STEPS to take to work in the U.S.A.

hi, everyone...im Mark, a new member of this online community although been here many times before to look at articles that may be of help....

i'm a new graduate from a nursing school here in the Philippines, and had just recently took the board exams and passed. i'm currently in the process of acquiring my license from our licensing authority...and after which im gonna take the ielts this august....

here are my questions:

1. if im going to work in the u.s.a. what are the things needed to allow me to work there?

2. im planning to work in new york....do i have to take cgfns exams? or take nclex directly in hongkong. after which, if i pass what would be my next step?
Is it to apply for the visa screen certificate?

3. from my research in the net, here's what ive gathered to be the steps to take in having to work there:

a. must be a licensed nurse in own country
b. must take nclex, and ielts (or similar) in N.Y.
c. if both passed, must apply for visa screen cert. by the cgfns org.
Are these all correct? If so, please correct my info.
And do suggest the correct steps to take...

Thanx, and more power to the no. 1 online community for nurses!!!

I know some of you would not agree but definitely this is the best option!

1. Be a registered nurses/ licensed at your home country.
2. Take and Pass CGFNS Exam
3. Take and Pass English Exams (IELTS is better, cheaper and easier...its like hitting two birds with one bullet!)
4. Get your CGFNS Certificate and visa screen certificate
5. Look for an employer and have your I-140 filed...
6. Take NCEX in the state where u want to be licensed...(u can take it in the U.S. when u arrive)

I suggest taking CGFNS because if ever that someday you plan to change a state in which you want to work...other states require CGFNS or CES and that means you have to sit on the exam if you don't have one...Plus most of the states that DOES NOT REQUIRE CGFNS...they require you to have a social security number and that means you have to fly to U.S. (be physically and legally there) and get a number to get your license! PLEASE ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT A PASSING SCORE IN NCLEX EXAM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE USCIS AND THAT MEANS YOUR IMMIGRANT VISA PETITION CANNOT BE FILED...

ASK ALL THE NURSES HERE...THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS IN IMMIGRATING TO U.S. THE BEST WAY IS TO TAKE THE SAFEST AND SUREST ROUTE.

And please don't ever think on flying to the U.S. on a tourist visa and then sit for the NCLEX exam and then adjust status...I hope you read the provisions of the new law called THE REAL I.D. ACT! If you ever at one chance GOT OUT OF STATUS ON U.S. SOIL... you will be doomed forever!~ Trust me I know alot of nurses who took the shortcuts and they are crying loud now because they were either caught by immigration or their status are still illegal or they are not yet permanent residents(green card holders) and cannot be with their families...

U.S. is a super high-tech country spending billions for anti-terrorist effforts, border protections and illegal aliens. I am sure all of the illegals will be caught very very soon!

I am not scaring you...just making sure your American Dream will be fulfilled!

Dale

Sorry but I do not agree with you on this one.
(Still friends?)