This post is a follow up to my earlier post about initial registration, permit etc
http://www.usmle-forums.com/ecfmg-fo...p-process.html
So for me the initial process of registration etc started back in Dec 2011. In last 8 months cleared Step1, CK, CS and just today received my ECFMG certificate so thought of sharing the details of this journey ..
Per my earlier post the initial set of documents from my school back home reached ECFMG on Jan 23. After that they sent me a letter stating we have received your diploma etc and now for credential verification (form 327 A) we need to send 200 Rs (Indian) draft along with it.
I know its peanuts but I had to go get an internation bank draft and send it to ECFMG. Once they received it they sent a first credential verification request to my school on March 8. (OASIS was updated and I was sent a postal letter)
For some weird reason my school didnt recive it until April 20, at that time I contacted ECFMG to check if they can resend. BUt they dont resend until 90 days. That was ridiculous but I had no option but to keep checking back with school and wait. Finally on June 9 I called ECFMG to re-send with my Fedex acct. They asked me send a fax blah blah blah .. Finally they sent it on June 25 (received same postal mail as one back in March)
Funny enough between June 8 -25 my school received original which was sent in March and again the new one from Fedex on June 29.
After that there was some grueling red-tape process back home as well. Thankfully my family managed it and sent everything back on July 28 by 72 hr Fedex shipment. I was little relaxed when ECFMG received it on July 31. I used to check my OASIS everyday.
On August 6, MOnday the OASIS status said 327-A request resent on August 3.
First I thought its a mistake and they meant to say received but nope. When I called ECFMG said stamp color / appearance on envelope didnt match their record. I was so bummed at that point. Also it was sent by normal post .. I was so aggravated and frustrated at that point. I worked so hard to take CS and CK just in time so that I have ECFMG cert by Sept 15 and that seemed to be falling apart :((
That day I called ECFMG atleast 5 times. Spoke to diff reps they all give typical answers, but one lady really understood my frustration and she said if school has any 327-A form they can resend your package again without waiting for our mail to reach .. which didnt occur to me first ..
very next day again my family swung back in action and luckily school had old 327-A request (remember they sent it twice initially :) .. So everything was again sent back on August 9 which reached here on August 13.
(In the meantime on August 6 I received standard postal mail saying request was resent on August 3. Only interesting thing was with it this time they sent another 2 pages that has many reason why they reject documents. In my case they just checked the item that said seal appearance / color did not match. But that list in so exhaustive. They reject it for anything and everything. I will scan it at somepoint and post it here :)
)
My first nervous battle was to find out if they reject it again. My school as well as family confirmed that both packets were identical, they did not do anything different .. also my school (government college) does it very often so they know the drill. BUt anyways this time OASIS status finally said credential received. I again called and confirmed that everything is good. they dont say much but said yea initial verification must be positive now wait for 4 weeks ..
I was really hoping for credentials to be verified and cert to be issued by August 31 so that I can register for Step 3 for 2012 cycle. I know I was expecting too much and would have been happy if cert is issues by Sept 15 ..:))
So finally on August 31 OASIS status showed Documents verified. (Aug 13 to 30) 17 days not bad .. and today Sept 4 received mail from Fedex about Certificate thats sent.
one important thing - you dont get any email (atleast I didnt get) throughout this process. The only mail (postal) I got was in March when they sent credential verification request first time. You really have to be pro-active and go check Oasis or call them for any details.
I think this process is more stressful than taking all 3 steps. Its just so frustrating .. I know at the end of the day it all worked out but it can be all avoided and they can streamline it better.
Hope this helps someone out there. I really hope I am done with this long arduous process of dealing with it :toosad:
Good luck to everyone !
MATCH here I come ...............