Visa Screen Certificate / CGFNS

World Registration

Published

Visa Screen Certificate is required by all foreign nurses wishing to obtain a green card to work in the US, as well as any type of temporary work permit, such as the Nafta TN Visa for those from Canada and Mexico.

It requires that you pass either the NCLEX-RN or the CGFNS exam, as well as the series of English exams if you are not exempt from them.

The CGFNS exam is only required now in about five states, and rumor is that one or two will be removed from that remaining list as well. Do not bother with that exam if you are not going to work in a state that does not require it, or you have no way to be able to take the NCLEX exam from where you are currently located.

The application for the VSC is now only good for one year.........please do not apply for it until you have passed at least one of the required exams, or you may need to pay an additional fee.

(This thread is replacing the original thread that was from more than 2 and 1/2 years ago, and has updated information.)

To Koo Koo RN:

I called CGFNS two days ago about the US graduates using streamline process. They said they need the form+transcript or the form+verification of graduation. They said it takes the same amount of time either way. By the way, does some know if US nursing graduates have to have clinical hours in all the five areas? Our school is CCNE accredited but we don't have maternal/ newborn clinical hours, only on campus lab hours. Does that count?

To Koo Koo RN:

I called CGFNS two days ago about the US graduates using streamline process. They said they need the form+transcript or the form+verification of graduation. They said it takes the same amount of time either way. By the way, does some know if US nursing graduates have to have clinical hours in all the five areas? Our school is CCNE accredited but we don't have maternal/ newborn clinical hours, only on campus lab hours. Does that count?

Dear yfwsz123:

Thank you for the information. I will go to the school where I graduated from to ask them to do!

I graduated from a regular (non-accelerated) BSN program, and I have clinical hours in all those five areas. So, do you have to go back to school to earn those missing hours, even though you have an active US RN license?? Is there any chance that you can earn the hours from a "nursing refresher course" or something? I know one community college near my place offers a refresher course, and student can have clinical experiences through the course. But I guess you should talk to your school first and ask them if there is any other F-1 student who have graduated from the same program.

I have finished the VSC online application till Step 13, which means I have not paid my fee yet. I input all the information correctly so far, but I am wondering if I can change to the paper application at this moment. Or do I have to stick with the online application because I have already created my log-in account? Does anyone know this?

kookoo RN

To Koo Koo RN:

I called CGFNS two days ago about the US graduates using streamline process. They said they need the form+transcript or the form+verification of graduation. They said it takes the same amount of time either way. By the way, does some know if US nursing graduates have to have clinical hours in all the five areas? Our school is CCNE accredited but we don't have maternal/ newborn clinical hours, only on campus lab hours. Does that count?

US graduates need to have clinical hours with actual patients to meet the requirements for licensure here. Same requirements as for foreign nurses. There is nothing that is waived for a US grad.

hi, suzanne,

i have a friend whose visa screen certificate is about to expire and she is presently in packet 3, waiting hopefully for consular interview.

she is asking of what to do in case her visa expires on september and she has no interview date yet. will she process or renew her VSC again?:uhoh3:

thanks a lot.

Hi Guys!

My visa screen is being processed as of the moment. My question is if my IELTS expires during the review process although they already have all the necessary documents, do I need to re-take the IELTS again?

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi, suzanne,

i have a friend whose visa screen certificate is about to expire and she is presently in packet 3, waiting hopefully for consular interview.

she is asking of what to do in case her visa expires on september and she has no interview date yet. will she process or renew her VSC again?:uhoh3:

thanks a lot.

if her VSC expires before her interview she will need to get it renewed

Specializes in MIDWIFERY.

Good question id990528,

My Visascreen status is still ready for review since 2 months ago i contacted cgfns and they said they don,t need anything else the authorities are reviewing my file.However my IELTS and the application will expire early August .I pray I get my certificate before then.

Do I need renew my Ielts for the consular interview?.

Hi Suzanne, i passed my NCLEX in 2003, had a visa screen done in 2005 and do have a CA licence registration. How do i go about to get a sponsor. I am stuck and so frustrated.

hi, suzanne,

i have a friend whose visa screen certificate is about to expire and she is presently in packet 3, waiting hopefully for consular interview.

she is asking of what to do in case her visa expires on september and she has no interview date yet. will she process or renew her VSC again?:uhoh3:

thanks a lot.

Suggest that she get the VSC renewed. If she is not already thru having the DS-230 approved and if just waiting for a date for the interview, chances are that she will not have one by that time. Even if she gets the visa, she still needs to have the VSC current for working in the US. If it expires, she needs to keep it current, it is not just for going thru the immigration process. It is only good for five years and needs to be kept current.

Hi Guys!

My visa screen is being processed as of the moment. My question is if my IELTS expires during the review process although they already have all the necessary documents, do I need to re-take the IELTS again?

The score is only good for two years. It must be current for them to issue a VSC. If is expires before it is issued, then you will have to take the exam again.

I applied for licensure in NYBON and just recently passed the NCLEX.

I'm not quite sure on how to process my Visascreen, there is a form on the NYBON website that certifies my licensure and registration for $20. Do I use that form or use the form that comes with the VS application?

Is it true that they can use CVS forms that they have right now or do I have to ask PRC and my school to send them again?

Also I still don't have the license number, can I go ahead and apply for VS now? I don't want to wait for NYBON knowing that it takes them a million years to do everthing.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I applied for licensure in NYBON and just recently passed the NCLEX.

I'm not quite sure on how to process my Visascreen, there is a form on the NYBON website that certifies my licensure and registration for $20. Do I use that form or use the form that comes with the VS application?

Is it true that they can use CVS forms that they have right now or do I have to ask PRC and my school to send them again?

Also I still don't have the license number, can I go ahead and apply for VS now? I don't want to wait for NYBON knowing that it takes them a million years to do everthing.

apply now and complete form from NYBON website and pay $$. There should be no reason to send any more forms (I didn't and went through NYBON)

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