Green Card & Associate Degree

jbearmn · Jul 27, 2005

Thank you guys! I already used my OPT when I graduated from a 4 year college. My LPN Nursing degree is lower than my education and I already used once. So, OPT is not the option for me.

I'm living in Minneapolis. Actually, today, I went to couple community colleges to find out if I can take a Nursing Mobility Program. And I made an appointment with a new immigration attorney tomorrow morning. I hope he can tell something good news. Otherwsie, I am looking at moving to Canada. I feel that there is NO HOPE here is the US. I have a 4 year college degree and I am an LPN and still I cannot find a job!? That's totally ridiculous! Don't you think so???

suzanne4, RN · Jul 27, 2005

You will still need to go thru Canadian immigration, many of the provinces are now requiring the four degree for practicing as an RN. And you won't find it easier getting a job there with an equivalent of the US LPN.

Finding the job isn't your problem, getting a visa that will permit you to work is. Not sure why you went the route of 2 year LPN to begin with. Most programs are still one year in the US. And quite surprised that the guidance didn't suggest otherwise. Or the person that handled your student visa there. In my opinion, they should have offered the necessary guidance. Any one that told you that you would be able to get a job right away with the LPN was wrong, they may have just heard two year degree, but the degree has to be an RN, nothing lower.

LPNs are not fast-tracked in the US in terms of working here or getting a green card, unfortunately they are added in to the list of everyone else that wishes to work in the US.

There are programs that can be done on-line for this bridge program to getting your RN. That would probably be done quicker before you could get documents that would permit you to work in Canada. :)

jbearmn · Jul 29, 2005

You will still need to go thru Canadian immigration, many of the provinces are now requiring the four degree for practicing as an RN. And you won't find it easier getting a job there with an equivalent of the US LPN.
Finding the job isn't your problem, getting a visa that will permit you to work is. Not sure why you went the route of 2 year LPN to begin with. Most programs are still one year in the US. And quite surprised that the guidance didn't suggest otherwise. Or the person that handled your student visa there. In my opinion, they should have offered the necessary guidance. Any one that told you that you would be able to get a job right away with the LPN was wrong, they may have just heard two year degree, but the degree has to be an RN, nothing lower.
LPNs are not fast-tracked in the US in terms of working here or getting a green card, unfortunately they are added in to the list of everyone else that wishes to work in the US.
There are programs that can be done on-line for this bridge program to getting your RN. That would probably be done quicker before you could get documents that would permit you to work in Canada. :)

Thank you Suzanne4! The reason I took a 2 year LPN program was my (previous now) immigration attorney's advice. 2.5 years ago, she told me that I can get the H1-B work visa or a permanent residency if I become either an LPN or an RN. I CLEARLY remember that she looked at some immigration law book and told me that I can be qualified for green card.

To me honest with you, I lost my job by 9/11. I was an interpreter/translator for a Japanese business consulting company. I had a professional job. After 9/11, my work load got minimized. A friend of mine suggested that I should become a nurse becuase of the nurse shortage here in the US. I thought that that would be a great profession. Plus, my immigration attorney's advice let me got into Nursing. I have done lots of medical interpretation before. I though that the nursing knowledge helps me to be a professional medical interpreter as well. I just wanted to have the better financial situation after struggling to find a full time job. That's why I decided to study Nursing.

However, it didn't work. Nothing works in the US! If I decide to move to Canada, I am not looking for an LPN position there since I have a 4 year college degree. However, I would like to know about "bridge program." Is it the same as an RN mobilty program?

I went to several community colleges to find out the RN mobility program. The eariest I can finish this mobility program is in June 2007. I could take some pre-requisite classes and most classes are able to be transferred. Maybe, I just need to take less than 30 credits to complete this program. However, as an international student, I have to keep my international student status which I have to take at least 12 credits per semester, meaning that I have to take some extra classes. I don't know if I can afford extra classes...financially. I am not qualified for Finaical aid at all so.....

It seems like I told you everything what I have done and what I'm trying to do. At this point, 80% for sure, I want to move to Canada and start over my original career. I mean I'm still interested in Nursing, but I think a profession with my 4 year college degree makes much more than an LPN anyway.

Thanks for your advice. I appreciate that you gave me lots of ideas.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 29, 2005

It is still going to take you some time before you could work in Canada, at a minimum. You still need to go thru their complete immigration process. Here you could do the same, but your wait could be four years or more.

