I just got off the phone with GMC … So individuals get their full GMC registration after they have completed their Plab 2. I asked them , if a Pakistani candidate completes two year training from Pakistan ( achieving the SHO level training ) … Will they still have to do the foundation year 2? they said no , but they will have to work under the approved practive setting …
My question is training posts are damn hard to get onto … are approved practice settings also equally hard to do? .. i am thinking to advise my sister to start doing locums after achieving the GMC registration still not sure how she will manage visa wise… any options ?
Hi CB, after doing a quick search, it seems that Tier 1 general and HSMP visas are both closed to applicants. The Tier 2 general is the only one open. My suggestion would be just to get whichever visa you can get anyway - that’s the most important thing. I would really recommend consulting a solicitor to be sure. I can give you the contact details of a place that has very good reviews with dealing with visas (I contacted them recently too), maybe they can suggest the best route. So find out if she can get Tier 2 with adequate sponsorship and available funds (you and your husband could be her sponsors and she could live with you?).
Anyway, as you have checked and confirmed as I suggested, that 2 years of training in Pakistan plus passing PLAB is sufficient for full GMC registration, your sister can apply for any suitable jobs. I believe an approved settings means any hospital setting where she will be adequately supervised. So any NHS hospital employment, including locum will be fine. What I believe will not be okay is private work, which a lot of IMGs try to do.
She can also do F1 and F2 posts and they won’t count as necessarily training posts. I did a search a few months back and there were a decent number of F1 and F2 positions to be filled for 3-6 months. They are not aimed at people at F1 level because one of the requirements was full GMC registration (which an F1 won’t have). I believe they would most likely be filled by IMGs as British grads would be in the system and have no need to go for a 3 month F1 post if they are fully registered.
She should also be able to go for S1 posts (this is the first training year after F2).
Locum posts are also fine I believe. My cousin’s brother-in-law is an engineer and came here about 2 years ago (btw, I think he was sponsored by his brother who is a GP here and they lived with him and my cousin for a while). His wife was a Dr. in Pakistan and had completed 2 years or so working in Pakistan. She also had a baby. She sat both parts of PLAB - it took a while with the baby and everything, and got full GMC reg. She did some attachments whilst job hunting and last I heard she had started locuming and then finally got a proper contract.
Your sister first has to come to the UK for PLAB 2. I would suggest getting the separate visa for this and doing an attachment as well, whilst she is here for the 6 months. Then she can apply for full GMC registration and go back until she gets the Tier 2 visa. Then come again to the UK and start looking for jobs. The reason I suggest this is because she doesn’t want to waste a year of the Tier 2 visa sitting PLAB, waiting for GMC reg and applying, when it’s only 3 years long anyway. Another thing I would just confirm with a solicitor is if it is at possible to switch from the PLAB visa to Tier 2, or if it’s totally not allowed.
Stoppit , as always , you have provided a really helpful insight into the situation and cant thank you enough for it
Would you like to share the solicitors numbers , PM me if you like and I will give them a call to find out the visa route ..
One thing , since I am not acquainted with the Pakistan system … my sister was telling me that that they have only one year’s internship… in essence ,they dont have the SHO training … if you do want to do it , then you have to go through the PCS route and what not .. which involves alot of time consuming exams in Pakistan … so for someone intending to start their career in the UK , it wouldnt be feasible to go along spending time and effort in Pakistani exams…
Also , GMC confirmed that she will achieve her full registration soon after she passes her Plab 2… now the question is , if she doesnt do F2 , will it be ok ? coz the condition is to work for 12 months in an approved setting. now if that is under F2 or other GMC approved firms … that should contribute to her 12 months experience … right? and she wouldnt really need to compete for training contracts ? .. I hope i am making sense?
Also , I was told today that IMC , Ireland Medical Council ( Sourthern Ireland ), if we apply for their full registration , they might be able to help with finding opportunities for IMG’s … how true is that?
CB, I discovered that my internship that I had completed in Pakistan lacked 3 months of the surgical rotation the GMC requires for giving me Full Registration. I'm InshaAllah going to apply for the Foundation Programm this year in June with Provisional Registration for FY1.
It's to your sister's advantage if she has Full Registration, she can apply for locum posts, non-training FY2 posts and the like, they will come up on the BMJ careers and the FP website.
As far as I know, if she wants to get into training in the UK, she has to get into a training FY1 or FY2 post (yes, she can apply for an FY1 too if she has Full Registration).
The Irish and British medical councils have inter changeable qualifications, you are allowed to look for work in the UK if you have registration from the IMC and vice versa.
Hey mickey, what will you be applying for in June? I mean, for posts directly?
CB - I missed your post before. MM has answered some of the points. I know Ireland is popular with Pakistani doctors, so there must be opportunities there. My dad's good friend is a general surgeon there and he has been telling my husband that he can always consider coming to Ireland. But we haven't investigated that seriously yet.
As for Pakistan, my husband's classmates who are taking PLAB etc are still going through the Pakistani system and will be taking the relevant exams. Becaues God forbid it doesn't work out, they will still be progressing through the Paksitani system.
Mickey, thanks so much and I wish you all the very best … its a tough ride but one that brings fruit ultimately Keep us informed of your achievements
Stoppit, Are you talking about Northern Ireland or southern one? Coz I called up IMC the other day and they said all NON EEA candidates will have to do IMC’s specific exams as PLAB is not recognized there … … but northern Ireland is good … which one did you mean by the way?
Also , Stoppit, please could you share with me the contact details of the solicitor you mentioned in the above posts? I am keen on finding out the visa route with all the changes that have happened recently , dont want surprises last minute for my sister :hinna:
I sincerely wish to thank everybody who have contributed to this topic: Stoppit? Mickey, Chicken Biryani and everyone else.
I have plans of migrating to the UK after writing Plab 1 which I am going for in September but the chaos I am facing now is this their recent visa changes.
Does anybody know how it has affected IMGs with a visiting visa? because i saw on UKBA website where they said that only about 27,000 slots would be reserved for non EEA citizens seekiing for job in the UK?
I have visited the UK before and was given a 6months visiting visa which is expiring this April. if I am to apply and sit for PLAB 2, Would I apply for a 2 years visiting Visa or Should I apply for another type of visa?
Thank you so immensely and any help or advice will be sincerely appreciated.
Ocean tide , at the moment , things are looking extremely difficult … When you do manage to find a job , you will be given a visa for that duration i think … but now here’s the issue : NHS , like all other employers is going to have a tough time sponsoring the employees , coz even if they want to hire someone , and if there arent enough visa’s available per month , they wont be able to hire IMG’s … :no:
I spoke to someone yesterday who said , NHS is receeding from IMG recruitment
Can someone please tell me how is the accomodation like in Ilford for the plantrainer course? I am a bit apprehensive about the one offered by Swamy . its by Michael. would like to know if anyone has stayed in that hostel -GB express. how is it like? Thank you
.. I hope i am making sense?
Keep us informed of your achievements
… but northern Ireland is good … which one did you mean by the way?