California for initial licensure not recommended unless one has VISA

sorry guys if we keep bugging you with the same questions, but we appreciate all the help. now my own set of queries ... it may have been asked before ... but please bear with me.

1. is california really not the best way to go for initial licensing? if it's not, what are your top 3 choices as alternative states? Generally is better to apply to the state you are going to work in but Ca is definitely not recommended at the moment so really doesn't matter on which other state you go to as long as they do not require the CGFNS ezam

2. if i applied on these alternative states, will i have to work a certain number of years with them before i can eventually transfer to california (through what process)? Not that I am aware of. Florida is the only one I have heard that makes a requirement when endorsing to them but some members have managed it without meeting their requirements and others have had problems

3. will the schedule for the actual nclex examination be faster in these alternate states in terms of processing? On average the states are about the same and look to 4-6 months the exception I would say is New York as you have to do CVS and that can take longer

4. you mentioned Texas to require a CES from CGFNS, is this another type of exam just like the NCLEX, how different and how similar? CGFNS do CES and that is required by a lot of states and is just an evaluation of your transcripts, breakdown of hours both clinical and theory

5. if i did push through with CA for initial license, upon passing the nclex and with a tourist visa in tow, could i secure the services of immigration lawyers to secure an SSN for me? is this even adviseable or will i create problems with immigration? Without a legal work or immigrant visa you can not get a SSN issued

hope suzanne4 and silverdragon102 can give their respective opinions on these.

thanks again!

alain

medsurg32rn and silverdragon, thanks a lot!

your clarifications were quite enlightening. and yup i heard from the news that California is on the brink of bankruptcy.

if Ca is not the way to go and with the US on recession, why the fuss are nurses still applying for the NCLEX?

People are probably hoping to get into the queue and who knows if extra vsias are found they may move a bit quicker

at your present estimates, which may take 5years at the soonest for the US to lift the retrogression, wouldn't it just be moot and academic for taking IELTS and NCLEX since they will expire anyway in a few years?

For most states as long as you keep your license active you do not have to resit NCLEX again. If you get vsc then IELTS is valid for 5 years (duration of the vsc) but if yo have to renew vsc then you will have to renew IELTS or any other English exam you take

i'm confused with the long lines of RN applications which i believe the US are processing the 2005 applicants, once open. will they have to take the NCLEX & IELTS again? (which will mean double the expenses)

Answered above

do you suggest we push through with our NCLEX applications and just cross our fingers that retrogression is lifted sooner than expected?

however if we delay our NCLEX applications until the US economy gets better, will it equate to lost time which will further delay our dream of working in the US and further set our application back in the waiting line?

hope my questions made sense. thanks in advance.

alain

medsurg and silverdragon, with our correspondence i've come out with some possible options to take if i was to take the california route. kindly comment on them.

Scenario #1. i'll take the NCLEX through California. presuming i will pass this, i can have an easy time getting an SSN since i have a US tourist visa. i was made to believe that having a tourist visa can make it easier for me to secure the much coveted SSN?

Scenario #2. i will sit the NCLEX in California while in the US under my tourist visa and hire the services of an immigration lawyer to secure a faster release of working or immigrant visa. but will leave the US before my entry visa expires w/in 6 months. and wait for the lawyer to weave his magic.

my 2nd best option is through Texas due to some relatives and friends are residents there: since the CES and CG exam are 2 different things, i'm thinking well CES must not be that bad a thing since i don't have to take another round of exams coz after many rounds of exams it really gets pretty exhausting.

thanks for your inputs guys!

alain