How to make formal complaint to CGFNS?

augigi, CNS · Dec 4, 2006

There are other threads about this - basically noone has given any information about to whom you would complain. CGFNS has foreign nurses held hostage if they want to go to the US to work in any capacity given their monopoly - regardless of the level of service.

rsmit02 · Dec 4, 2006

Great cheers nothing like a Free Market Economy no huge Monopolys here in the free world! :angryfire

JJG07 · Dec 5, 2006

Continue to call CGFNS customer service and give them the hard core info about how you feel and ask them how you can go forward and file you complaint. I am pretty sure it will work. As i also paid for CGFNS for one of their services and when things turned out like yours, i never let them go, though i had to be persistent.

Also if you have paid any fees, and later they seem to increase it and it has nothing to do with you delaying to send any documents to them it doesn't matter. it will be applicable for those who are applying after the declaration of fee renewal. So don't lose heart, keep calling.......

Hope this will help you in some way.

augigi, CNS · Dec 5, 2006

Hope that helps - I found the supervisors just as useless and clueless as the staff.

JJG07 · Dec 5, 2006

Also one more thing i found useful was, when talking to Cgfns customer service, ask the person who attend your call, his or her name which makes that person accountable for what he is telling. This was the only thing worked for me when i also requested for CES from CGFNS.

I wish if this helps.

RGN1 · Dec 6, 2006

I really had a good experience with CGFNS so I just wanted to post this to let others know they are not always incompetent - although I'm truly sorry for those whose applications they have messed up.

I had my completed VisaScreen certificate (which includes the CES) in my hand just 8 weeks after posting the application from the UK. The website was regularly updated & I got emails each time they received a new document for the application (eg transcripts from the Uni). When I called to ask a question prior to posting my forms the assistant was helpful & gave me the correct information.

I truly hear your frustrations & I know they don't have the greatest reputation but I just wanted to let others here know that they can get it right & when they do they are capable of providing a great service!

batasMTR_RN · Dec 7, 2006

i also had a good experience with cgfns... but i also agree that some of hte people of cgfns are rude and mean....

RADONC-RN · Dec 12, 2006

I too had a bad experience with these people. I suggest you do what I did. I called customer service and got the name of that person. I then called him everyday for three weeks straight to see how things were going. I held him responsible for my file. Yes I ticked him off but I did make progress. I don't know how many times they "lost" my paper work before I started this. It became my daily ritual ( and was kinda fun). Make sure you courier all you papers to this one person and faxes.Be sure you also get them to repeat back to you the correct addresses and fax numbers. Good Luck!

brent_25, RN · Jan 8, 2007

HI all,

Just need to vent a little about CGFNS too! Ironically enough I did the VisaScreen (CES) certification through them (from Canada) and it didn't take too long (about 3 months from start to finish) - and that was even with a couple of screw ups on my part! Make sure your information is CORRECT! If not - you have to start the whole process over, and get letters from your University verifying information - which makes the process even longer.

Unfortunately I will be nursing in NY state - the only state to require ADDITIONAL verification to practice (from CGFNS). I initially thought this would be a piece of cake, seeing as I am already CES certified with them..NOT!! I started the whole process in October, and I'm still waiting for them to send out the request forms from my University! Over 2 months later, and they still haven't even requested my information yet!

Needless to say I have a job waiting for this patiently, as well as the NY state licensing board - and I am left hanging..I have called CGFNS repeatedly - which always gets me NOWHERE! Emails are just as useless..it takes them forever to answer - and they always say the same thing - that my application is being processed..ARGH! Very frustrating.

So..unfortunately I don't have any good ideas for you in regards to submitting a formal complaint..however, I will check back here often to see what others have to say!

Thanks!

suzanne4, RN · Jan 8, 2007

HI all,
Just need to vent a little about CGFNS too! Ironically enough I did the VisaScreen (CES) certification through them (from Canada) and it didn't take too long (about 3 months from start to finish) - and that was even with a couple of screw ups on my part! Make sure your information is CORRECT! If not - you have to start the whole process over, and get letters from your University verifying information - which makes the process even longer.
Unfortunately I will be nursing in NY state - the only state to require ADDITIONAL verification to practice (from CGFNS). I initially thought this would be a piece of cake, seeing as I am already CES certified with them..NOT!! I started the whole process in October, and I'm still waiting for them to send out the request forms from my University! Over 2 months later, and they still haven't even requested my information yet!
Needless to say I have a job waiting for this patiently, as well as the NY state licensing board - and I am left hanging..I have called CGFNS repeatedly - which always gets me NOWHERE! Emails are just as useless..it takes them forever to answer - and they always say the same thing - that my application is being processed..ARGH! Very frustrating.
So..unfortunately I don't have any good ideas for you in regards to submitting a formal complaint..however, I will check back here often to see what others have to say!
Thanks!

NY requires the CVS, they are the only state that uses that. They do not accept the CES, and the CVS cannot be used by a state that requires the CES. And they do not require anything additional, just that one document, but it can be months to get. On average, it is about four months at the very earliest, six months or so on average.

Visa Screen is not the same as the CES, which is a credentials evaluation.

They are two completely different things, VCS is required for immigraiton purposes only, not for licensure. CES is needed for licensure, as well as CVS.

It is New York that requires that CGFNS obtain the documents directly, it is not per CGFNS, they only handle it for NY.

MOLEMOMMA · Jun 29, 2011

I'm not sure if i am about to make everyone feel better or worse. I have been struggling with the CGFNS since 2004. I have taken the exam, passed it, have a license to practice as a registered nurse and am now fighting for a transcript evaluation.

All i can say is KEEP BUGGING THEM. Get names of everyone you speak to, monitor your account like a hawk, maintain documentation of all contact with them.

The only way i have managed to get them to move forward with the two issues i have had is to get on the road and go there. I know some people can't do that but I got sick of being brushed off. My poor husband has driven 6 hours to Philadelphia with me twice!!

Its still not fixed but we are closer. It is much easier when you have the name and contact number of someone handling your case.

Its a long road..... don't give up.

The bottom line is this: These people are the only people able to produce what you need to work as a nurse in the United States. No, it isn't fair that they are so slow but there is no-one else. Its not like you can say 'To heck with Wal-mart, I'm going to Farmfresh'..... these guys are it. Sit on them......make them KNOW who you are. Become a royal pain in their heiney.