Interview Season for IMGs: Virtual Interviews, Visa Timing, and Travel

When interview season happens

Interview invitations for the Main Residency Match typically begin arriving in the fall, once programs finish reviewing ERAS applications, and continue into January, ahead of the rank order list deadline. Exact dates shift each cycle, so check the current calendar on NRMP's residency applicants page rather than plan around dates from a previous year.

As of August 2026, the cycle now open is what NRMP calls the 2027 Main Residency Match, meaning applicants interviewing this fall and winter would start residency in July 2027 if matched.

Virtual interviews are the norm

Most residency programs interview entirely by video call, a practice that became standard during the pandemic and has stayed in place since. Treat a virtual interview with the same preparation as an in-person one: test your camera, microphone, and internet connection the day before, sit in a quiet space with a plain background, and dress exactly as you would for an in-person meeting.

A few programs still invite top candidates for an optional in-person second look after the interview itself. Treat these as a bonus, not a requirement, since most applicants match without ever traveling to the US before Match Day.

Handling time zones from abroad

Build a simple spreadsheet of every program's time zone alongside your own before invitations start arriving. Keep evening and early morning blocks open during peak weeks, since many programs offer only a narrow set of slots and fill them quickly.

Respond to interview offers within hours, not days.

Competitive slots close fast, and a slow reply can cost you an interview entirely, especially for popular specialties.

When you might need to travel

If a program invites you for an in-person second look, or you need to attend an event tied to your visa process, check which visa category permits that travel before you book anything. A visitor visa such as B-1/B-2 is the usual route for short trips unconnected to paid work or training, but rules and wait times vary by consular post and change without notice, so confirm current requirements directly at travel.state.gov or your nearest US embassy site.

If you are already in the US

Applicants already in the US on F-1, J-1, or another status should confirm with their school's international student office before any travel connected to interviews. Leaving the country while an application or extension is pending can create problems depending on your exact visa category, so get written confirmation before you make plans.

Start your visa paperwork early

Most IMGs who match enter residency on a J-1 visa, and ECFMG is the only sponsor for physicians in US clinical training on that visa. Sponsorship paperwork only starts after you match and accept a position, so use interview season to gather documents you will need later: your passport, medical school transcripts, and any statement of need from your home country's government. Having these ready shortens the gap between Match Day in March and your residency start date, usually July 1.