International nursing students in the US

World Immigration

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For those of you that are studying in the US under either an F-1 visa, or any other where you do not have permission to work, and will need to apply for a green card when you finish your schooling-----this is for you.

You must meet all of the requirements for immigration that a foreign-trained nurse does, the only exception that you have is that the English requirements are waived for you. You still need to submit the application and get a Visa Screen Certificate. This is offered by CGFNS and the application is available on their website, http://www.CGFNS.org. There is only one application available, whether you did your training in the US, or overseas.

You will still need to find an employer that will petition for your green card. You will still need to undergo a physical exam at a physician's office that is approved by USCIS an have verification of all titers and vaccinations. If you do not have verifiable proof of having had chicken pox, etc., you will need to have either a titer drawn, or receive the vaccination. Immigration is very strict now with this, they will no longer go on what you are verbally telling them.

Hope that this helps...............most of you will also be able to get an OPT for one year of training while your documents are being processed, but you can only receive the OPT once, especially if this is now a second career for you, and you already used your OPT status for the other.

If you are coming to the US just for the MSN, and already have a BSN from overseas, you will be required to write the English exams. You are only exempt from them if this is your initial training as a nurse, meaning ADN or BSN only.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

VSC does not allow you to stay and work in the US. Once OPT is finished unless you maintain student status or get a work/immigrant visa you have to leave the country. VSC takes a couple of months because you trained in the US

Hello all,

I'm new to allnurses.com

I'm a senior nursing student in GA and will graduate in July 2012. I currently work under CPT in a nearby hospital as a tech. I feel a little lost right now reading the different comments concerning visa clearance and filing to work in US. Can someone provide me a gist of steps to take after graduating?

Thank you,

Niki

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Steps to tkae after graduating is maintain your status whcih may mean maintaining full time education. If you can apply for OPT I suggest you do so now as usual rule of thumb is apply 6 months before you graduate. I do believe CPT is taken into account with OPT in regards times spent on CPT is taken from OPT. Due to retrogression if you are lucky to find a employer willing to go this route you are looking at a 6+ year wait for a immigrant visa and you can not wait in the US until this is current. H1b is a specialist visa and generally a new grad doesn't meet requirements and minimum requirement is also BSN.

You may have to consider returning to your home country

Hi, everyone

I'm a international student from China who is currently in a BSN program in Colorado, and I am really confused about the different types of visa available for BSN-RN. Can I apply for H-type of visa or do I have to apply for green card in order to work in the United States. Before I can sit in for NCLEX, do I need a employer?

Thanks!

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi, everyone

I'm a international student from China who is currently in a BSN program in Colorado, and I am really confused about the different types of visa available for BSN-RN. Can I apply for H-type of visa or do I have to apply for green card in order to work in the United States. Before I can sit in for NCLEX, do I need a employer?

Thanks!

H1b is a specialist visa and as a new grad unlikely to meet requirements. Immigrant visa is under retrogression and you will have several years wait. Either way you need a employer and with current job situation I suspect you will find it hard to find a employer willing to wait the several years for you to get a visa

I do believe CPT is taken into account with OPT in regards times spent on CPT is taken from OPT. y

That is only when you have done more than full-time CPT more than 12 months. If you have part-time CPT or if you have done CPT full-time under 12 months, then it does not affect your OPT at all. I know this because I am currently on part-time CPT (less than 20 hrs a week)

Hi everyone,

I am new to this site hope i get my things together. I am an international student and just completed my LVN school and passed NCLEX as well. Because of some situation going on i could not apply for OPT and am not able to work. I am going back to school in fall for LVN to BSN program and i would like to know how to apply for CPT and when in the program can i apply for CPT so i can at least make some money to support myself. I really appreciate any suggestion, any additional ideas or comments. Thanks in advance. And the school i am transferring is prairie view A & M university.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi everyone,

I am new to this site hope i get my things together. I am an international student and just completed my LVN school and passed NCLEX as well. Because of some situation going on i could not apply for OPT and am not able to work. I am going back to school in fall for LVN to BSN program and i would like to know how to apply for CPT and when in the program can i apply for CPT so i can at least make some money to support myself. I really appreciate any suggestion, any additional ideas or comments. Thanks in advance. And the school i am transferring is prairie view A & M university.

Your international student adviser should be able to advise you when you can apply for CPT

couple of links which may help

University UC Davis powerpoint:

F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) General Information

Univ. Michigan:Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for F-1 Students

thank you so much for ur reply. I sure will talk to my advisor but its so surprising that some of these advisors have no idea about these kind of things.

hey i leave in the uk and a citizen of uk but am done with my nursing degree and want to work in the US.. my fiance is a greencard holder can he apply for me or can i get the green card through taking the NCLEX exam

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hey i leave in the uk and a citizen of uk but am done with my nursing degree and want to work in the US.. my fiance is a greencard holder can he apply for me or can i get the green card through taking the NCLEX exam

Until you are married he can not apply for you and it will take several months to a couple of years unless he becomes a citizen and then it may be quicker. You could get one as a nurse if you meet state requirements, sit and pass NCLEX and then find a employer willing to wait 6 plus years for you to get immigrant visa and GC. Read up on retrogression for nurses

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