fingerprint card; lacking requirement

suzanne4, RN · Apr 26, 2008

How did you send the fingerprint card? And why was it not sent when you submitted the application in the first place?

You are still looking at about four months to get approval and this is from when the file is complete, not from when you sent in the application. This is why we always tell everyone to send it all together, at least what the nurse is responsible for sending in.

And even if you get approval to sit for the exam in CA, you will be waiting one month to get results and you will not be considered a US RN as no license will be issued to you without a SSN#.

gabrield, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2008

thanks suzanne!

my aunt sent first my application sometime october 2007 when she came here at the Phils. then back to California, i received my fingerprint card form the next month,then mailed it to the Ca bon at the same month(november).

is it okay if i'm still hoping to get all my requirements done and get my petition filed and wait for 5 years to be US RN even without SSN #?

i just want to know if it is SURE of becoming US RN in CA after completing all of their requirements and waiting for 5 years?:zzzzz

thanks!!!:nuke:

lawrence01 · Apr 28, 2008

First of all, the f.p.card should have been included with the application in the first place so that all requirements are in one package.

Base on the reply you got, it seems that the f.p. card you've sent separately never made it to them. How did you send it? If you did not use courier (Fedex/DHL/UPS), big chance it never reached the destination at all and if you've sent it way back Nov. 2007 and they recently said they do not have it then you are essentially waiting for nothing. Your application will not be processed completely w/o it.

Better if you send them another one instead and send it via a reliable courier service of your choice and on hard envelope since any bents or folds to it also renders it unfit for processing as well. Also include a cover letter with it, citing the complete situation and circumstances. You have to inform them that it is the missing requirement for your application. Do not presume the one who will process it knows your circumstance automatically.

This is why we discourage that applicants send an application thru someone they know who is in the US when one could easily send it directly themselves. Does not matter as well if that someone is a nurse for a long time in the US as well. Someone living in the US or an Aunt who is a nurse for a long time there does not make it any faster or easier and at most that I've read here since I became a member here, it almost always delays things because one mistake usually delay things exponentially.

And always send impt. documents via international couriers and not thru the local post office.

As far as the 5 year wait, it is not carved in stone and also depends on certain factors and circumstances for each individual. To be honest, it can be shorter than that but it could easily be longer than that as well. It can be longer if the applicant cannot get an eligibility just to take NCLEX and if the applicant keeps failing exams. Some can't pass the IELTS or TOEFL as well even after passing the NCLEX and so that delays them some more than it should compared to someone that passes all their exams the first time. Some even abandon going to the US altogether because they can't pass IELTS/TOEFL no matter how many times they have taken it.

Some can't even be given visa screen certificates and are being asked to leave the US because of this lacking document.

There are lots of factors.

Better focus on your application first, you are already having a hard time just for that. Then focus on passing the required exams, second. Worry about everything else after. You already applied for the licensure via CA BRN so you will go through it anyway.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 28, 2008

There is still no sure way to determine if one will ever get to the US with a green card to work as an RN. No one can guarantee that, and with the number of applicants increasing exponentially from your country, you can expect it to make it harder to get a visa.

And for others that are reading here, this is another example of why you always submit everything with the application initially, or things may not get to where they need to go and you can be waiting for months and months and months.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 28, 2008

And never rely on aunties to do anything for you, even if they are in the US; getting things done for you are not usually their priority. It is always the responsibility of the nurse that is applying to make sure that everything has been sent, and always send by courier service.

gabrield, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2008

thanks to all!!

i only send it through regular mail, the way my school sends my school transcripts, that's why i'm comfortable that they will also receive my f.p. card. i called them last week, they said that i will call again after 1 week to know if they received my f.p card, if not, then i will send again another f.p card through FedEx. how many days before they will receive it if i send it through FedEx??

i really appreciate everything here!! thanks a lot!! :up:

this serves a lesson for me..:nuke:

and i hope this will serve as a guide to everyone.

lawrence01 · Apr 30, 2008

thanks to all!!
i only send it through regular mail, the way my school sends my school transcripts, that's why i'm comfortable that they will also receive my f.p. card. i called them last week, they said that i will call again after 1 week to know if they received my f.p card, if not, then i will send again another f.p card through FedEx. how many days before they will receive it if i send it through FedEx??
i really appreciate everything here!! thanks a lot!!
this serves a lesson for me..:nuke:
and i hope this will serve as a guide to everyone.

About 3 days and since it has a tracking number, you get confirmation if it really got there. Also note that the f.cards needs to be in good condition (no bents and folds) for it to be processed.

The way the local post handles things, there's always a possibility it may not reach it's destination and in good condition.

suzanne4, RN · May 1, 2008

thanks to all!!
i only send it through regular mail, the way my school sends my school transcripts, that's why i'm comfortable that they will also receive my f.p. card. i called them last week, they said that i will call again after 1 week to know if they received my f.p card, if not, then i will send again another f.p card through FedEx. how many days before they will receive it if i send it through FedEx??
i really appreciate everything here!! thanks a lot!!
this serves a lesson for me..:nuke:
and i hope this will serve as a guide to everyone.

Please use common sense here, you sent it six months ago and it still is not in your file: meaning, they never receive it.

Calling them next week is not going to make any difference, you need to submit a new fingerprint card to them and you send it however you wish, but by a service that can track it. Perferably something that does not have anything to do with the mail system in your country.

Not sure why they would even tell you that in the first place. If not there within a month's time, it is not going to get there.

This is not how we get things done in the US, no one is going to wait for six months and expect something to just show up. Just not going to happen.

You made one mistake by not including it with your application and now you have waited six more months with lost time, and they still will need to process your fingerprints, so nothing is going to happen with your application for even more months.

gabrield, BSN, RN · May 2, 2008

i send again another f.p card through FEDEX,. i hope i don't commit any mistake again, thanks! :banghead: