Any UK nurses in process of applying for US nursing?

janelola · Apr 14, 2008

Hi!

I'm a little behind you. I passed NCLEX in May 2007 but have not applied yet for visa screen, I hope to do that soon as I know it can take a while to come through. I didn't do the CGFNS as I'm trying to go to CA which doesn't require it. We decided 2 years ago that this is what we want to do, so now the long process hopefully can begin.

How are you planning to go? Via an agency? Or via direct hire? Have you an area in mind that you want to go to?

Good luck for the exam in June! Be happy to keep you updated or help in any way if I possibly can.

Jane

scottishRGN · Apr 14, 2008

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've actually just been on the CGFNS web page & i'm getting mixed up (its not rare!) It was the credntials verification not the visa screen i did. I don't suppose it matters at this stage anyway. I'll apply for that one the NCLEX is out of the way. Well done on passing yours :yeah:Did you study yourself or go on a course? I've been in touch with PPR Healthcare who seem to have some good courses. I haven't decided whether to go down that route yet or not.

I haven't decided who to go with yet either. I'd initally thought i could get a temp working visa so had planned on choosing an agency & transfering my licensure every few months to allow me to travel. Since thats not an option i'm kind of back to square one. I'm going to do some research. How about you? Do you already have ajob set up? What area do you work in?

Karen :)

topscot · Apr 14, 2008

Hi,
I just wondered if there were any others out there at a similar stage to me.
I've passed the CGFNS & have my visa screen certificate (though think it may expire before i get to use it). I sat & failed the NCLEX earlier this month so plan to re-sit around June.
My main concern at the moment is i was given wrong information re: which visa to apply for & only learned recently thanks to this site that i need to apply for a green card. I'm now not sure which step to take next. It seems like a long wait for a green card but this is something i really want to do so i think i'll carry on with the application and just bide my time.
It would be great to have someone else to compare notes with, so if anyone's in a similar situation i'd love to hear from you :typing
Thanks, Karen

I passed NCLEX in 2005 i am still here got job in Arizona 2006 and we are still waitng for green card

suehp · Apr 14, 2008

Hi,
I just wondered if there were any others out there at a similar stage to me.
I've passed the CGFNS & have my visa screen certificate (though think it may expire before i get to use it). I sat & failed the NCLEX earlier this month so plan to re-sit around June.
My main concern at the moment is i was given wrong information re: which visa to apply for & only learned recently thanks to this site that i need to apply for a green card. I'm now not sure which step to take next. It seems like a long wait for a green card but this is something i really want to do so i think i'll carry on with the application and just bide my time.
It would be great to have someone else to compare notes with, so if anyone's in a similar situation i'd love to hear from you :typing
Thanks, Karen

Sorry you failed the NCLEX - i know how that feels - I passed the 2nd time and I am sure you will too - Good Luck :up:

Try and stay the course for the Green Card - it really is worth it in the end...I had to wait 37 months to get mine.....

LiverpoolJane · Apr 14, 2008

I was offerred a job in the US last November but have not been able to sit NCLEX as Vermont wanted more detail on my VOE that my old school of nursing have been unable to provide. I applied for my transcripts and VOE to be completed last Sept and am now so frustrated that I am paying for a CES in the hopes that this will be easier but again still no response form the school of nursing. I have contacted the NMC and have been told that they could possibly help but have yet to speak to the right department.

I am worried about the hospital withdrawing their offer if I am not seen be sitting NCLEX any time soon, but there doesn't seem like I can do anything about it.

I have gone with an agency that will arrange interviews with direct hire hospitals only, so if I ever get to the US I will be working for the hospital not the agency. I have had to agree to a three year contract which is longer than I wanted but I think this is about average now, when I first enquired about going to the US years ago the contracts were only between 18 months - 2 years.

At this point in time I feel like it is never going to happen as can't seem to get past the first hurdle!

pearlsc · Apr 14, 2008

I am worried about the hospital withdrawing their offer if I am not seen be sitting NCLEX any time soon, but there doesn't seem like I can do anything about it.
Hi, just a quick word of encouragement, with the current retrogression, I think hospitals have no choice but to wait anyway. :) I am confident that retrogression will lift eventually.. I just overheard a co-worker mention they are processing visas for those who have filed from March 2006.. Good luck! And not to worry, there are plenty of hospitals waiting for strong nurses!

suzanne4, RN · Apr 14, 2008

I was offerred a job in the US last November but have not been able to sit NCLEX as Vermont wanted more detail on my VOE that my old school of nursing have been unable to provide. I applied for my transcripts and VOE to be completed last Sept and am now so frustrated that I am paying for a CES in the hopes that this will be easier but again still no response form the school of nursing. I have contacted the NMC and have been told that they could possibly help but have yet to speak to the right department.
I am worried about the hospital withdrawing their offer if I am not seen be sitting NCLEX any time soon, but there doesn't seem like I can do anything about it.
I have gone with an agency that will arrange interviews with direct hire hospitals only, so if I ever get to the US I will be working for the hospital not the agency. I have had to agree to a three year contract which is longer than I wanted but I think this is about average now, when I first enquired about going to the US years ago the contracts were only between 18 months - 2 years.
At this point in time I feel like it is never going to happen as can't seem to get past the first hurdle!

