A Canadian nurse with a NY education has questions about Visas

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Jenn8500 says:

I am in my last semester of a 2 year associates degree in nursing and I'm trying to figure out where to work when I graduate in May. I would love to move back to Canada to work.

I am so passionate about nursing and I just want to be able to work somewhere when I graduate! It would be greatly appreciated if anyone has some advice on working as a nurse in the U.S. if your a Canadian citizen and the immigration process etc..or if there is anyone that is currently trying to get a visa to work in the U.S.

I am so confused with the Visa process.. I have read on here that people have applied for a visascreen but they have not even looked for a job. I'm assuming it would be for the TN visa. I thought you had to have a job offer to apply for the visa.. Do you know how this process works?

[RNGrad2006]

If you are going to school in the US you might want to think of applying for OPT prior to graduation. This gives you work status for 1 year and then you can apply for Visascreen in the meanwhile. That way you won't be delayed in beginning to work due to waiting for the Visascreen. When your OPT expires you would have been able to get your Visascreen completed and then apply for a TN for wherever you found work after graduation. HR should be able to provide such a letter. TN's are now valid for three years. You have to leave the US obtain it but is a fairly simple process. PM if you have further questions.