F-1 Visa Status Nurse PH'D no License

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2016

Your boyfriend's story is kinda shady. Usually nursing PhD programs require that you be a licensed nurse beforehand. There are MSN programs that don't require that you be a nurse before but they usually make you take and pass the NCLEX before you can progress to the higher level courses. If he gave his dissertation in 2012, what has he been doing for the last four years? It sounds like he is out of status on his F1 and there for potentially deportable. Petitioning for a green card also means that you are financially responsible for him for a significant amount of time even if he divorces you after he gets his green card...

Ca2Wa · Aug 31, 2016

Thank you for your honest response. And you are right about him needing a license for the school's Ph'd program that was something I didn't even think of (I checked the website).

Well apparently what I've been told by other international students there visa length is according to country. China and Turkey (people I asked where from these places) F-1 is 5 year length. Where he is from in W. Africa my friend from Turkey said that she was told they have to reapply every year.

I will question him. Though don't think he is here illegally because he also helped a sibling come here so I'd think they'd both have been caught by the school if they were being shady. The school has a huge international department.

Once again thank you for your response you gave me things to think about and more questions to add to my list to make my decision.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2016

If he is not a full time student currently, he will be out of status on his F1. Also, an F1 holder doesn't have any pull for getting a sibling to the US. I think most F1 judgments are based on whether someone meets the financial guidelines, really. Only citizens can petition for siblings and if he had a greencard, he wouldn't be in this mess, eh? Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Ca2Wa · Aug 31, 2016

If he is not a full time student currently, he will be out of status on his F1. Also, an F1 holder doesn't have any pull for getting a sibling to the US. I think most F1 judgments are based on whether someone meets the financial guidelines, really. Only citizens can petition for siblings and if he had a greencard, he wouldn't be in this mess, eh? Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

You are right that he doesn't have pull by adding the part about his sibling I was only making the point that I don't think he's here illegally because he has been involved with the school since his coming here and they don't mess around.

But I do need to find out about how he is still F-1 if he's done and these are all things he's told me. And of course I have plenty international student friends but never paid attention to all the requirements I remember only the day I ask then I'd forget because it wasn't my struggle.

Anyway, thank you for your responses and insight!

KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 1, 2016

He could work with the credentials he already has, but the PhD with no license is a red flag to me. If he cant pass the NCLEX in 4 years as he claims - its time for a new plan.

Sounds like you are having some second thoughts on more than the employment front. Maybe its time for a heart to heart conversation with your intended boo.

Ca2Wa · Sep 1, 2016

He could work with the credentials he already has, but the PhD with no license is a red flag to me. If he cant pass the NCLEX in 4 years as he claims - its time for a new plan.
Sounds like you are having some second thoughts on more than the employment front. Maybe its time for a heart to heart conversation with your intended boo.

Yes, I definitely went with a list of questions yesterday and he states he was able to start the Ph'd program on the strength of his European License, but the requirement definitely says you need a current CA license to start the program though I do know for sure he started the program and presented his dissertation based on a poster he has from the school with his picture, his topic and the date and time I just don't understand the disconnect with the license if he was able to bypass it because he knew someone who worked at the school that was a missionary in his country (its a private religious school at that so:whistling:).

I live with a Chinese nurse who self taught herself English and medical English at that which took 6 years to learn and 2 tries at the NCLEX. When she got here in May she had no guarantee of acceptance into the Unis Nursing program first she had to pass their English course which she did. Now her writing of English is great, her speaking not so much, but she has 2 years to improve and even she said the NCLEX is hard, but its basic knowledge.

It is a major red flag and I kept telling him he was expecting a lot of 'blind faith' from me and didn't understand why it isn't easy and seems like I'll lose more than I'll gain with the union and I'm a believer that love isn't enough so, I am sure after last night I won't hear from him again.

Thank you everyone for your responses.

Ca2Wa · Sep 2, 2016

(important parts bolded in case you don't want to read whole post)
Hi everyone this is scenario is actually of my boyfriend.

He has a Ph'd in Nursing from a University here in California. But he has been unable to pass the NCLEX. I don't know how many times he has taken it I know at least two times for his first time he says he was studying alone which he was discovered was wrong. This past time he I'm guessing he took classes. I don't know why he has not passed he presented his Ph'd dissertation back in 2012. I don't know if I can blame the language barrier? (Everyone proclaims how smart he is from siblings to classmates he's still in contact with and he actually works as a tutor helping other students with their dissertations).

Anyway, he says he's had many job offers but was not able to take them because of his lack of a license. And then also because of his F-1 status.

Of course he wants to get married and his recent failure has made me hesitant because the green card process is already long and expensive.

I know it is selfish, but I don't want to be married if he can't work. I am still a student myself as I'm quite a few years younger.

My knowledge of nursing is limited to what my friends and family who are nurses tell me I know for sure with your license your job prospects are greater.
He assures me he can still work in a few areas without his license epidemiology and teaching Stats and some other courses on the strength of his Ph'd now the only thing in his way now is his status (visa).

How true is this can anyone give insight or opinions on his job prospects (with a green card, but no license)?

He will continue to work on getting the license of course.

Corrections just in case someone finds this thread and the information is somehow useful. His dissertation is dated for 2014 not 2012 though he presented in 2013. But still seems he'd be out of status.

I basically blew the whole relationship and possibility of marriage up on a Wednesday night, Friday morning by text (from him) I learn that he'd received an excellent position with sponsorship Thursday. :rolleyes:

I've heard God works in mysterious ways and he's always on time. :sneaky: :yawn: :cautious:

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