Not sure how they were able to offer a job to you in the US if you have not passed either the CGFNS exam or the NCLEX exam. They cannot legally do that without one of the exams being passed, and they cannot even submit a piece of paperwork to immigration without one of those exams being completed.

A hospital cannot legally offer a job without one of the above exams being passed either. They can offer a letter of intent, but not an actual job offer.

They can promise what ever they wish, but it is not legally binding in the US.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 14, 2008

I am worried about the hospital withdrawing their offer if I am not seen be sitting NCLEX any time soon, but there doesn't seem like I can do anything about it.
Hi, just a quick word of encouragement, with the current retrogression, I think hospitals have no choice but to wait anyway. :) I am confident that retrogression will lift eventually.. I just overheard a co-worker mention they are processing visas for those who have filed from March 2006.. Good luck! And not to worry, there are plenty of hospitals waiting for strong nurses!
Yes, they are processing petitions from 3/2006; that is correct. However, one must have a completed file at this time to be considered for a green card. And that is the exact reason why the date jumped ahead, there are many that never had approval on everything so they are going to be waiting. The retrogression actually started October, 2006; so there are many that are in the waiting process that already have completed files and have just been waiting for an interview at the US Embassy. One cannot start the petitioning process until one of the exams are passed and verification of that has been sent to the attorney of record to include it with the intial petition.
Do not expect the retrogression to be lifted anytime soon, the number of applicants far exceeds the number that are waiting. Suggest that you have a good read on the International Forum for specifics as to what is going on. There are several here on this forum that are still waiting and have been waiting for a longer time.
Do not want to bust anyone's hopes but the fact is that there is nothing that is going to be happening soon, and add into it the fact that it is an election year and the other fact that many employees in immigration have been pulled to process naturalization papers for those expecting US citizenship so that they will be able to vote in this year's election. That is the priority right now of the US government and is well documented as well.
Best of luck to those of you that are waiting.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 14, 2008

Moved thread to the International Forum as it is specific to working in the US and not in the UK. Please refer to red banner at the top of the UK forum for further information.

janelola · Apr 15, 2008

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've actually just been on the CGFNS web page & i'm getting mixed up (its not rare!) It was the credntials verification not the visa screen i did. I don't suppose it matters at this stage anyway. I'll apply for that one the NCLEX is out of the way. Well done on passing yours :yeah:Did you study yourself or go on a course? I've been in touch with PPR Healthcare who seem to have some good courses. I haven't decided whether to go down that route yet or not.
I haven't decided who to go with yet either. I'd initally thought i could get a temp working visa so had planned on choosing an agency & transfering my licensure every few months to allow me to travel. Since thats not an option i'm kind of back to square one. I'm going to do some research. How about you? Do you already have ajob set up? What area do you work in?
Karen :)

Hi Karen, regarding the NCLEX, I studied myself, I did get a few good books to help and a disc off ebay for kaplan test questions - I thought they were most like the real exam. How many questions did you have to answer? Did they give you any feedback on areas for improvement?

I read an earlier post you wrote about your initial plans - so are you planning to go now to stick around for a while, I think I read somewhere that inital contracts would be for a few years - makes sense really - they've got to recoup their money somehow. As for me, I'm not sure yet whether to go with an agency or not, I'm in the middle of ploughing through paperwork to send for the visascreen - they want to know in ins and outs of a cat's wotsit!! :rotfl:They even want my GCSE results from 1988!

No, I don't already have a job offer, I need to get my skates on - I moved jobs to ICU at the beginning of Dec 07 in order to be a bit more empoyable in the US ( I was a Diabetes Research Nurse - bit of a change!!). so I think I need more experience there before anyone will interview or consider me. How long have you been in ICU? Where are you planning on going?

Jane :typing

scottishRGN · Apr 17, 2008

Hi Jane,

I bought the kaplan book with the test Q cd a couple of days after i failed. I'm glad you recommendd it too - should have bought it sooner on retrospect. As for my plans i'm still a bit confused about what i'll do but every other plan i consider brings me back to working in the states at some stage so i think i'll carry on with my application to NYS and maybe save up to do some travelling in the mean time.

Hows your job going? Are you enjoying ITU? I've been there since March 06 and love it. Its a 6 bedded unit with great staff & support so its been a good unit to start in. I came from my 1st job in CCU where i'd been for around 5yrs so it was a big change for me too having had no surgical & little resp experience. You'll be fine tho - to have come from Diabetic Research you must have loads of good experience.

Well, good luck with all the visa screen paperwork. I found an agency called CCM recruitment, i don't know much about them but i've been looking at their website this wk an they look ok so far. O'grady Peyton & PPR helathcare also seem to have good opportunities. I'm still learning what to look for but hopefully they might be some help to you.

Take care, Karen x