[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by edh66

Hi Suzanne,

i'm actually new here and I just happen to stumble on this site while searching for info regarding packet 3 fee bill.

i'm a Filipino nurse working here in saudi arabia. it has been my desire to transfer to the US so I took all the necessary exams. I already passed the california nclex-rn, passed the ielts and i already have my visa screen certificate with me. an agency "nurses to usa" got me a job, based on my resume, with shands hospital in the university of florida. an immigrant petition for alien worker (case type I140) was filed for me on january 3, 2005 and was approved april 29, 2005. i was then told by a representative of the above agency that i will next receive a packet 3 fee bill.

it has been 14 months now since my petition was approved but up to now i have not receive any call from nvc and no packet 3 was also received. i have been contacting the agency representative thru e-mail with regard to this and he kept saying that he is also forwarding my concerns to their lawyer and that they are following my case with nvc.

because i'm not in the US, i cannot get a SSN, and because of this i cannot also be issued a license. my hurry to get to the US is my fear that my NCLEX will expire soon before i could even get my license. if it will expire (expires may 2007) then it would mean i would have to repeat all the exams all over again.

another query, a colleague has applied with Ogrady peyton and she was told that she could have everything ready and be in the US in just 8 months, and this is already as an immigrant with her family. i made a gasp of surprise to hear this and made me wonder how can it be possible when mine is still not even halfway, i guess, after more than 1 year.

my agency sent me a copy of my petition and the approval notice. if it is any help, these are the info included in the letter:

I-797, notice of action (from USCIS)
case type: I140 immigrant petition for alien worker
petitioner: Shands Healthcare Shands @Univ.Flo
Priority date: january 3, 2005
approval notice: April 29, 2005
Notice type: approval notice
Section: Skilled Worker or Professional,Sec.203 (b) (3) (A) (i) or (ii)
(what does this numbers mean and what is my category and my chances of a visa number soon?)

i would really appreciate your speedy respone to my queries. i need to clear my head of the anxieties if i know where i stand now.

thanks again,
beth

First, who is paying your immigration bills, you or the agency? This is something that shoukd have been received within a few weeks or so after you got the approval on the I-140, not this much later. You should have been in the US already.

If this is the way that the agency is handling thngs, I would seriously look for another one. Something is not adding up. Are you even sure that this facility is still sponsoring nurses? Especially with the delay in time, I would find that out. Sometimes there is a chenge in Administration and they put a stop to everything and no one bothered to inform you. I would start with that, and see if the actualy employer is still going to hire you.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by donty8

hi suzanne4,

i have a question. how long will i have to wait for my P3 bill after my I-140 petition was approved by the USCIS? How long does it take for me to wait before i get my interview schedule?

Thank you in advcd..God bless you always.

You have months to wait. The bill must be paid before you will even get the Packet #3 sent to you. That contains the DS-230 and will need to be completed and accepted before you will have your interview.

And the amount of time between final approval and when you will get your interview can vary widely. Depends on the number of openings that the US Embassy has where you will be doing your interview. Remember that they see many more people than just nurses that are coming over. You are still inthe beginning of the process, no where near the final stretch.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by jp888

Dear Suzanne,

Looking through this forum, you're clearly very dedicated and helpful. I would greatly appreciate your guidance. Thank you for bearing with the length of this post.

My wife worked as a psych nurse in Shanghai, China for 7 years. She came in last year on a K-3 visa, and we already interviewed for Adjustment of Status. She's approved for permanent residency pending final security clearance. We live in NJ, but I've seen your previous advice to apply through NY, then endorse. Please help me better understand the process and the 2 possible routes.

My wife doesn't need to do the VisaScreen. Is that correct?

NY Route:
1) Use the CVS via CGFNS. (per NY BON, up to 6 months)
2) NY BON evals info from CVS to allow applicant to sit for NCLEX. (approx 12 wks)
3) Pass NCLEX.
4) After receiving license, endorse to NJ.
5) Does endorsing require the CES (and $278 fee), after having already paid for CVS?
6) Any idea about how much longer this endorsement route takes? I suppose this would also depend on the differing NY vs. NJ processing times. When I called the NJ BON, I was on hold for 30 min, then I was told to call CGFNS. The rep was unable to provide any useful info.

NJ Route:
1) Use the CES via CGFNS.
2) CGFNS qualifying exam no longer required in NJ. Is that correct?
3) TOEFL is not required for NY, but is it required for NJ (endorsement or original license)?
4) Will have to request documentation on my own. Seems quite a hassle, but might it be faster than the CVS?
5) NJ BON evals info from CES to allow applicant to sit for NCLEX.
6) Receive license from NJ BON, no endorsement needed.

We're trying to balance cost vs. processing time on a tight budget. Thank you very much for your guidance.

