by tfulgenc

Hi everyone!

I am moving to America with my family next month (with greencard visa through CGFNS certificate)...quite unsure about what's life gonna be. I am presently in UK and working as a nurse but not sure if life will be better when I get there. Why? I have failed my NCLEX RN last April and is due to take another exam next week (July 20,2009)...not sure if I am going to pass this time. But if I fail...that means I will be working as CNA until I pass NCLEX RN. Anybody who can give me advise if I can survive to live in U.S. with my family with a CNA pay? I am terrified! My visa will expire on August 11,2009.

Re: Moving to America! Quite daunting...

What do you mean your visa will expire on Aug 11th 09? What arrangements have you made with your hospital regarding working and sitting NCLEX. If you do not feel ready to sit the exam you may want to consider delaying until you feel a bit more confident. Keep practising questions and read the rationale. Remember prioritising and ABC and look at the question as a new grad with no nursing experience

Re: Moving to America! Quite daunting...

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102

What do you mean your visa will expire on Aug 11th 09? What arrangements have you made with your hospital regarding working and sitting NCLEX. If you do not feel ready to sit the exam you may want to consider delaying until you feel a bit more confident. Keep practising questions and read the rationale. Remember prioritising and ABC and look at the question as a new grad with no nursing experience

Hi! Thanks for the reply and advice! Re:my greencard visa, it says I have to move to America before August 11 or it will expire or I will loose the chance on moving there. My employer says if don't pass the NCLEX RN, they will only pay me as a CNA (which I don't know the current pay rate is) until such time that I do pass the exam. That's why I chose to re-apply to sit the NCLEX on July 20th before we actually leave the UK in August so that I could have another chance on maybe..bagging the exam...and hopefully, my anxiety on thinking that I might not be able to support my family well when we get to U.S. will be gone...Please pray for me..really appreciate it!

Re: Moving to America! Quite daunting...

Correct me if I am wrong on this..........but don't you have to apply for an RN license here in the USA if you are from the UK via endorsement or examination?

You cannot come directly here and work as an RN from another country until you get that approval.

I moved from Canada to the USA 10 years ago and had to do the endorsement which took two months.

Just curious to know...................????

Re: Moving to America! Quite daunting...

Some BON's will give a temp license if the candidate has passed CGFNS exam and therefore GC can be issued as long as vsc requirements are meet and for that you just need a pass in either CGFNS exam or NCLEX. However you are correct that you can not work as a RN until you have passed NCLEX

Yes you have 6 months to arrive in the US from when your GC was issued. A lot will depend on the state to how much a CNA will pay and you may want to check out the CNA forum here in the student section.

Re: Moving to America! Quite daunting...

I'm surprised you don't have trouble at the port of entry when entering to work as an RN without an unrestricted license. Working as a CNA doesn't fulfil the requirements for an EB3-category green card, so how long do you have to pass the NCLEX before your temporary license is voided?

Re: Moving to America! Quite daunting...

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102

Some BON's will give a temp license if the candidate has passed CGFNS exam and therefore GC can be issued as long as vsc requirements are meet and for that you just need a pass in either CGFNS exam or NCLEX. However you are correct that you can not work as a RN until you have passed NCLEX

Yes you have 6 months to arrive in the US from when your GC was issued. A lot will depend on the state to how much a CNA will pay and you may want to check out the CNA forum here in the student section.

Thanks! Yes you're right! But the Agency that I applied for said that even though I've got CGFNS certificate, I cannot apply for temporary license for 6 months because I have already attempted to take the NCLEX exam before trying to enter the U.S. How true is this I don't know. Maybe I'll have to ring the BON myself to know the truth. Any guidance about this?

Re: Moving to America! Quite daunting...

Originally Posted by Innurse78

Correct me if I am wrong on this..........but don't you have to apply for an RN license here in the USA if you are from the UK via endorsement or examination?

You cannot come directly here and work as an RN from another country until you get that approval.

I moved from Canada to the USA 10 years ago and had to do the endorsement which took two months.

Just curious to know...................????

Hi! I got it through passing the CGFNS and English exam (requirements for international nurses). After applying to an agency and got me an employer, they petitioned me for EB3 visa. I first applied in 2004, it took 5 years to get approval (visa) due to retrogression. Although I've got the visa now, I still need to take the NCLEX exam to get RN license. But because I failed the NCLEX exam last April, they say I won't be given temporary license as I have already attempted to take the NCLEX before entering the U.S. All the employer can offer me is pay me as CNA temporarily until I pass the NCLEX. Now I'm preparing to take the NCLEX for the 2nd time, although I'm trying my best, it doesn't guarantee that I will pass. I hope I do but if I don't, I'll be in trouble! Loads of pressure!

Re: Moving to America! Quite daunting...

Originally Posted by tfulgenc

Thanks! Yes you're right! But the Agency that I applied for said that even though I've got CGFNS certificate, I cannot apply for temporary license for 6 months because I have already attempted to take the NCLEX exam before trying to enter the U.S. How true is this I don't know. Maybe I'll have to ring the BON myself to know the truth. Any guidance about this?

For most interim permit is only given before you sit NCLEX and once sat and failed you can not apply for it again. That is my understanding