New York - NCLEX Clarification

Dear Suzanne
Thank you for your prompt reply. I have follow-up questions. This is kinda detailed. Im sort of planning my 'life' and want to have some degree of certainty.

Assuming i have submitted my transcript and currently awaiting advise from New York, I plan to take the English test and prepare for NCLEX while here in Manila. Once i get my notice from BON New York, i plan to take my exam in US using my tourist visa.

1. Is this ok or will i be ask by the consul at the port of entry what my intent is?

2. My visa screen can only be processed once i passed my NCLEX - can i wait for this while staying for 6 months in the US? Or would you advise me to go back home while awaiting for my Visa Screen.

3. Once i have my visa screen and while in US, can i apply for change of status?

4. Is it correct to assume that once you have filed for a change of status, you cant go back home at least while your greencard is being processed? How long does this take?

thank you

A license in your home country is not a requirement for licensure in the US, only a completed set fo transcripts. The place where it asks where you are currently licensed, just put none/recent graduate.

Keep everything in your maiden name, especially that is what all of your ID is in. You can always submit a mariage certificate to immigration to include your spouse for immigration purposes. Not everyone changes their name any more to begin with. [/quote]

Dear Suzanne,

I have a few more clarifications...

1. I do not quite understand what you mean when you stated " As long as
you pass the NCLEX, you will currently find it quite easy to get an AOS
filed on your behoalf. I do not recommend it but it can be done."
What is then your recommendation? Is it to take NCLEX outside US like HongKong and just wait here in Manila for my Visa Screen to be processed before going to US? Assuming this is your recommendation, do i still have to wait " 60 days" before the employer files an AOS?

And, Yes i will make sure that i have a schedule with BON before going there.

2. What is the "60 days that you mentioned." Does that mean that even if i received notice that i passed the NCLEX, i cannot do any adjustment, etc until 60 days have passed? What is the significance of this? Or is it to prove to immigration that i have no intention of working. I just dont want to be out of status while process everything.

3. My last question is normally how long (in months) is AOS? You are not allowed to work during the said period but i do understand that you can be legally allowed to stay because precisely an adjustment of status is pending.

Hope you can clarify the matter.

Thanks again.

Hi! Of course i have no intention of overstaying that is why i want to plan ahead and make sure that i do my homework. I have a multiple entry visa which i ve used many times and have no intention of overstaying because that will make matters worst.

1. Anyway, are you saying that i do my processing here until my VISA SCREEN comes out? So correct me if I'm wrong but it doesnt seem to do any advantage if you have a tourist visa on hand. I heard that processing will be much faster if the foreign nurse resides in US than in Manila. Now i have a toursist visa but i dont think i can really use it to fasttrack my application.

2. I have lay out a mini-plan,following your advise to take NY board for 1st time foreign nurses. Just let me know if this is ok:

by December i plan to take my english exams,
then by March i plan to take my NCLEX and hopefully submit my application for VISA Screen.
Once i have my VISA SCREEN, is it then ok to go to US, say New York, look for an employer then they will take care of my adjustment.

Is this the track that you will prefer me to take, if not, what is your suggestion.

In other words, do all the processing in my home country until i get my visa screen.

Sorry for involving you into so many details, i have no one to ask... ANd what about my spouse (he has a multiple entry toursit visa too), at what point can i include him in the application process- once i have my Visa screen. Does he need to be in the US as well when AOS is filed by employer?

Your reply here will probably answer all the questions i have in mind...
Thank you again... I will write again to inform you of my progress... God bless you!!! You are an inspiration...