NJ Licensure with F1 status

[angel_rn]

Hi everyone. I have a concern with my RN license application for New Jersey and I really hope you guys can help me. I am a foreign nursing graduate and am here in NY on a valid F1 visa (for English Language studies). I applied for RN licensure with the NJ BON, took and passed the TOEFL and NCLEX-RN last December. I also completed all the other requirements such as the fingerprinting for the criminal background check and also submitted a copy of my ssn. They also asked me to submit my certificate of eligibility for my F1 status and I complied. Now my problem is, when I called them to follow up, they're saying that they have to ask the lawyers to review my case because they're not sure if I can be granted a license since I am on F1 visa. Im really confused and worried because I've been waiting for this for months and I thought when they accepted all my credentials and gave me the ATT, that's because they found me eligible for licensure. Is there a law on this? I already called USCIS to verify and they're saying that nothing is written on this. I hope someone here can put my mind at ease and enlighten me, maybe someone who encountered the same experience. Thank you in advance for your response.

[suzanne4, RN]

You can be granted a license, but the issue is that you are not going to be able to get a visa to work there. We have been under the retrogression for more than two years and it is going to be continuing for sometime.

And actually, NJ is one of the majority that will not issue a license if one cannot work here legally. Just because you hold a SSN#, you still do not hold the visa that will permit you to work. This is not anything new.

If you are under a student visa, that means that you do not hold a valid work visa for the US. If you had that, then they would issue a license to you and this is where the confusion is coming in. How are you planning to work here when you cannot get the visa?

[angel_rn]

thanks for the quick reply suzanne. i actually wasn't thinking that far coz i also need to come home after the duration of my studies. i just wanted to get the licensure thing done and over with and i am only concerned that from the tone of their voice, they might not give me the license even if i earned it by satisfying all requirements when there is nothing that legally prohibits me from getting one

[suzanne4, RN]

They require that you can legally work in the US. Even though you possess a SSN#, you are under the F-1 status, this means that you are unable to legally work in the US. They do not issue licenses to those that cannot work here when they are going for licensure. This is nothing new. And again, nothing that you need to worry about. You have to remember that passing of the NCLEX exam does not automatically issue a license, especially when one is a foreign nurse.

Once you are able to get the visa, then they will issue a license to you. It is nothing to worry about. It is the same thing that happens with all foreign nurses.

If you are not planning to work here now with the OPT, then they are not going to be issuing a license. If you look at it the other way, you will be paying to renew it for years when you are not using it. Better just to leave things as they wish to do with it.

Not sure what you think that you have done to meet their requirements, you still do not possess a visa to work here and that is what they want to see. And actually the majority of states are doing this now.

Best of luck to you.