UK nurse in process of going to Florida

suzanne4, RN · Feb 10, 2006

Do your homework on using any agency, and be aware that the agency is being paid by you in most cases. Check out the cancellation clause of any contract before signing. you may find that it is more than $15,000 US, and if you are paying all of the fees....................that is just not right.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 10, 2006

High profile only means that more is spent on advertising. It means nothing else in the US.

letina · Feb 10, 2006

Hi RGN1, welcome to allnurses :)

I'm also in the process of going to Florida. Any idea where you'll be working?

Tina

RGN1 · Feb 10, 2006

I would suggest no-one go with an agency that asks you to pay any fees:eek: . By high profile I mean one that has a good track record. Adevia pay back any exam fees you incur & pay all immigration costs once you have secured a placement with them. Also they have direct placement - which means your contract with them ends when you start working for your US hospital. I agree it pays to do your homework - I've learned the hard way & I just want to stop any other UK nurse from making the same mistake. Luckily for me I only lost time not money! Basically I think you have 2 choices if you're in the UK -O'Grady Peyton (? spelling but UK nurses will know who I mean) - who are not direct placement but do have a sound track record or Adevia, who are direct placement & also have a sound track record.

RGN1 · Feb 10, 2006

hopefully in Central Florida, on the gulf coast side around the Tampa bay area. we already have a holiday home there but at this point in time I've said to Adevia I'll work out a contract just about anywhere in FL!!

suzanne4, RN · Feb 10, 2006

You have many more options available to you. Please do not think that going the route with an agency from the US is the only route.

You may not have a fee to pay up front, but what about the cancellation fee? $16,000 isn't exactly chump change. Those fees are absolutely ridiculous, especially when the nurse is the one that pays the fees in most cases, and the expenses are only about $4,000.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 10, 2006

You are new to this site, but just do a search and you will find that for the most part, nurses that used an agency out of the UK had longer wait times if using an agency, than doing things on their own.

RGN1 · Feb 10, 2006

When I first looked at how to go about applying for the USA the forums I looked at all said use an agency. When IHGi let me down I did look at doing things myself but it all seemed such a paperwork nightmare - I asked CGFNS for some guidance on which forms to fill etc but they didn't reply (still haven't). I have no intention of cancelling any contract - with 3 children I have to make it work!!

RGN1 · Feb 10, 2006

When I 1st started researching the best way to go to the USA all the forums said use an agency!! When IHGi let me down soooooooo badly I did look to see if I would be better to go it alone but the paperwork is SUCH a nightmare I decided to go with a better known agency instead. So far I have not regretted that decision. I hope I'm still saying that in 12 months time!

letina · Feb 10, 2006

How far into the process are you? Nosey lot ain't we? :chuckle

RGN1 · Feb 10, 2006

Don't mind U being nosey. right now I've filed my papers with Vermont & am awaiting them to authorise me to apply for my ATT. As I said I've lost 8 months because I thought this part was already sorted but I was lied to! Still, I've spent the time cribbing up for my N-CLEX!!!