[Silverdragon102]

Originally Posted by desirae26

Hi Ms Suzanne

I am an RN in the Philippines and recently migrated here in the US. I want to take the NCLEX exam, and planning to apply at CA BON. I have read that it would take 4-6 months for my application to be processed. What suggestions do you have for other State where I can apply for the NCLEX expeditiously and does not require CGFNS and the english exam? If I apply at CA BON, do I still need to take the English exam?
Thank you so much in advance.

Most BRN/BON's will take 4-6 months as you are a foreign trained nurse and your transcripts will need to be evaluated. If already an immigrant in the US then better to apply to the BRN/BON in the state you are living as requirements will be the same if endorsing. All information on requirements will be on the BON/BRN website for foreign trained nurse and you just need to follow it. Some do require an English exam some don't

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by myantithesis

Hi Ms Suzanne! Good day to you. First of all I would like to thank you for the countless advices that you have given to us aspiring US RN’s. I know that you will be blessed more and that you will be able to help others make their dreams a reality. I have been reading this site for some time now and I truly find it informative and very helpful. Thank you so much!

I just received a letter from Cali BON stating that I send them a copy of my local license. I took the Phil nursing boards last Dec 2007 and passed. I sent my application to Cali BON last March 2008, and since I do not have my license up to now (processing was done alphabetical, it will be released on June 23, 2008) I sent, together with all of the other requirements, a letter explaining why I do not have a copy of my license yet. I was surprised to receive a letter today asking for a license. What shall I do now? I know that “Time is always of the essence”. If I wait for my license to be released this June, that is one month of idle time! This will surely delay my eligibility (it might take my papers more than 6months!) and I don’t want that to happen. My classmates got their eligibility in only 3 months. Should I call Cali BON or send them an email for clarification? Since I know they do not require local license just to sit in the NCLEX.

Thank you so much Ms Suzanne! I hope you could help. Some of my friends have this same dilemma. More power!

They actually are requiring the NLE now. Since you did write it and were not exempt from it, you are going to need to send to them a copy of the license. You need to comply with whatever they are asking.

But not sure what the rush is, there is a retrogression in place and an expected wait of about five years for a chance at a green card. And add in the fact that we keep telling everyone not to go thru CA for initial licensure as they will not issue a license without a SSN# and you will be waiting four weeks to get your results.

There are several threads on this forum about the changes to the CA BRN requirements, suggest that you have a look at them.

And thank you for the lovely note.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by topscot

Hi Suzanne

I E-mailed Nvc to ask if my completed case had been forwarded to embassy
this was there response

All documentation necessary to complete the National Visa Center's processing
has been received. As soon as an interview date has been scheduled, the
designated representative of this case (applicant, petitioner, or attorney) will
be notified. The US Embassy or Consulate General may require additional
documentation at the time of the interview.

Do you think this answers yes or no

Sounds like it, but just wait for the interview date to be assigned.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by desirae26

Hi Ms Suzanne

I am an RN in the Philippines and recently migrated here in the US. I want to take the NCLEX exam, and planning to apply at CA BON. I have read that it would take 4-6 months for my application to be processed. What suggestions do you have for other State where I can apply for the NCLEX expeditiously and does not require CGFNS and the english exam? If I apply at CA BON, do I still need to take the English exam?
Thank you so much in advance.

CA only has a language exam if you are going to get the IP, or interim permit. And that also requires the CGFNS exam, which I doubt that you are going to write first

If you have a green card already, then you do not need the English exams to get the employer-driven visa.

Makes no sense to go to another state if you are going to work in CA and will have a SSN# or have it. All other states are three to four months and then you would need to go thru the endorsement process. You would just be throwing out money and for no reason.

[therooftop]

Hello Ms Suzanne!

I am about to send my CES application form. Can I just send my transcripts (its in a sealed envelope adrressed to cgfns-ces) together with the rest of my application form and hs diploma to save courier fees?

