Visa Screen Certificate / CGFNS

World Registration

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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.)

Specializes in pediatrics.

help! i graduated last 2007 and i apply for eligibility in new mexico for NCLEX exam,(unfortunately my papers is still not coming back) i want to know how can i apply for visa screen?? what will i do? how can i start cause i really don't have a clue about visa screen thanx!!!

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the best way is to finish and pass your NCLEX exam before applying for a Visa Screen since visa screen application has an expiration of 1 year. but if you want to apply download an application form in the cgfns website, just type visa application form in google and youll see. upto now im having trouble filling out the forms. -.-"

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
thank you very much lawrence for the reply!

but im a bit confused about the fee that nm charge for validation of license because i just saw a post here saying that its free of charge. i just want to make sure its true and if the policy is still the same, bec. it was posted last 2006.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/visa-screen-181433-2.html

last question, i cant find my high school diploma, and when i asked for a copy from my school they said that they no longer give out copies of diploma, its a policy of the DepEd. They can only give me a certificate that i graduated and completed my secondary education there. will cgfns accept that kind of document?

...and yet another edit for another question.. hmm just to clarify. the vsc application fee is $448 right?

im sorry for asking these kinds of questions i just want to make sure of everything im doing. im processing this application on my own. -.-"

A lot can change in 2 years. I would suggest contacting BON if you can not find anything regarding fees on their website and check with them if they charge.

If you did CES with CGFNS then they will accept the paperwork already submitted to them for CES. If the fee is $448 on the website then that is all you have to pay

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
help! i graduated last 2007 and i apply for eligibility in new mexico for NCLEX exam,(unfortunately my papers is still not coming back) i want to know how can i apply for visa screen?? what will i do? how can i start cause i really don't have a clue about visa screen thanx!!!

As mentioned all information regarding VSC is on the CGFNS website but you need to pass exams and meet licensure before you register as file only valid for 12 months and if you haven't completed everything you will have to pay again if 12 months have expired. How long did you apply to NM as usually looking at anything from 4-6 months to receive eligibility to sit the exam,

Just to point out you have not applied for eligibility in NM for NCLEX exam but to be a RN in the US of which NCLEX is just a part of that process

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thanks silver dragon.and i search in the net and found out that they charge $30 for the verification process! and you also need to attach a form that can be found in their website (NM).

http://www.bon.state.nm.us/forms/VERIFICATIONSfee.pdf

i hope this will also help others. ^^

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thank you very much lawrence for the reply!

but im a bit confused about the fee that nm charge for validation of license because i just saw a post here saying that its free of charge. i just want to make sure its true and if the policy is still the same, bec. it was posted last 2006.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/visa-screen-181433-2.html

last question, i cant find my high school diploma, and when i asked for a copy from my school they said that they no longer give out copies of diploma, its a policy of the DepEd. They can only give me a certificate that i graduated and completed my secondary education there. will cgfns accept that kind of document?

...and yet another edit for another question.. hmm just to clarify. the vsc application fee is $448 right?

im sorry for asking these kinds of questions i just want to make sure of everything im doing. im processing this application on my own. -.-"

How long have you graduated from H.S.? If it has been more than 10 years, that req't is actually waived already by ICHP. If not, then just provide them with that certificate.

As for the fee for the VSC, double check on their website and it will be in the application form, anyway when you will submitting all the forms and pay via credit card or draft.

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is it ok if that certificate will be coming from me? since they already gave it to me, or i should ask my school to mail them for me directly to ICHP? but i guess it should be coming from the school...:o

thank you again and btw its been 8 years since i graduated highschool ^^

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Hello Lawrence. My question is what form do I submit to California BRN for the forwarding of my NCLEX result to ICHP. I don't have SSN so no license number. Somebody told me not to use the License Verification form from the VSC Handbook as all I would be doing is write a letter to Ca BRN, just a letter and that is all. Is that how it's done? Do I not use a FORM, just a letter? I understand the form on the VSC handbook applies to someone who IS licensed (which I'm not), but I really don't know if I should send only a letter, and not a form... Help, thank you.

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Hello Lawrence. My question is what form do I submit to California BRN for the forwarding of my NCLEX result to ICHP. I don't have SSN so no license number. Somebody told me not to use the License Verification form from the VSC Handbook as all I would be doing is write a letter to Ca BRN, just a letter and that is all. Is that how it's done? Do I not use a FORM, just a letter? I understand the form on the VSC handbook applies to someone who IS licensed (which I'm not), but I really don't know if I should send only a letter, and not a form... Help, thank you.

Writing a letter to CA BRN and instructing them to send something to ICHP/CGFNS entails expense on their part.

