IMG advice

I know it's been asked a million times, and trust me I have trawled through the endless back pages of this forum before registering, but does anyone have any advice for me?

Let me summarise:

- I'm a UK graduate & resident who is about to finish a equivalent PGY1 rotating on orthopaedics, hepatobiliary surgery and rheumatology. Have graduated from a reputable medical school with a merit. The CV is long and distinguished (no Top Gun pun intended).

- Step 2 CS passed, and the remaining two steps will be taken in the next few months.

- Have 3 PUBMED ID's & 1 book chapter in non-ortho research (public health), 2 audits in surgery and 1 unpublished ortho research paper.

- 1x LOR from a US orthopaedic surgeon, 1x LOR from US rheumatologist, and several LOR's from UK surgeons. Am currently trying to arrange another 1, possibly 2, ortho clerkships in the US.

- I've been offered an orthopaedics research year (starting this September) that will provide many fruits in the form of publications and presentations. Hopefully I will be submitting an abstract to AAOS before the June deadline.

My question to you guys is whether I should aim for 2017 match and put on the CV that I am undertaking a research year, or whether I should wait and go for 2018 once I have more actual publications. The plus side to the latter option is that I would have more time to take the steps although I am at a fairly competent level now.

Cheers in advance for any advice you might all throw at me.

I'm in the same boat, i'm an IMG who graduated this summer. It depends on if you can afford it. If you can, then putting in an application won't hurt. It also depends on if you have a plan B for the following year if you don't match and what your visa status is, for e.g. if you're on a H1B, thats fine for now but some programs may not accept that and prefer a J1, in which case, ECFMG, the sponsors require you to match to a program to remain in the States.