LPNs have never been accepted for the H1-B visa, if you look at the regs, it states professional degree. LPN is considered a technical degree, not a rpeofessional one in terms of immigration. And the H1-B visas are no longer available. Plus, you need to have a Visa Screen Certificate to work here as a nurse now, even for the H1-B visa, if it was available, and these are not available to LPNs. So unless you marry an American, you are stuck right now. :)

I am not sure what your mobility program is but more than likely it is the same as a bridge program.

dentru · Sep 16, 2005

If I have a AAS degree from a College in USA, is it possible for me to get my work visa(H1)?

Thanks

Vikas

suzanne4, RN · Sep 17, 2005

No temporary work permits for nurses, only the green card. Much better for the nurse also.

texancanadian · Sep 17, 2005

Hi Suzanne,

I have nbeen doing a lot of research and am nearly done with my prereq's and have a very good shot to get into an ADN-RN program in the US. I am currently on an H4 visa. Would be great if you can help answer some o my questions.

1) If I change to an F1 visa will I be eligible for the full 1 yr OPT even if I complete an Associates degree program ? or is this 1 yr given only if you complete a Bachelors degree ( Note- I would change from an H4 to F1 solely for the OPT because with an H4 I pay in state tuition but that would change with an F1)

2) Do you have any idea when most Graduate Nurses take the NCLEX-RN exam? Is it immediately after their last semsester ? For a US RN graduate how long would it take to get registered with a state board and do visa screen.

3) If you were to guess when the additional 50,000 visas will be exhausted what would you guess - this yr, next yr.

4) I am a Canadian Permanant resident. If Visa numbers are not available when I graduate and if I move to Canada, do you know if they will most likely give me any credit for my ADN-RN. Do you know if RN-BSN programs are available in Toronto, Canada. I have no problems studying a little more but do you think I may need to start from scratch ?

Thanks

An OPT is granted after completing an RN program to get additional training in that area for one year. It doesn't cover LPN programs.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 17, 2005

If you are a Canadian citizen, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. As soon as you have the Visa Certificate in hand, you can get a TN Visa which will permit you to work immediately. All you need is a job offer and the Visa Screen Certificate and you are all set.

Depends on which province that you live in, some are now requiring the BSN for initial licensure, such as Ontario.

If you are Canadian, I would not even worry about the OPT. You will be just fine without it. You can take the NCLEX-RN exam as soon your transcripts from school are submitted to the BON and you get their approval. You do need to have completed set of transcripts for the Visa Screen Certificate application, but since it is an American school, time will be quite short for processing, compared to if you trained overseas. So if, you graduate in May or June, you could easily be working by the end of July, and not have to pay more in tuition.:)

Hope that this helps...........

texancanadian · Sep 17, 2005

Suzanne,

I am a Canadian Permanant Resident not a Canadian Citizen ie I have the Canadian Green Card but I have an Indian passport.

If you are a Canadian citizen, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. As soon as you have the Visa Certificate in hand, you can get a TN Visa which will permit you to work immediately. All you need is a job offer and the Visa Screen Certificate and you are all set.
Depends on which province that you live in, some are now requiring the BSN for initial licensure, such as Ontario.
If you are Canadian, I would not even worry about the OPT. You will be just fine without it. You can take the NCLEX-RN exam as soon your transcripts from school are submitted to the BON and you get their approval. You do need to have completed set of transcripts for the Visa Screen Certificate application, but since it is an American school, time will be quite short for processing, compared to if you trained overseas. So if, you graduate in May or June, you could easily be working by the end of July, and not have to pay more in tuition.:)
Hope that this helps...........

suzanne4, RN · Sep 17, 2005

Unfortunately, then you are going to have some issues up front. Just be aware of them. The issues are going to be with immigration. If you begin school now, and have the OPT for one year, the retrogression is expected to be in place in the next few months once again, and they are talking of about a five year wait for nurses from India once the 50,000 visas are used up. You will not be able to extend the OPT after the one year, and an Adjustment of Status is not possible if the dates are not current.

Sorry, that I did not read that you were a Canadian resident but not a citizen.

And with the two year degree, it would not count under the EB3 if they go back to those numbers, since it is not a four year degree.

Not sure what else to offer at this point to you. If you a had Canadian passport, then there would be no issues at all.

texancanadian · Sep 17, 2005

Suzanne,

Do you know if they have RN --> BSN programs in Ontario, Canada, ie if I have an ADN RN from the US do you think I could just take a year or two of coursework and get a BSN in Canada or would I have to start from scratch ?

suzanne4, RN · Sep 18, 2005

That is something that you will need to look into. Especially for Ontario. I am only familiar with the requirements in terms of years, etc.

I suggest that you contact some programs there, in your province, and ask.

Good luck..............:)