H1b Visa for nurses under FY 2010

World Immigration

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I have applied for a work visa for the position as a dialysis nurse. I was filed last april 1 2009 and was wondering when will i get to have a visa? Anyone with a similar status of mine???:specs:

Since you mention costs, let's have a look. Cost of an H1B visa with premium processing for an experienced worker able to start work on day 1: US$3,620 - add another $1,000 to $2,000 if they hire outside attorneys (not necessary).

Cost of training somebody like yourself: upwards of US$10,000 per year, probably significantly more.

Time before H1B can start work: 9 months from now.

Time for training unqualified, inexperienced nurse: Years.

It just doesn't make sense to hire inexperienced, unqualified people for senior posts does it, when those people are needed now? Yes, those positions are few are far between, but you have alluded to and from what I've experienced, they clearly exist. Obviously people aren't going to reveal where because they would be shooting themselves in the foot to do so.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

The thing to be aware of is the US employer has to prove that they can not employ a US or PR before hiring a foreign individual. This year is the first time in over 5-10 years I have know H1b visas last until December. They usually are gone within hours of being released. this I think is a good indication on how the US is suffering at the moment. You mention Geoff that you have IT experience but I am sure you will find it hard (not impossible just hard) to find a employer. The healthcare is also suffering in the US and many nurses both newly qualified and experienced are suffering, just read some of the other forums like state forums and the general nursing discussion forum to see this. Training unqualified inexperienced nurses doesn't always take years. If your wife is able to find a hospital to petition her for a H1b then good for her but you will have to contact hospital sin the areas you plan to live and work and see if they will petition her

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Thanks, Silverdragon102, my uncle owns three businesses, doing rather well judging by his assets. He has identified a couple of possible senior positions that he needs to fill but as you say, needs to prove that there is no suitable US employee. It's not as if it's done in secret either, since the employer has to place notices of intention in two public places in the workplace.

Had we been starting from nothing with no-one in the area then I fully understand the problems of finding jobs. As they say, it's all about who you know, not what you know (well, to a certain extent).

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It doesn't take years to train inexperienced nurses. I've worked with many inexperienced nurses and although it takes months to train them, they're already familiar with all the high tech technology that's in the hospitals. Some foreign trained nurses don't have the high tech technology so therefore it will take some time for them to get used to and really be familiar with. The bedside care isn't the same in their home country as it is here, yes they have experience in health care in their home country but things are done differently from country to country with some places more similar than others. But they will still need training on the system here.

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Some positions are calling for a set number of years experience. If you don't have that then it'll take the difference in number of years to get that experience. Whether that is right to specify a number is another issue.

Training on equipment: this comment applies equally whether you're an American from a hospital one mile away or a foreigner from 10,000 miles away (would apply equally to an American joining a UK hospital, for example). Not all hospitals have the same equipment.

Bedside manner? Honestly. In any case, this features in the NCLEX exams so is again an irrelevant point.

Sorry, but your arguments aren't holding much water with me.

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Some positions are calling for a set number of years experience. If you don't have that then it'll take the difference in number of years to get that experience. Whether that is right to specify a number is another issue.

Training on equipment: this comment applies equally whether you're an American from a hospital one mile away or a foreigner from 10,000 miles away (would apply equally to an American joining a UK hospital, for example). Not all hospitals have the same equipment.

Bedside manner? Honestly. In any case, this features in the NCLEX exams so is again an irrelevant point.

Sorry, but your arguments aren't holding much water with me.

Whether you have 3, 4, or 5 years experience, it doesn't matter. It doesn't take that many years to train a new nurse. You can have a nurse with 10 years experience, and one with 5 years experience. It doesn't matter, the one with 5 years experience can do the same job as the one with 10 years experience. It doesn't take 5 years to train a new nurse. Depending on the department it can take months, and if it's general med surg it can take a couple of months. If it's labor it can take 6 months because they must be trained in labor and also in post partum if the position requires it to be. But it's not going to take 2-5 years to train them. If you're looking at cardiology it might be different, it all depends. It might take new nurses a 3 years to really get comfortable with their job, but they can certainly function on their own within the first 6 months to 1 year depending on the department. This I received from an instructor of mine and talking to several new nurses. I've even had nurses who have been nurses for over 20 years tell me "I'm learning something new everyday".

If you're familiar with high tech technology then it wont take as long if you're moving to a new system. If you're coming from a place that doesn't have high tech technology it's going to take you a bit longer to learn the system. Some places still use paper charting and sometimes it takes time to have someone transition. It wont take years to transition, but it can take months.

Bedside manor, yes, there is a difference in bedside manor from country to country. What's acceptable in the US might not be acceptable in the UK. What's acceptable in the Philippines might not be acceptable in Canada. You have to know the rules and regulations of each country, what you can and can't do as a nurse. That's why some places have you do bridge courses before they allow you to practice nursing in their country. That's a smart thing to do. Especially when dealing with peoples lives. Hopefully the US and other countries that don't do this will soon to follow.

