Hospitals sponsoring RNs for a H1b visa - help!!!

World Immigration

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Hello everyone

Please can anyone help me. I am aware of all of the visa and retrogression issues that have been going on for several years now. However I am finding it very hard to accept that there are NO hospitals out there willing to employ overseas RNs via a H1b visa. I have passed the NCLEX, got my RN license (Texas, which is where I want to live and work but I would be willing to work elsewhere), have my VisaScreen certificate and am planning to take the CNOR (certified nurse operating room) exam in July. I hold a BSN. I am a perioperative (OR/PACU) nurse with 4 years experience in the UK. I have my eyes open and know the visa situation is extremely tough right now but surely there is a hospital somewhere in TX who employs foreign RNs who meet the criteria for the visa. I realise that there is more of a chance of being taken on by a rural hospital than a busy inner city one. I have applied for several positions and have not had any replies from ANYONE, not even 'thanks but no thanks' emails of acknowledgment. I was in TX last month and tried to make appointments to meet with HR/recruitment staff in several hospitals but was turned away and told to apply online, and every recruiter I have spoken to on the phone says 'sorry we do not employ non-USA nurses at this time.' UTMB Galveston have said 'maybe' with a BSN but they couldn't be sure that the application wouldn't be rejected as I don't have an MSN. Obtaining a masters' is not really an option for me as it would take too long and I am already at my wits end. Short of calling every single hospital in Texas I don't know what to do. Can anyone help me please? It has been our dream (my husband is an ER/A&E nurse) to live in Texas for so long, we absolutely love it there and desperately want to make it our home. Thanks!

Hello, I know its been a while anyone posted here but perhaps someone can help me.

I am on an L2 visa and employed as a Coordinator/Oncology Research RN by a large major health system. My current job specification requires Bachelors degree with 2 years experience or Masters with 0 years experience. I am looking at my options in transferring to a more stable immigrant status. Can anyone advice on how to proceed? My qualifications are RN, BSN, MPH, CCRP. 7 years nursing experience and 3.5 years Clinical research experience. L2 visa valid through 2017 but its messy with the need to have a current EAD card to work legally and the application backlog at USCIS in getting this card. Does anyone know of agencies or hospitals that will sponsor a candidate? Thanks

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Can you not get sponsorship via your spouse's employer? Depending on where you was born will have a impact on processing times? Also could you not ask your employer about sponsorship? L2 I would have thought is more reiable than H1b

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Yes we can get sponsorship via my husband who is on an L1A visa. They have agreed to look into that and work it into the budget next year. But I wanted to look at other options. I hate the helpless feeling of depending and waiting on others to make decisions that have such significance on ones future :(. I am mulling over asking out HR department what the policy is but feeling a bit awkward as when applying for the position, there was a question about "would you now or in the future need help with immigration" or something to that effect and I selected no...

Just wanted to know what other options are out there...

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Hi, Is the status still the same for H1B visas for overseas nurses? I am from New Zealand and have been ringing hospitals in PA and they have either said they don't offer visa sponsorship or only do for management positions. I am wondering if anyone has had any more luck with this recently?

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Hi, I know this was some time ago - but did you have any luck finding H1B sponsorship? I am an overseas nurse looking for sponsorship in PA to work as a RN. Thanks :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

There is no nursing shortage in many areas so unless a highly experienced specialized nurse there is little incentive for a facility to go through the time & expense of sponsoring an overseas nurse. What is your specialty and how many years experience do you have? Many new grads think they are qualified for an H1B specialty visa but are not.

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I worked in urgent care for over 3 years. The more I read the more impossible it seems. Most hospitals have told me no so far. And because nursing in the US doesn't require a degree it seems it is not considered a specialty occupation which is the requirement for a H1B visa…..

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Hi, I know this was some time ago - but did you have any luck finding H1B sponsorship? I am an overseas nurse looking for sponsorship in PA to work as a RN. Thanks :)

They are still bringing in handful of RN"s for H1B into USA. From places like PHilippines it seems that they have people still doing interviews at the US Embassy in Manila, but as I said it seems to be very very limited.

Back in the day it was like winning the lottery coming to the USA to work. Free Visa, Free Airfare, 6 months free housing, Money allotment. The smart ones and the people who were vigilant were able to come to USA the rest had to settle for places like Canada or Australia. I do tip my hats to the ones who made it here to USA.

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Thanks for your info and reply. The more I find out the more it seems impossible. Hopefully something comes up eventually and that NCLEX I just passed doesn't go to waste ;)

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I am a master in Nursing from Punjab, India. An employer sponsoring me for H1B cap exempted quota as research nurse, I have active RN lic in North Dakota but now I am working as a Nursing Lecturer. Will my H1 b approve by USCIS? If it is approved by USCIS, Is that RN will not get stamping for H1 B?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I am a master in Nursing from Punjab, India. An employer sponsoring me for H1B cap exempted quota as research nurse, I have active RN lic in North Dakota but now I am working as a Nursing Lecturer. Will my H1 b approve by USCIS? If it is approved by USCIS, Is that RN will not get stamping for H1 B?

We can't say if you will be approved or not. All you can do is wait and see

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Hi Rohit can you tell me the name of the agency who is willing to sponsor.I am also from India Need ur help:)

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