[suzanne4]

Yes, you can. But make sure that the envelope from the school actually has their seal across the back or it will not be accepted by CGFNS.

[Fruit]

Hi Suzanne,

First, I'm new to this website and forum and I want to say that I love it. I find it so helpful and I am so thankful for you and those who are willing to share their knowledge on everything related to what international nursing students need to do.

So, I’m enrolled in an accelerated MSN program in California on F-1. I’m currently in mid-road, third semester and two to go, finishing my courses before I can take the NCLEX-RN.

I have been reading so many threads on this great helpful forum but still have tons of questions:

-My first question is related to applying for licensing in CA. I do have a SS# that states “valid for work only with DHS authorization.” Do you think this SS# statement on it will prevent me in getting my license in CA? Does it matter? Is it still better to apply for RN license in other state rather than CA?

-Second issue: My baccalaureate is different from nursing. What I was told is that I need the MSN degree to backup my RN license for working purpose and for being in compliance with nursing regulations since I don’t have a BSN or ADN (my program won’t issue BSN degree even though I will finish all the courses of a BSN program). And hopefully I will get my RN license before my MSN degree. Now, let say that I passed my NCLEX-RN, got the VSC, get a job offer and sponsorship for a GC, would you recommend that I start working and all the GC process and forget my F-1 status while I will be working on my MSN degree? Is this possible even though retrogression is in place?

-I’m from Venezuela, so how would retrogression affect me? Will the available visas distributed among different countries evenly? or is it based on first come first serve deal? Also, I have been reading the threads on retrogression and Visa bulletin, but I find difficult to understand the meaning of the dates under the countries and on row EB3 which nursing falls into if I am not wrong. What are those dates mean instead of “current”?

-If in the future, I can get sponsorship from a hospital to do the paper filing, I140 and I485, would you recommend me to pay the fees and to get an immigration attorney myself? How much does the process cost? How much is the attorney fees? Any good attorney recommendation in the Bay Area?

I know this turns out such a long post but THANKS for your response and advice.

[suzanne4]

Your SSN# is valid for purposes of getting a license, it will not permit you to work without a visa that permits that.

The issue that you are going to be up against is being able to work after your OPT, if you can get one. We are still under a retrogression and you are directly affected by it. With a direct entry MSN, it is going to be very difficult for you to get hired for a job that requires the MSN as entry level, os you are still going to be under the EB-3 category more than likely.

You cannot begin work without the green card, there is no other visa available for you. Definitely stay with the F-1 so that you will qualify for the OPT, otherwise you are going to have to leave the US sixty days after you finish your training. But even after that one year it is going to be very hard for you to get petitioned. Have not seen one Bay Area hospital do any petitioning in sometime. There just is no reason for them to do so, even if you were coming from out of the country and with experience. You are going to be a new grad and will have to go thru an orientation program as such and they are very limited in this area. And with the large number of nursing programs also in the area, it is going to be even harder.

The dates that are listed in the Visa Bulletin are PD dates, or priority dates, and that is the date that immigration receives the initial I-140.
There is really nothing that can be done at this time as there is the retrogression in place and the US is not accepting the I-485 which would start the AOS process and let you remain in the US.

I would not worry about an attorney at this point, it is going to be much harder to find an employer.

Best of luck to you.

[suzanne4]

There is already much written on the retrogression, just look for those threads. And yes, you are affected by it as well.

[pardiepal2010]

Hi Suzanne, i'm new on this site and i'm really enjoying every bit of information you are putting across. You are really doing a very wonderful job. God bless you.
Now i have a couple of questions to ask. I'm a ghanaian, a boy of 20yrs of age. I completed senior high school last year and have just began a one year health course in health assistant training, i'll be finishing next year. I will like to work in the US as a health assistant after graduation. I'm a little bit confused about whether; (1) I have the requirements to work in the US, (2) I will be issued a visa when i go to apply for it, (3) I could still have the chance to major in full nursing and continue working in the US.
I will be glad to have answers to these questions that really bothers me each day. Thanks and still counting on you.