Applying in the US while in Retrogression

[asdpjr05rn]

My sister who took BSN as a second course (She is a Dentist) passed her NCLEX-RN from the New Mexico Board of Registered Nursing. She is currently working on her IELTS and soon she will start applying for the CES and VisaScreen. In light of the current retrogression, I have the following two questions:

1. Since VisaScreen has an expiration when is the best time to apply? I asked this because since we are still in retrogression she might caught up with it and end up paying for the said service anew.

2. IELTS has a two year effectivity this is also a dilemma. I know it is impossible to get the VisaScreen without passing the IELTS first. So, has someone came up with a schedule of sorts so that we could play it smart.

I am actively pursuing my sister to come here either to work as a RN. If she would be lucky enough to come to the US. Does anyone here in this forum knows any hospitals or medical centers in the state of New Mexico that petition foreign nurses who don't have any experiences?

I was reading an interesting thread about TN visa. So, you come in as tourist, you have passed the NCLEX-RN, VisaSCreen, CES and Work offer then you could easily convert your B1/B2 visa to this TN visa? What are the limitations of a TN visa? Can it be eventually converted to a Permanant Resident Visa?

I keep on hearing from friends and former classmates that their respective hospitals or medical centers continue to employ foreign RNs inspite of the retrogression and they suggested that it is very important that the foreign nurse is here in the US physically to avail such advantage. I don't know how true is this? How are they able to circumnavigate the retrogression?

Any guestimate when will RETRO ends? This is killing a lot of my compatriots.

Thanks. More power.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

We have no idea when retrogression will end but at the moment it is impossible to come to the US and AOS and stay to work, we expect it to take several years currently before that option if any opens up again. TN is only available for Mexico and Canada citizens so where is your sister from? For NM and finding a petitioner the best thing to do is contact hospitals in the areas you want to live and ask about petitioning. VSC lasts for 5 years so needs it doing before her IELTS expires

[suzanne4, RN]

If she has already passed the NCLEX exam, why is she considering the CES? It is not needed in most cases for her.

As mentioned above, she does not qualify for the TN Visa at all, so that should not even be a thought of yours or hers.

She is going to be solidly behind the retrogression at this point in time.

The English exams are good for two years, but the VSC is valid for five years, would get that done before the English expires, no reason to do it now. Will not make any difference in petitioning process for her.

[suzanne4, RN]

Noticed that you mentioned NY in one of your other posts, be aware that NY requires the CVS and not the CES. They are quite different and cannot be used as a substitute for the other.