Usa

UK2USA · Apr 11, 2004

As a UK nurse who is also going through the USA immigration process I may be able to offer you a few words of wisdom:

Firstly, you can approach the problem in 2 ways. Either go through an agency who will file all your paperwork, pay your fees and find you a job. Or, apply for green card yourself, complete the NCLEX, become registered and approach hospitals directly once you have gone through the red tape.

Personally, I went through an agency and I am beginning to wish I hadn't. Sure the paperwork is a nightmare and takes forever, but a lot of US hospitals do not recruit nurses from agencies because of the cost. I passed the NCLEX 14 months ago, got my green card 6 months ago - a process that even with an agency has taken over 2 years, and still no job on the horizon.

My advice to you would be to employ an immigration solicitor who will file all the paperwork then approach hospitals directly. Sure it costs a bit of money, but most US hospitals will give you a sign on bonus which will more than cover the expense in the long run. Good luck.... you will need it.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 11, 2004

UK Nurse,

If you are doing pediatrics, have you completed all of the necessary rotations needed for licensure in the US. This requires the full complement of adult nursing also......................I would definitely recommend getting some experience before coming to the US, but you will be getting that anyways while you are waiting for everything to be completed. You can not begin to apply for anything until after you have your transcripts completed and Diploma in hand. If you go to the "sticky" that I wrote under "International Nursing" it will give you all of the specifics.

Also please be aware that if you do need to complete any of the adult rotations, they must be in an approved course offered by a nursing school not that you worked for so many hours in that area in a hospital...........

suzanne4, RN · Apr 11, 2004

As a UK nurse who is also going through the USA immigration process I may be able to offer you a few words of wisdom:
Firstly, you can approach the problem in 2 ways. Either go through an agency who will file all your paperwork, pay your fees and find you a job. Or, apply for green card yourself, complete the NCLEX, become registered and approach hospitals directly once you have gone through the red tape.
Personally, I went through an agency and I am beginning to wish I hadn't. Sure the paperwork is a nightmare and takes forever, but a lot of US hospitals do not recruit nurses from agencies because of the cost. I passed the NCLEX 14 months ago, got my green card 6 months ago - a process that even with an agency has taken over 2 years, and still no job on the horizon.
My advice to you would be to employ an immigration solicitor who will file all the paperwork then approach hospitals directly. Sure it costs a bit of money, but most US hospitals will give you a sign on bonus which will more than cover the expense in the long run. Good luck.... you will need it.

This seems to be a big problem with nurses coming from the UK. And usually just from there. I think that there is a big probelm with the recruiters that you are using. You have had a green card for six months and still no job offer, doesn't that sound strange to you? Definitely to me................

:balloons:

uk_nurse · Apr 18, 2004

Thanks for your replies. Good advice, but as you see i posted that thread almost 2 yrs ago. i have now been qualified for 13 months and have decided to furthur my career here in uk. I do not want to do adult nursing so i decided not to go to usa, but you never know perhaps one day.....................