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EDUCATIONAL COMMISSION FOR FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES

http://www.partners.org/research/gme/houseofficermanuals/a/homa10ecfmg.html

The Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is authorized by the United States Immigration Agency (USIA) to sponsor physicians who have graduated from international medical schools (IMGs) as exchange visitors in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training. IMGs must:

• hold a valid ECFMG certificate
• hold a contract or an official letter of offer for a position in an accredited training program that is affiliated with a medical school
• provide a statement of need from the Ministry of Health of the country of nationality or last legal permanent residence. This statement must provide assurance that the country needs specialists in the area in which the exchange visitor will receive training and that s/he will return to the country upon completion of training.

Note: Graduates of LCME accredited U.S. and Canadian medical schools are not required to be ECFMG certified, but must submit a certified, translated copy of their medical school diploma.

Processing time for sponsorship applications is generally four to six weeks. Renewal of sponsorship is recommended at least eight weeks prior to the expiration of the current IAP-66 form.

Application materials are available through the ECFMG website. If you have been accepted into a BWH or MGH training program and need help processing your paperwork, please contact:

BWH: (617) 582-1193
MGH: (617) 726-2119