once again what happens to that child?
    > >
    > > Forgive me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you are trying finding
    > > another way to marry your fiancee in the U.S. asap. Please give that
    > > child consideration first.
    > >

OlenkaKyiv

As I know experience of one girl who came to US from one of the country of FSU and who finished medical school, she should have started medical studyings from the start in US. Only some subjects were accounted to her studying list in US, so she didn't study them.
I mean that I agree with Alzerom. I will be in the same situation as I guess with my Ukrainian law education, but I finished Universoty already.
Oh.... and else..... Americans understand "medical school" sometimes not like Russians. The matter there are medical colleges and Universities. Universities are higher by education than colledges and students have to study for 7 years at Universities. Probably Franklin's girl told that she studied at medical school, but she meant only college. In this case she should finish it because it won't take a long time. But if it is University, I suggest to leave it Anyway she is going to live in US, isn't she? so for what go to Russia for years and then to study in US again from the start???

Olenka

Franklin Balaguer

guys, THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH! This is exactly what I am looking for!

Anyone else with some experience in this, please feel free to add whatever
you have!

Thanks!

Frank

lucymoody

Franklin, I have to agree with Alzerom. There is just no way that your fiancee can transfer into an American medical school. She can either do as Alzerom suggested (graduate, become licensed in Russia, come do all 3 steps of USMLE, etc.) or she can start an undergraduate degree here and then do MCAT etc. and start medical school. Keep in mind however, that getting into medical school is excruciatingly difficult in the States, even for American students from highly-regarded colleges. Finally, there are some residency programs that consider taking FMGs (foreign medical graduates), but you would have to contact them individually to see what their policy is. I've not yet heard of any Russian-trained MDs starting residency directly, though. Again, USMLEs would be required, and she would have a further difficulty getting in because of her tenuous visa situation.
I hope I'm not being too blunt, I just wouldn't want you and your fiancee not to realize how difficult this will be on her career. If she is truly set on being a doctor, she could consider the above routes, or maybe she might consider another option in the health care field.
Lucy Moody, MD.