Is this someone who advised you that this what is done actually did it herself or just heard it from someone else?

There are actually 2 ways in doing it. One is to send that form from ICHP to them and include a $60 fee and since fee for any service from CA BRN entails doing a bank draft and ordering a local bank draft in PH entails that you provide the bank with a copy of the fee schedule and show them the specific service you want to avail plus the corresponding appropriate fee. When you get hold of the copy of the fee schedule you will notice the $60 fee service for "ICHP Visa Screen" and the $10 service fee "Copy of Test results" under the misc. fees. Both have been used by many and both were accepted by ICHP. Many prefer to just go for the $60 fee because they want to be sure. There were reports that some did the $10 "Copy of Test results" service and it was accepted as well. Your choice on what to do. But definitely, it entails you paying a fee to them for the service.

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Writing a letter to CA BRN and instructing them to send something to ICHP/CGFNS entails expense on their part.

Is this someone who advised you that this what is done actually did it herself or just heard it from someone else?

There are actually 2 ways in doing it. One is to send that form from ICHP to them and include a $60 fee and since fee for any service from CA BRN entails doing a bank draft and ordering a local bank draft in PH entails that you provide the bank with a copy of the fee schedule and show them the specific service you want to avail plus the corresponding appropriate fee. When you get hold of the copy of the fee schedule you will notice the $60 fee service for "ICHP Visa Screen" and the $10 service fee "Copy of Test results" under the misc. fees. Both have been used by many and both were accepted by ICHP. Many prefer to just go for the $60 fee because they want to be sure. There were reports that some did the $10 "Copy of Test results" service and it was accepted as well. Your choice on what to do. But definitely, it entails you paying a fee to them for the service.

Someone who did it himself sometime ago, but certainly not recently so I don't know if what he's talking about still applies now. I know there is a fee of $60, and $10 for the copy of test result, I just don't know what specific form do I submit to them? The one from ICHP which is called the Request for Validation of Registration/License for Visa Screen or the License Verification form from the Ca BRN website? Will they accept that even if technically, I am not registered as there is no SSN? And is this the same form I'll submit to PRC?

Thank you for answering.:D

One more thing, about the bankdraft-- is it going to be the same way when I paid for the application for licensure? The recipient or the "payable to" part is "Board of Registered Nursing"? I wonder if I can combine the $60 and the $10 in one bankdraft. Just want to make sure, thanks.

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Someone who did it himself sometime ago, but certainly not recently so I don't know if what he's talking about still applies now. I know there is a fee of $60, and $10 for the copy of test result, I just don't know what specific form do I submit to them? The one from ICHP which is called the Request for Validation of Registration/License for Visa Screen or the License Verification form from the Ca BRN website? Will they accept that even if technically, I am not registered as there is no SSN? And is this the same form I'll submit to PRC?

Thank you for answering.:D

One more thing, about the bankdraft-- is it going to be the same way when I paid for the application for licensure? The recipient or the "payable to" part is "Board of Registered Nursing"? I wonder if I can combine the $60 and the $10 in one bankdraft. Just want to make sure, thanks.

You use ICHP's Form. CA BRN's License Validation Form is what is used if you want to endorse to CA. You send that to the State BON of origin for them to fill up and have it sent back to CA BRN for endorsement.

Yes, ICHP accept that even if you do not have a SSN. ICHP/CGFNS will just say on your on-line account - NCLEX-RN Exam Passed; License verification from CA BRN Waived. This is in fact what majority do (more than those that send the Copy of Test results) because they want to be sure and there has been no problems.

Payment is the same procedure as when you applied to CA BRN and use the same name for where it is payable. You may want to include a short cover letter for instructions. Also, whatever you decide (the $60 or $10 service fee) I suggest instructing them to send you on your add. a Copy of Test results for your own copy. This will be a good extra evidence that you have passed NCLEX and it even has your digital photo and other details such as Date and Place where you took the exam not found on what CA BRN sends.

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Hi Suzanne....Im a June 2006 passer but i have taken and passed the retake already. I also passed the CGFNS exams....and now recently passed NCLEX.

If I'm going to apply for my visa screen, i can file it now and take my ielts this month???

Can i just use my CGFNS exam instead of NCLEX in applying for VSC so it would save me time and I would not need to pay my BON for forwarding my NCLEX results?

Lastly, I dont need to ask PRC to send verification of my local license and I dont need to ask my school again to send them my transcript and RLE since i have already sent them those when i applied for my CGFNS exam right???

Im not sure if this has been asked here before but i would really appreciate your help with this....

thank you.....

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