One of the most popular questions I’ve got since I joined UCDenver is whether international dentists have any chance when they don’t have green card or citizenship. More importantly, can they work in the U.S after graduation or they can’t? Short answer is YES. Longer answer – let me explain what I know a bit clearer.
My friends or whoever read my last blog will know that I came here on student visa. I got my green card only 4 months ago through my mom’s sponsorship. Are there a lot of students like me coming here on student visa? Yes, a lot. I think at least 10 of my classmates are on F1 visa right now, and some others are on H4b visa (their spouse have working visa H1b). Of course there are some schools or programs specifically require candidate having green card or citizenship to apply, and some programs require only citizenship. However there is no mystery on that. They don’t play hide and seek with us but will give out these information clearly on their website or CAAPID directory like below
So how to obtain F1 visa now that you get accepted to one or several dental schools?
1) decide which school you will join
2) pay deposit to the program – most school will ask you to pay deposit when you accept the offer to join their program. This deposit will count toward your tuition later. For example the tuition for the 1st year at UCDenver SODM – ISP program is $78.630 according to the website. Last time I paid, it’s $4000 for deposit, which means ISP students will pay the rest $74.630 later.
3) send a proof to the school that you will be able to pay the total cost of living for the 1st year (currently $121.450 at UCDenver). This can be from you own bank account, or a friend/family that agrees to sponsor for your 1st year – doesn’t mean that you will use your own money or friend’s money. Weird, I know, it’s only the process. I will post another blog about this.
4) after receiving your proof, school will send you I-20
5) apply for student visa
6) apply for student loan
7) well, when you have visa and loan ready, everything else is minor problem obviously.
During my time at UCDenver as F1 visa student, there is an office that will take care of us called The International Student & Scholar Service or ISSS. If we need a stamp to travel out of the U.S or we need a new I-20 or simply we need some advice on immigration issue, they are always there. They provide walk-in service 2 hours/week right at one of dental school’s office so we students can easily stop by to have a quick question anytime (you know, dental students are super busy). Recently when I got green card, I requested an update in the University system, but forgot to let the ISSS office know. Last week I got an email from ISSS to ask if my status is accurate or not, because they are working to help F1 visa student to apply for OPT. They care about us, guys!
So what is OPT? OPT stands for Optional Practical Training for F1-visa student. Basically all F1-visa student has one-year period to get more real-life training at a company/organization before going back to their home country. For dentists, we will use this one-year to work for a dental practice/ dental corporate/ public health center, etc wherever can sponsor for your working visa, and then apply for working visa during this time. I won’t have to apply for this visa, so I don’t know a lot about the process, but I see from my seniors that they applied around April every year. When you get the working visa, you can just stay and work here years after years unless you get fired. In worst scenario that you really get fired, quickly look for a new job and continue staying under this H1B visa. Some practice/corporate/center also sponsor for you to get a green card after working with them for several years. I again don’t know a lot, but my ex got green card after he worked for a hospital for 7 years, and then got citizenship 2,3 years after that. The number of years depends on case to case basis I think, and also depends on which country you come from (there are currently a lot of application from India, China, etc so the waiting period is longer)
Now you may raise a question “Is it easy for dentists especially international dentists to find a job?” Honestly I haven’t looked for a job yet since it’s still 3 months from graduation (hmm I know I should though) but my friends have started already and they all got at least a call for interview and it’s mainly about negotiation. One of my best friends here got an interview in April – 8 months before graduation since she started really early. She’s also on student visa FYI. When you get an interview, they will describe to you the working hours, the location of office, income and benefit, etc and if both sides agree with those, they send you a contract to mailbox, you sign on it and send it back. Done. When I first moved in to CO, I’ve talked to one senior graduating that year. She told me it’s difficult to find a job that satisfy all your requirements like good income, good working hours, good location in big cities like Denver, New York, Seattle, Houston, good benefit, great mentorship, great services, etc. It’s easy if you sacrifice one of those – working in a rural area far away from cities, then you will have better income for example. Hey, it’s life-like. You never have everything you want in one package, right?