USMLE Wise Wiki
Everything an IMG needs to know to reach a US residency.
Exams, ECFMG, the application, the Match, research, clinical experience and visas. Every page is sourced to the official rule-makers and dated, and each one shows whether an expert has reviewed it yet.
Browse by topic
Start Here
The big picture for IMGs: the roadmap from medical school to US residency, what it costs, and how long it takes.
7 pagesUSMLE Exams
Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3: eligibility, scheduling, scoring, retakes, and how to study.
22 pagesECFMG Certification
Intealth accounts, credential verification, medical school eligibility and the certificate itself.
13 pagesThe Residency Application
ERAS, the CV, personal statement, letters, signaling and building your program list.
20 pagesSpecialties
How competitive each specialty is for IMGs and what a realistic application looks like.
16 pagesInterviews and the Match
Interview season, rank lists, how the Match algorithm works, SOAP and what to do if you do not match.
16 pagesUS Clinical Experience
Observerships, externships and hands-on rotations: what counts, what it costs, how to turn it into a letter.
10 pagesResearch
Why research matters for IMGs, how to find a position, publish, and present.
11 pagesVisas
J-1, H-1B, B1/B2 and the rest: which visa fits your plan and how each step works.
16 pagesLicensure and Career
State licensure, fellowship, contracts and life after residency.
7 pagesLife in the US
Arriving, housing, banking, taxes and settling in as a new resident.
8 pagesCountry Guides
Guides for graduates from the countries that send the most IMGs.
10 pagesGlossary
Short definitions of the acronyms and terms you will meet along the way.
25 pagesRecently updated
- Applying to More Than One Specialty The Residency Application · 6 Nov 2026
- Building Your Program List: A Step-by-Step Method The Residency Application · 6 Nov 2026
- ERAS and NRMP Costs: A Budget for Application Season The Residency Application · 6 Nov 2026
- Writing the ERAS Experiences Section The Residency Application · 6 Nov 2026
- The ERAS Residency Application Timeline for IMGs The Residency Application · 6 Nov 2026
- Failed Exam Attempts: How They Affect Your Application The Residency Application · 6 Nov 2026
- Gap Years on Your Application and How to Explain Them The Residency Application · 6 Nov 2026
- How Many Programs Should You Apply To? The Residency Application · 6 Nov 2026
How we keep this accurate
Every fee, date and rule links to its primary source (USMLE, NBME, ECFMG, NRMP, AAMC, the US State Department, USCIS). Pages show their update date and, once reviewed, who reviewed them and when. They are re-checked on a fixed schedule. Visa pages are information, not legal advice.