Here is my unique situation:
I'm in the last month of MBBS internship which is going to end on Oct 31, 2012 and it takes around 1 month to get the final medical certificate. I want to apply for Step 1 and ECFMG application which asks the root of the problem: "Are you a student or a graduate?"
What I fear is that if I apply now as a student with 20 days of internship left, I'd have graduated by the time ECFMG verifies my student status from my college. I called ECFMG and when I only told them that my internship is going to end on 31st, they asked me to wait till I graduate to avoid confusion and when I called again to let them know that the degree would require another month in processing, another person told me that if I was a student now, I should apply as a student. I asked her when the ECFMG would consider me as graduate (out of the two dates: one where my internship ends and second when I get the degree in hand, with the latter giving sufficient time for verification if I apply as student.) and she told that it all depends on how my medical school processes the verification. What do I do? :confused:
And my questions are:
1. Does ECFMG verify the date of graduation mentioned on my final medical degree when I send it to them later, if I apply as a student? And out of the two, is it the date of receipt of degree which is mentioned on the degree?
2. What would be the approximate time (on average) between my college sending the documents and ECFMG confirming me about verification? Is it correct if I calculate it as 1 week for docs from Ind to US, 3 weeks in US for processing, 1 week back US to Ind for verification, 1 week in my college (variable), 1 week in replying the verification from Ind to US and finally 2-3 days for notification through email to me?
3. At what times do I definitely need to visit my college ONLY by myself (e.g. applying for steps, registering, getting mspe, transcript, LoR and whatever is involved)? Can I keep documents with my friend to do the needful in my absence?
I'm in the last month of MBBS internship which is going to end on Oct 31, 2012 and it takes around 1 month to get the final medical certificate. I want to apply for Step 1 and ECFMG application which asks the root of the problem: "Are you a student or a graduate?"
What I fear is that if I apply now as a student with 20 days of internship left, I'd have graduated by the time ECFMG verifies my student status from my college. I called ECFMG and when I only told them that my internship is going to end on 31st, they asked me to wait till I graduate to avoid confusion and when I called again to let them know that the degree would require another month in processing, another person told me that if I was a student now, I should apply as a student. I asked her when the ECFMG would consider me as graduate (out of the two dates: one where my internship ends and second when I get the degree in hand, with the latter giving sufficient time for verification if I apply as student.) and she told that it all depends on how my medical school processes the verification. What do I do? :confused:
And my questions are:
1. Does ECFMG verify the date of graduation mentioned on my final medical degree when I send it to them later, if I apply as a student? And out of the two, is it the date of receipt of degree which is mentioned on the degree?
2. What would be the approximate time (on average) between my college sending the documents and ECFMG confirming me about verification? Is it correct if I calculate it as 1 week for docs from Ind to US, 3 weeks in US for processing, 1 week back US to Ind for verification, 1 week in my college (variable), 1 week in replying the verification from Ind to US and finally 2-3 days for notification through email to me?
3. At what times do I definitely need to visit my college ONLY by myself (e.g. applying for steps, registering, getting mspe, transcript, LoR and whatever is involved)? Can I keep documents with my friend to do the needful in my absence?