Studying for the NCLEX isn't going to give you everything that you need to know, all NCLEX is doing is preparing you how to take the exam. The pass rate for foreigners (mainly ones whose English is their second language) who take the NCLEX is below average whether they are new nurses or seasoned. IMO, it has to do with the language barrier. If you don't believe me, do a search on past threads, there are tons of them out there. I read on another thread that out of 500 Filipino graduates from one class, only 20 of them passed the NLE. That would be unacceptable here had it been 500 students taking NCLEX from John Doe Nursing School and only 20 of them passing.

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We're not talking Gen Med here, we're talking ICU, CCU, Cardiac or whatever - you can only get H1b for specialities, which as you say, takes more than just a few months for training. So by your figures it costs more than an "import".

I think I already made my point re equipment training, though note I did not state any length of time, only that it applies to everybody new to the equipment, foreign or local. You may be surprised to learn this but there is high tech equipment all over the world.

NCLEX, I don't see how you can make a comparison between a 12-year "veteran" of nursing and a college grad. By your own quote, you learn something new every day so without any revision a 12-year nurse is far more likely to pass than a college grad just from personal experience. The pass rate for the UK is around 90% and that includes foreign born nurses. Of course, for the foreign born nurses they would have had to pass the UK equivalent so they're already in good stead.

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Did you even bother to read further? I used labor and post partum as another example. I used med surg as an example because the training isn't as rigorous as labor. I also briefly mentioned cardiology and didn't go into detail.

Yes, there is high tech equipment through out the world, but not all countries have it. Some countries can't treat patients with diseases like leukemia, diabetes, AIDS, and plenty of others because they don't have access to medications, glucose monitors, etc. Sometimes it's just something basic. It could also be that they don't have the money to spend on high tech stuff like this. If you don't have a glucose monitor accessible in your country, then to them that's considered high tech. To the US, Canada, Australia or even Germany that can be something so basic. We all know it doesn't take long to learn to use a glucose monitor.

Sad to say I've seen seasoned foreign trained nurses fail the CNA exam twice before passing it. I compared a RN with 5 years experience to a nurse with 10 years experience, not the new grad. There is no comparison, the seasoned nurse of course has more experience but you still have to transition in a new country and therefore must undergo training. I've seen some seasoned foreign nurses struggle here, and I've seen some who made the transition beautifully. When you have a foreign RN asking you the CNA how to insert a FC, then there's definately a problem. When you have RNs asking you to help them with patients diet and not knowing what NAS means, then there's a problem. When the RN can't even answer a simple question as to what medication they're taking, then there's another problem. I've seen all of this plus more on the floor. These are supposed seasoned nurses abroad. Not all of them have this problem, but most that I've come across do. But since you're not a nurse and you don't work with direct patient contact, I can see why you don't see this. Since your expertise is IT, maybe you can share your experiences with foreigners who come over working in IT. As you would have much more knowledge in that sector than the rest of us.

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Before this discussion goes any further, maybe I could answer Geoff's initial query....

Mate, I would advise your wife to revise, take and pass the NCLEX as soon as she can. That is really the first step in the application process. Although I don't think it's possible to get all the things done in time for April, the sooner she starts the process, the better.

It's not only a matter of passing the NCLEX, you see. She also needs to take the IELTS which is needed for her Visa Screen Certificate. So that could also take a considerable amount of time. With your wife's experience, I don't think it will be hard for her to look for an employer that is willing to sponsor her for a H1b. With regards to California though, that will be a tall order at the moment as far as I'm aware.

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Did you even bother to read further?

Clearly, yes, otherwise I would not have been able to lay to rest all your concerns. I've read this entire thread and scores of others. I am not medical but the replies I have given come from factual evidence and do not need a medical education to give. Clearly you are strongly against me and my wife supplementing the American workforce and it is a shame that hands across the ocean do not spread both ways. In light of that I will respectfully refrain from further contact with yourself to avoid any further misunderstandings or bad feelings.

RetroPinoy, thanks, that sounds logical and matches up with answers from other experienced people on other forums. I know she did an English language test for something but may not have been IELT (she's at work so I can't ask). In any case, it would be easy for her as whatever test she did take she scored very high marks (probably more than an Englishman would!).

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Geoff, you may want to check the latest issue of RCN bulletin from time to time for H1B opportunities.

I don't know if your PM function is working..maybe you can message me for some contacts.

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Geoff, you may want to check the latest issue of RCN bulletin from time to time for H1B opportunities.

I don't know if your PM function is working..maybe you can message me for some contacts.

Ok, will do. I noticed she was reading one the other day.

I need to make 15 posts before I can post PMs apparently. I can read yours though. I've got no problems replying in public. I'm British, she was from Negros Or., trained over there, specialising in cardiac, came to UK about 6 years ago, met a couple of years later, she has spent about half that time in ICU, and has since become a British Citizen. We're in the southwest of the UK, Swindon, Wiltshire to be precise.

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