US nurses moving/moved to Canada

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I have noticed reading over this forum that there are quite a few nurses here that have moved to Canada from the US, or are in the process. I am wondering, for those like me who are still trying to get there, what part of the process are you in? What have your stumbling blocks been? For those who have successfully moved, what advice do you have? Specifically I am wondering how long the work permit process took - I have heard varying lengths...

If you have an offer and Canadian license, and if you are a US citizen, you can get TN visa right on the border, Very simple.

First thing is get your license. Unfortunately I saw in Ontario, they only give people RN license if they are Canadian citizens or Permanent Resident!

I think Canada is much stricter than US on the license side.

If you have an offer and Canadian license, and if you are a US citizen, you can get TN visa right on the border, Very simple.

First thing is get your license. Unfortunately I saw in Ontario, they only give people RN license if they are Canadian citizens or Permanent Resident!

I think Canada is much stricter than US on the license side.

I'm confused because I was told by Healthmatch BC that I have to have a job offer to get a work permit and a work permit before I can actually work - and the work permits take approx. 3-5 months to process. I don't know about Ontario, but in BC you submit an application for registration to the CRNBC and they assess your education, experience etc and see if you are qualified to take the boards there. If you are approved to test you can get a temp. license, but I think you still need a work permit. I have been approved to test, and I think I will have a job offer next week.

You can obtain a TN Visa, the same way that a Canadian can obtain one at the obrder, this is different than a landed resident.

Not sure why they are telling you that you would not be covered by a TN Visa, since it is immediately available to you..............

I'm confused because I was told by Healthmatch BC that I have to have a job offer to get a work permit and a work permit before I can actually work - and the work permits take approx. 3-5 months to process. I don't know about Ontario, but in BC you submit an application for registration to the CRNBC and they assess your education, experience etc and see if you are qualified to take the boards there. If you are approved to test you can get a temp. license, but I think you still need a work permit. I have been approved to test, and I think I will have a job offer next week.

If you can pass the test and get Canadian License, there is no problem to find a job. If you are a US citizen, you can get TN visa at the border with your US license, Canadian license, your job offer, and your US passport.

If you are not a US citizen, then you need to apply for work permit, it is like H-1 non-immigrant worker visa in the US. And you can apply for Canadian immigration later on if you wish, the immigration process will be very easy for you.

If you can pass the test and get Canadian License, there is no problem to find a job. If you are a US citizen, you can get TN visa at the border with your US license, Canadian license, your job offer, and your US passport.

If you are not a US citizen, then you need to apply for work permit, it is like H-1 non-immigrant worker visa in the US. And you can apply for Canadian immigration later on if you wish, the immigration process will be very easy for you.

Actually I just found out this is true ONLY if you are coming from Canada or Mexico to the US to work. If you care going to Canada from the US working as what they consider a "professional" you don't have to have the job approved by the HRDC (verifying that there is no qualified person in the country to fill the position) but you do need a work permit. I found this here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/you-asked/section-18.html It's strange how different countries can have different rules under one trade agreement.

OH, don't mention NAFTA and softwood lumber in the same sentence in BC. We have big issues on that one!!:angryfire

Actually I just found out this is true ONLY if you are coming from Canada or Mexico to the US to work. If you care going to Canada from the US working as what they consider a "professional" you don't have to have the job approved by the HRDC (verifying that there is no qualified person in the country to fill the position) but you do need a work permit. I found this here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/you-asked/section-18.html It's strange how different countries can have different rules under one trade agreement.

Sometimes it is surprising to see that how people with different citizenship or differnt birthplaces are treated dramatically different on work permit, visa, immigration matters.

I'm from the USA, registered in Alberta and have multiple job offers, the problem is the medical required of all foreign nurses working in the Canadian health system It takes up to 3 months for processing.

spots

I'm from the USA, registered in Alberta and have multiple job offers, the problem is the medical required of all foreign nurses working in the Canadian health system It takes up to 3 months for processing.

spots

Do you know how they define foreign nurses? Does that include nurses educated outside Canada, or just include nurses who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents?

I am job hunting in Ontario now (electronically from the states). It's kind of depressing knowing I don't have a license there, you know? I'm licensed here in like 20+ states, so it's like starting over from scratch....

Are nurses coming from out of the country open to any job? It doesn't have to be clinical I hope. I don't really want to get back into the hospital setting at least. :(

I currently work for a private company as a nurse consultant and I'd really like to get a similar position with provincial government or a pharmaceutical company.

I feel so limited. :(

After looking at some of the fees to get work permits and all I see this is going to take me a while. I want to move to Toronto NOW so I can be with my fiance' and work there legally. That's all I really want.

If you want to work now, I'd say your best bet is to find work with a pharmaceutical company or a private company where you are not technically working as a registered nurse. As far as I know, the only way to work as a registered nurse in canada is to sit for the CRNE and register with the province, obtain a medical from an approved physician and wait for immigration to enter you into their system, and procure a job offer. The entire process has taken me about 10 months. You can get a temp work permit pending the CRNE but the medical and a job offer are requirements regardless and the wheels of immigration are slow. If time is of the essence I suggest you start now. Good luck, I hope your dream comes true! Canada is a wonderful country!

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