Are you really ready to pay for transmitting ERAS residency applications ?
They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link....a relay team of runners is only as fast as its slowest runner...so, if you planned for months getting the things right for the Electronic Residency Application circus - like taking the USMLE Steps on time, getting those LORs on time and submitting documents on time, it will suck really bad to realize at the last moment, that after all that meticulous planning you are not equipped to pay for the programs !
So read on and take note fellas ..
1. MyERAS accepts only Mastercard and Visa for credit-card payments - Sorry No American Expr
ess
[During my first year in the United states, I was once buying a book at a small book store within this small town. When I fetched my brand new 'American Express Blue for Students' credit card out of my wallet, before I could even forward the card to the cashier, he kindly said, "Sorry pal, but we do not accept American Express - other cards are welcome". He told me why - American Express charges the merchants upto 4% of what the customers pay, while Mastercard, Visa and Discover card charged upto 1.5 to 2%. So, lets not be surprised if small shops and ERAS do not like American Express :-)]
Other tips on credit cards:
a. Make sure there is enough balance on these cards. Paying off those balances often takes 3-5 business (more or less) depending on the bank that issued the card, so have those pending balances paid off early.
b. For those in the USA, August is also a apartment-moving month, make sure you update your billing addresses well in advance and correctly, so that the credit cards work in September !
c. Applying and getting a approved credit card is a slow process and often the first credit card may not have enough credit limit to pay off the ERAS fees. A quicker is to buy a pre-paid visa credit card from a local store. that you use online too. I saw them being sold at Walmart the other day and thought they would be a quick and excellent thing for those IMGs without credit cards and credit histories. Read more about Prepaid Visa Credit cards Here. The site also lets you find the nearest store near your US location, where you can buy one.
d. If you have a Bank-issued Visa or Mastercard Debit card, confirm with your bank in advance if can be used online. If not, they might be able to enable that option on the debit card.
2. Not having a credit card is not the end of the story - well, at least for the match - since
MyERAS also accepts Checks and Money Orders drawn on US banks - By this method, you need to print out the invoice in the payment module, and send in your fees via check in U.S.Dollars to the address mentioned on the invoice. Now this form of payment will take time to reach the ERAS guys, but they will still forward those applications immediately for you, like they would if you would pay by a credit card - but if the money does not reach them on time, your applications will be taken back from all the programs and you lose valuable time.
3. In point two above, I said 'at least for the match' , since during the scramble, ERAS will accept only credit cards for payment - since there are only two days for the scramble anyways. So, if you don't have a credit card yet - getting started on getting one is in your best interests :-) Of course you can always a friends or a relatives card - but building your own credit history in America has distinct advantages for fresh-in-USA IMGs who land a residency - like getting a lower interest rate when you buy that first car...or if you decided to buy a house during your residency/fellowship :-) - Lets save tips on those for another bright day !
Q. Will my ERAS applications be transmitted slower if I pay by Checks instead of Credit Cards ?
A. No ! As the NRMP Sites says: "In good faith, ERAS transmits applications to the ERAS PostOffice for processing immediately and regardless of payment method." But remember, if the payment does not reach them on time, applications will be taken back.
Also Check Out:
- ERAS Fee schedule and rates for Residency applications
Search keywords to this blog post:
- "How to pay for residency programs online"
- "paying MyERAS Fees for residency applications"
- "does ERAS accept Visa / Mastercard / Discover /
So read on and take note fellas ..
1. MyERAS accepts only Mastercard and Visa for credit-card payments - Sorry No American Expr
ess[During my first year in the United states, I was once buying a book at a small book store within this small town. When I fetched my brand new 'American Express Blue for Students' credit card out of my wallet, before I could even forward the card to the cashier, he kindly said, "Sorry pal, but we do not accept American Express - other cards are welcome". He told me why - American Express charges the merchants upto 4% of what the customers pay, while Mastercard, Visa and Discover card charged upto 1.5 to 2%. So, lets not be surprised if small shops and ERAS do not like American Express :-)]
Other tips on credit cards:
a. Make sure there is enough balance on these cards. Paying off those balances often takes 3-5 business (more or less) depending on the bank that issued the card, so have those pending balances paid off early.
b. For those in the USA, August is also a apartment-moving month, make sure you update your billing addresses well in advance and correctly, so that the credit cards work in September !
c. Applying and getting a approved credit card is a slow process and often the first credit card may not have enough credit limit to pay off the ERAS fees. A quicker is to buy a pre-paid visa credit card from a local store. that you use online too. I saw them being sold at Walmart the other day and thought they would be a quick and excellent thing for those IMGs without credit cards and credit histories. Read more about Prepaid Visa Credit cards Here. The site also lets you find the nearest store near your US location, where you can buy one.
d. If you have a Bank-issued Visa or Mastercard Debit card, confirm with your bank in advance if can be used online. If not, they might be able to enable that option on the debit card.
2. Not having a credit card is not the end of the story - well, at least for the match - since
MyERAS also accepts Checks and Money Orders drawn on US banks - By this method, you need to print out the invoice in the payment module, and send in your fees via check in U.S.Dollars to the address mentioned on the invoice. Now this form of payment will take time to reach the ERAS guys, but they will still forward those applications immediately for you, like they would if you would pay by a credit card - but if the money does not reach them on time, your applications will be taken back from all the programs and you lose valuable time.3. In point two above, I said 'at least for the match' , since during the scramble, ERAS will accept only credit cards for payment - since there are only two days for the scramble anyways. So, if you don't have a credit card yet - getting started on getting one is in your best interests :-) Of course you can always a friends or a relatives card - but building your own credit history in America has distinct advantages for fresh-in-USA IMGs who land a residency - like getting a lower interest rate when you buy that first car...or if you decided to buy a house during your residency/fellowship :-) - Lets save tips on those for another bright day !
Q. Will my ERAS applications be transmitted slower if I pay by Checks instead of Credit Cards ?
A. No ! As the NRMP Sites says: "In good faith, ERAS transmits applications to the ERAS PostOffice for processing immediately and regardless of payment method." But remember, if the payment does not reach them on time, applications will be taken back.
Also Check Out:
- ERAS Fee schedule and rates for Residency applications
Search keywords to this blog post:
- "How to pay for residency programs online"
- "paying MyERAS Fees for residency applications"
- "does ERAS accept Visa / Mastercard / Discover /
Labels: ERAS Applications
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posted by Digitaldoc, MD at 10:20 PM
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