International medical graduates (IMGs) follow the same interview process as other applicants, but the paperwork, the questions and the logistics differ. This guide covers the main differences. Pair it with our ECFMG Certification and visa guide and the article on OET Medicine and the Pathways.
Documents: MSPE and transcript through ECFMG
- ERAS token and account: IMGs receive their ERAS token through ECFMG and the MyIntealth portal, not from a school dean.
- MSPE and medical school transcript: your medical school provides these documents. Depending on your school, either you submit them through the ECFMG applicant portal or your school submits them through ECFMG's support service for schools. You indicate in MyERAS which route applies. Ask your school which one it uses.
- Deadlines: ECFMG has recommended submitting these documents several weeks before the date programs begin to review applications, which for recent seasons has been in early September. Confirm the date for your cycle on the ECFMG site.
- Translations and originals: documents not in English need certified translations. Ask ECFMG what it accepts, and keep copies of everything.
- Letters and the dean's letter: see our MSPE guide for how to ask your school and what to do if it does not issue one.
Interview preparation specific to IMGs
- Explain your path. Be ready to describe your education, your US clinical experience and why you want to train in the United States, in a few clear, confident sentences.
- Prepare for questions about experience. Programs often ask about observerships, externships, research and how recently you worked in a clinical setting.
- Know your timeline. If there is a gap since graduation, give a short, honest account of what you did, including exam study and clinical work.
- Visa questions. Know which visas the program sponsors. A program may ask about your visa needs directly. Answer honestly and calmly, and ask your own questions about sponsorship, such as whether Step 3 must be passed first.
- Communication. Practice professional medical English in mock interviews, including clear, concise answers to behavioral questions.
Virtual interviews across time zones
- Convert the interview time to your local time and double-check it the day before.
- Test your internet connection and have a backup, such as a mobile hotspot.
- Choose a quiet space with good lighting, and prepare for interviews that start at unusual hours.
- Join a few minutes early and keep the program's contact information handy in case of technical problems.
In-person interviews and travel to the United States
- Visa for travel: if you attend in-person interviews, you may need a visitor visa. Apply early, since appointment waiting times differ widely by country. Check the Department of State guidance and the program's instructions.
- Costs: plan flights, lodging, local transport and food, and ask programs about help with lodging or meals. Our travel-savings guide has a booking order and ways to cut the total cost.
- Cluster interviews: where programs allow in-person visits, group them by region to reduce the number of trips, and keep flexible tickets where possible.
- Documents to carry: your passport, interview confirmation, itinerary and contact information for each program.
After the interview
Send thank-you notes as described in our follow-up guide, and keep careful notes about each program's visa policy and support. Remember that the match rank list should reflect programs where you are eligible, can obtain the right visa and would genuinely want to train.
Requirements and deadlines change each season. Confirm current information with ECFMG, the AAMC, the program and the Department of State. This guide is general educational information, not legal or immigration advice.