[EFAN]

Hi everyone,
I have a few questions. I am a Canadian nurse that applied for a job in Vegas, went for the interview and it was good, I got the position. I've passed the NCLEX, got my visascreen done too, and I thought yeah I got most of the important things done with. I got my license through Minnesota. Now I need to endorse my license. Problem is....I can't get a Nevada license without a social security number, but I can't get a social security number without a TN status (what i was told by the person at the social security office), and I can't get a TN visa until I get a TN letter. Also, the hospital I am going to be working at won't give me a real job offer letter or a TN letter until I get a SSN. My head is spinning in circles. and today the recruiter told me to go get a lawyer and figure out how to get the SSN. I'm so lost and confused. My friends that went to go work in California didn't have this much trouble. They came down here and THEN got their SSN.

Please help me...

thanx!

[Silverdragon102]

You will not get a SSN without valid work visa which in your case will be TN. My understanding for TN is a letter of employment and VSC so they really need to give you a letter of employment, you do not need a SSN for that. They are the ones making it hard for you. Many others have gone through this with no problems and no SSN

[JDScott]

The hospital employer needs to give you the TN letter so the border/airport immigration inspector can admit you in TN status. Upon admission in TN status, you can get your SS card and endorse your license to Nevada. If the employer wants to make your offer contingent upon presentation of your Nevada license, it shouldn't be a problem at the border. If they are not willing to give you the letter, then look for another employer.

[frustratedcanrn]

My suggestion to you is to call a social security office( closest to you ) and ask them. Then call the Vegas recruiter and ask for a conditional letter of employment that states "conditional employment offer" this way they are not promising you anything and you are still getting the letter. If that doesn't work ask someone or anyone you know that lives in the states to sponsor you, that way you wouldn't need a letter from Vegas. The SSN office usually pushes the SSN thru fast for nurses....I know alot of nurse who went south , me being one as well. I hope this helps but I would start with the SS office closest to you ask lots of questions etc. Just seems crazy that your recruiter wouldn't be bending over backwards for you, ?! since they are in such need for nurses. I am thinking of returning and working at UMC in Vegas maybe I will see you around. Good luck.

[EFAN]

Thanx everyone for your replies! You've been really helpful in making me see this more clearly. I did call the social security office, actually I went in to visit them as well. I even called homeland security cuz they told me to. But at least I know hiring an immigration lawyer isn't the only choice as the recruiter had told me. The manager said she'd get back to me on Tuesday. So i'm excited to hear back from her.

[frustratedcanrn]

Keep in touch and let us know how it goes for you in Vegas. I am soooo jealous as I hope to be down there (at UMC trauma) in the next year, youngest needs to graduate grade 12. Maybe we will meet up down there wouldn't that be crazy.....good luck

[EFAN]

Originally Posted by frustratedcanrn

Keep in touch and let us know how it goes for you in Vegas. I am soooo jealous as I hope to be down there (at UMC trauma) in the next year, youngest needs to graduate grade 12. Maybe we will meet up down there wouldn't that be crazy.....good luck

Hello,
Well today I went into the HR of the hospital I will hopefully be working at just to show one of the HR ladies my BCLS card like I said I would. We started a conversation and she asked me if I got my SSN already and I told her what the others above told me. She was very nice and trying to be helpful and told me that she's just gonna run in and ask the recruiter (the same one that told me to go to an immigration lawyer). Anyhow i told her that there was no need for an immigration lawyer and that all I needed was a TN letter showing the conditions that I would be applying for a SSn and getting my license. Anyhow, she freaked out at me and yelled at me, calling me irresponsible multiple times. She told me that she couldn't believe that I didn't have someone walk me through this because I should've had all my things together before I even applied to the job. And I told her that I asked ppl with this experience and this was what I was told, as well as from my friends that went down to Cali to work. She freaked out at me, cut me off at every sentence I started and threw her hand in the direction of my face. She says "oh so you aaaaaaaaaasssskkk people!! you didn't actually go to an immigration laywer!" And she even told me that "recruiting you has been very difficult!!" however, she has done nothing for me, she's even even answered any questions I had for her, so I don't know what was so difficult.

I love the managers that I met at the hospital, it looks like a plac I can see myself in for a very long time. I'm just so unimpressed at the recruiter!! I couldn't even get a sentence in. I just sat there with tears welling up in my eyes and feeling so belittled.

She was even telling me it's my responsibility to bring in the TN letter myself because she does not have an approved copy.

The first time I met her...she asked me "do you have any questions for me?"
and I asked "Well, since you've seen a lot of nurses come and go through this process, how long does the process usually take?" and she replies..."well honey, you should've done your homework"
wth was that???? seriously

and then she asked me again if i had any questions (that first meeting) and I asked her after she handed me the benefits sheet "what is the difference between PPO and HMO?" and she replied "well you can look that up yourself because i don't have time to tell you all about it"

ugggghhh i'm just soo upset right now.

Frustratedcanrn, hopefully you won't go through such a big headache like I am going through. I'll be glad to help you if you have any questions, since by next year hopefully i'll be here working already.

[Silverdragon102]

Guess you didn't get anything sorted then, if she has done it with others then she should have an idea what to do. I think I would suggest looking for another hospital

[EFAN]

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102

Guess you didn't get anything sorted then, if she has done it with others then she should have an idea what to do. I think I would suggest looking for another hospital

It seems to me she's only dealt with nurses that came through an agency. She only has a letter for an extension of a job on TN visa. I spoke with the manager today, she happened to come from the same province as I did and she says she'll look into it. I have already started looking at a different hospital today. I can't deal with that lady yelling at me.

[suzanne4]

If you do a search on this forum, you will find a link to a copy of what needs to be in the actual letter that the hospital gives you. And it is their responsiblilty to provide the letter for you, not you having to write it.

This person also needs to be reported for not knowing her job at all and the way that she talked to you. That is completely outrageous.

And if she would have known what is involved with working in the US for a foreign nurse she would have known that one cannot get a SSN# without having a visa to work in the US. You need the letter to get the TN Visa to be able to go to the SSA office to apply for the SSN#.

I would most definitely have a talk with her manager, this is a job that she should not be in. Anything having to deal with the public is not for her.

Sorry, but I do not have patience for people that do not knw their own job and are expecting you to take care of things for them. There is also no reason in the world why you need to pay an immigration attorney to take care of this for you.