u/EfficientAd7465

Visa requiring IMG , yog 2024 , step 1 pass , step 2 265 , cannot attend in person observerships due to visa refusal , is it worth it to apply with telerotations only? Has anyone matched this way?

Im a visa requiring IMG , yog 2024 , step 1 pass , step 2 scheduled in September .

I was planning to apply for match 2027 this year but unfortunately I was recently refused a b1b2 visa to travel for observerships . The VO asked me about step 2 and i replied that ill give step 2 after coming back from observership , VO did not like this answer . Now I'm left with 2 choices

1. Forget about this match cycle , Give step 2 in September and reapply for visa after step 2 result ,on the basis of step 3 (with or without observerships) , then apply for match next year .

2. Do three months virtual usce and give step 2 before match deadline and apply for match in pediatrics this year (and then reapply for visa later if needed )

Im having trouble deciding because virtual usce will cost a lot and it is not as valuable as in person usce. However i dont want to waste a year either .

Has anyone been in this situation, please advise.

Currently i have 1 pending publication (a meta analysis) , and im working on 2 cross sectional studies which i plan to publish (probably in some fast publishing journal like cureus , and yes i know its not as valuable as a major journal publication)

Also if i reapply for visa after step 2 should i apply on the basis of step 3 only , or observership only , or both?

Would be very grateful for some sincere advice .