With Gratitude,
jp888

Your wife will have a SSN# based on your status, and will also have a visa that permits her to work. So, she does not need the Visa Screen Certificate, that isw strictly for immigration requirements.

And since the CGFNS exam is no longer required, I would just go woth processing entirely in NJ.

NJ does not have English requirements, but that is not to say that an individual facility may not require them; especially if she is going to continue in Psych.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by kathykaye

yup IL participates in the quick results.. my friend asked me if we can apply for a SSN though we're not in the US???...but she passed the nclex already..


one more thing...i already passed the HS diploma, 3photos, college diploma to cgfns/ichp.. i forwarded my nursing form to my school..and the validation of license to the licensing authority here in my country.. but i haven't send the application form for the Visa Screen yet.. im planning to submit it after i take my nclex rn exam in july and if i already know my results.. is it ok if i passed the documents first before applying?.. does it matter?.. btw, my english exam results are already there...

You cannot get a SSN# if you are not in the US. It is the last step of the immigration procedure and you do not get it until you have actually arrived in the US and apply for it yourself, taking the visa that permits you to work, and your passport to a Social Security office for the application. You need to have a job and be ready to start to work before you will get it.

Remember that passing NCLEX-RN does not give you permission to work inthe US, you must get that thru approval by immigration.

You can apply for the VSC at any time, the sooner the better, but be aware that the application is now only valid for one year, instead of the two years as it was in the past.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by alina_zhuang

Hi, Suzanne,
As you know, I am looking for the potential employers in the States. I'd really like to work in NY, MD or MA states. However, I only have license in NY. So I wonder when is the appropriate time to endorse these 2 States. Do I need to hold MA or MD license while trying to find a job or I could endorse it after getting the offer?? I am very confused with this. I just have started job hunting and am not sure whick state I will be working in later. So,... I also checked their website for endorsement, there are a lot requirements and paper work except NCLEX. In the meanwhile, I am prepareing IELTS for visa screen because I am not comfortable with TSE and failed it 2 months ago. But I found TSE was required by MA. According to it's website, there is no other option but TSE. MD requires TOEFL score. I wonder if TOEFL is much more popular and acceptable in the States? Is it possible for MD and MA to accept IELTS score if I write them an appeal? If not, I think I will go for TSE!
Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!!

MA only accepts the TSE, they do not accpet anything else.
TOEFL os more well known here because it was the only thing that was available for years. The IELTS series did not get acceptance here until just a few years ago when the wait to take the TSE was more than 90 days and it was not offered all over the world all of the time.

I would endorse after you have the offer, and know where you are going to work. Not before.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by berger

Hi Suzanne,

How soon can a student on f1 visa apply for CPT so as to start working 20 hrs. Can someone apply as soon as they start their first semester? Thanks

You need to have experience as a student first, and completed your first year usually.

Remember that when you come over on an F-1 visa, you are not supposed to be working, but the CPT is considered helpful to you for you to get work experience/extra clinical experience.

Talk to your international advisor at school. You are going to find that you are going to have quite a bit of homework to do in the beginning and it is more important that you keep your grades up.

You need the same qualifications to work as a nurse extern to get the CPT, not working as a CNA. And that requires that you complete the first year of a two year program, or three years of the four year program in most cases.

[Hathaway]

HI Suzanne,

Ive a question about California after one passes the NCLEX-RN for there...
If one doesn't have an SSN, how much time does the CA BRN give you to provide them with one? And how soon is the license issued once you provide them the SSN? Lastly, what happens if you arent able to give them an SSN in the time allotted (if any)?

[kathykaye]

hi suzzane! im applying at IL.. but my relatives in NC wants me to be with them and they said they will help me find a hospital who will sponsor me.. what if i pass the nclex rn exam (IL license) this july, can a hospital in NC sponsor me??? is that possible? im confused.. and if they can sponsor me, i will just endorse my license right??? help me.. thanks a lot for the infos! god bless..

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by Hathaway

HI Suzanne,

Ive a question about California after one passes the NCLEX-RN for there...
If one doesn't have an SSN, how much time does the CA BRN give you to provide them with one? And how soon is the license issued once you provide them the SSN? Lastly, what happens if you arent able to give them an SSN in the time allotted (if any)?

Three years to provide them with a SSN#. The license is issued in about one week or so after they receive the number.

If you aren't able to give them a SSN# during that time, your pending application no longer is valid. You would need to redo all of the paperwork for them.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by kathykaye

hi suzzane! im applying at IL.. but my relatives in NC wants me to be with them and they said they will help me find a hospital who will sponsor me.. what if i pass the nclex rn exam (IL license) this july, can a hospital in NC sponsor me??? is that possible? im confused.. and if they can sponsor me, i will just endorse my license right??? help me.. thanks a lot for the infos! god bless..

Yes, they can petition for you from NC. You would endorse your license, but you will not be able to just endorse it until you get a SSN# assigned to you, and an actual license issued.