Visa Screen Certificate / CGFNS

[suzanne4]

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.)

[prabhritu]

thanks a lot....i appreciate it...i am just loving this allnurses.com. For so long i was searching for this thing. so finally i think i will get my all answers regarding nursing from here...i am so thankfull...

[Lada]

Hi there,I'm also Czech nurse trying to register-going through the CGFNS -literally just started...just wanted to ask if there is any advantage of being registered with NMC in UK?I've been working as a registered nurse since 2006,in the UK,operating theatres and now I'd like to go and work in US,registering with UK NMC was tough so I don't expect the US registration to be an easy ride but I'm just hoping that my RN practise in England will have a possitive effect...

:nurse

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Having a UK license has no advantage with CGFNS. You still have to meet US state requirements and then find employer and then join the long long queue for the US due to retrogression

[Lada]

Hi there,thank you for your reply-what do you suggest for me to do-if(when) I don't get the green light from GCFNS?Is there anything I can do,apart of go to school again??

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Depending on the state you apply for initially there is no telling what requirements you need, for many there are none. However retrogression means a long long wait (several years currently) and finding a employer willing to wait that long is an issue

[Lada]

Thank you for your reply and your time,really appreciate it-I was thinking not to go through the CGFNS,if there is a very high possibility not o meet requirements but I will try and see.

Is Canada hard to get to too?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Canada is a large country and each province has it's own requirements. They also require you to be general trained like the US. Many provinces require some form of assessment before they will give eligibility to sit the CRNE and you will need to pass that to be able to work as a nurse in Canada

[rianne1c]

Hi all, am applying for a visa screen certificate. I currently have an active Arizona rn license and am wondering if the said state board requires a fee on the verification of my license. I have been reading the posts here and it seems CA BON has fee. Is it the same with AZBN too? Any thoughts on this?

[rianne1c]

Oops! I just got a mail from ASBN saying that a $50.00 fee is needed for them .to forward my NCLEX result to CGFNS.

[munkypants]

hi there,

im a uk trained nurse currently working in saudi, ive applied for cgfns and believe i have to wait for their certification before applying to the state i want to work in? My partner can pretty much work anywhere.....Where are the least 'complicated' states to apply to, and am I doing things in the correct order? Im also paediatric speciality trained so think I may have some issues with my education......

I looked into Canada too, but last I heard there was a freeze on international nurses, any ideas if/when this may be up?

Any help is very greatfully recieved!!!

thanx in advance :)

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

You are aware of retrogression with the US and the possibility of several years wait for a immigrant visa? Also if not married your partner (assuming you are not same sex) will not be able to come with you.

Canada has no freeze on nurses just hard to find a employer and current route for PR through the skilled worker is closed as the cap has been reached but there are several routes for Canada but a lot will depend on province

[munkypants]

Thanks for the extremely quick response! No we are not married, but he is american. i know theres a massive wait, but i still have around 18 months left here, and he wants to live in london for a year also, so that covers around 3 years of the wait at least :) If i went for Canada is it advisable to apply for licensure on my own and then apply for a job? Also when is the best time to get in and apply before the cap is filled?

thanx again!