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.

Syzanne4

My friend and i are both F1 nursing students and confused about one aspect of the OPT. We want to work as externs during summer next year. That is, use 3 months of the months and continue the other 7 months after we graduate the following summer 2007. The international student office at our college told us that we can apply for OPT to work next summer, but our 12 months will be running while we are back in school during the 2nd year. Which means by the time we graduate in 2007, our 12 months OPT will have expired. In other words, we can't work on OPT for 3 months and save the other 7 mths for after graduation.

They said we can only apply after we graduate and the OPt will run for 12 consecutive months.

Can you clarify, pls? What options do we have, if any?

When I was in school I use "CPT", not "OPT" for summer internship. The time you used will not count toward OPT. Ask school for that. There are some specific criterias that you have to meet for example, you need to take a internship class for college credit... It cannot just be a internship program in the hospital.. hope this helps...

Any International Students you know that got the green card after 1 year of OPT Trainning?

I heard from my friends saying that it would be hard to get the hospital (employer) to petition a green card for an international student (fresh grad) in a short period of time, is this true?

Thx :)

If you can afford to hire the lawyer and pay for the paperwork... you can negotiate this with the hospital... I don't see any reason why they shouldn't hire you... everything is paid for... just to sign the paper.

You actually would not be doing the full year of OPT training.............this just allows you to begin work right away, without having to wait for the Visa Screen Certificate, etc.

Specializes in MICU.

Hi Suzanne,

U suggested me to take the NCLEX in Chicago where I'll graduate from, and endorse to CA. My school is gonna help us with the application on Oct 17, so I need to make a decision very soon. I have a couple questions.

1. If I take the exam in IL, how long does it take me to get the result? Can I check from internet? (One of my professor said it take about 1 to 2 weeks):confused:

2. Can I file in my CA address in the application form and wait for the ATT(IL) to be sent to me in CA?

3. If I pass, where can I get my official IL licence? Will the board of IL send it to me in CA, or I have to wait in IL to get it?

4.Is it true that I can get the CA licence by a walk thru if I have all the transcripts with me?

5 The board of CA said they want the transcripts be sent to them directly from the nursing school with some kind of form. Does it apply to people by endorsement?

Thank you so much.

Eve

I have a question and hope you can help. How do I get my Realschule Diploma from Germany translated by an accredited person? I live in a very rural community and the local Community College had no idea. Where do I find a translater? And what about all the tests I will have to take. I s there a standard seires of them that are required no matter what, before I can even start Nursing School?

Anything will help. Thank You:balloons:

Where are you currently located? You can actually look on the internet and find certified interpreters, you can always send a copy of your docuemtns to them to translate and then certify. One place is to also check with the bank in your area, they may have some suggestions for you, or the German intructor at the community college. They both should know of certified translators in your area.

Exams will definitely consist of English for placement, plus what ever classes that they require of any student for acceptance. You will actually need to complete the pre-requisites (required courses) before you will actually be admitted into the nursing program. At least this is how it works at most programs.

hi suzanne,

can i get your training kits for foreign nurses. i'm a foreign tained and i no your kits will be of good help. hoping to hear from you

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.

I responded to your pm, I will be doing the next mailing next week. In the process of moving myself this week. Movers come tomorrow.

Hey All,

I am in school now and using my CPT to work 20 hrs a week Maximum. I have applied for OPT and still have my full 1 year. I am looking for a job based on the one that can sponsor me for green card.

Suzanne, I have an employer that does not sponsor but they said that they are willing to give me all the documents I need to sponsor myself. What do you think about this move?

Efe

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hey All,

I am in school now and using my CPT to work 20 hrs a week Maximum. I have applied for OPT and still have my full 1 year. I am looking for a job based on the one that can sponsor me for green card.

Suzanne, I have an employer that does not sponsor but they said that they are willing to give me all the documents I need to sponsor myself. What do you think about this move?

Efe

Suzanne should be back at the beginning of next week as she is presently moving. But I thought you couldn't sponsor yourself it had to be done via employer. I am sure suzanne will answer in a couple of days

If we work fulltime during the summer on OPT and continue to work 1 weekend day( after the summer) during our 2nd and final year of NS, do you know how the part-time hours are calculated?

could anybody please tell me the concept of "OPT"?What is it?

Use your CPT instead of OPT.... for summer work... pm me I will send you more information.

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