Australian Citizen needing help with e3 Visa nursing in America

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 8, 2010

Have you tried contacting the BON and seeing what the application process is for International nurses and whether you can submit a paper copy as you have no SSN and can't get one until in the US with a valid work/immigrant visa?

Is your fiancée a USC because you may find it easier to get a immigrant visa to go via K3?

tjaygreen · Jun 8, 2010

Hi, it may be worth your while checking out the PGC Group (thePGCgroup : We Make Globalisation Work) to see if they can help. I know they have worked with a lot of Aussies moving to the US on the E3 so they could be a great resource.

allnurses Guide · Jun 13, 2010

I can't imagine why E3 recipients would use that agency, because it is really the most simple work visa to get, and anyone can do it by themselves.

jehnsenigoe, an LCA is not the same as a job offer. The LCA is the form the prospective employer fills out to prove that it's a suitable position for the visa, and to guarantee the working conditions and wage. Your best bet is to visit the US and talk to people at hospitals. It's hard to get a job in a lot of places for RNs right now, and any excuse (such as needing a visa) that makes it harder isn't good.

The main thing to get across to people is that "sponsorship" is not required, that this isn't for a "green card", and that the visa requirements are not like a H1B etc. The only cost of the E3 is the visa fee (which just went from $130 to $390 USD) and it's renewable indefinitely. Be prepared to explain ad nauseum about it as most HR folks don't understand visas etc.

To be honest, if you haven't even sat NCLEX yet, you'd be much better to take care of that while working on your marriage-based visa. Either visit the US and get married, then come back to Australia and apply for immigrant visa which makes you a permanent resident on entry, or apply for fiancee visa.

The NCLEX process is looooooong, so you should contact the KY board of nursing asap. You generally do NOT need a SSN for most states, and of those that you do, many give you a waiver if you're an international nurse. I don't know about KY though so you'd have to ask them.

Aunurse1 · Sep 28, 2010

I can't imagine why E3 recipients would use that agency, because it is really the most simple work visa to get, and anyone can do it by themselves.
jehnsenigoe, an LCA is not the same as a job offer. The LCA is the form the prospective employer fills out to prove that it's a suitable position for the visa, and to guarantee the working conditions and wage. Your best bet is to visit the US and talk to people at hospitals. It's hard to get a job in a lot of places for RNs right now, and any excuse (such as needing a visa) that makes it harder isn't good.
The main thing to get across to people is that "sponsorship" is not required, that this isn't for a "green card", and that the visa requirements are not like a H1B etc. The only cost of the E3 is the visa fee (which just went from $130 to $390 USD) and it's renewable indefinitely. Be prepared to explain ad nauseum about it as most HR folks don't understand visas etc.
To be honest, if you haven't even sat NCLEX yet, you'd be much better to take care of that while working on your marriage-based visa. Either visit the US and get married, then come back to Australia and apply for immigrant visa which makes you a permanent resident on entry, or apply for fiancee visa.
The NCLEX process is looooooong, so you should contact the KY board of nursing asap. You generally do NOT need a SSN for most states, and of those that you do, many give you a waiver if you're an international nurse. I don't know about KY though so you'd have to ask them.

Hello I'm back again I got a job offer for a position as a psych nurse at a childrens hospital but now the employer is telling me they can't fill out the LCA as the position only requires an associates degree not a bachelors. Apparently most positions in the US are the same as this except for nursing unit management positions which I am not experienced enough for. How is it possible for me to attain an e3 visa when there are no positions that match the requirements? (BSN is only preferred not required). Any continued help would be great. I'm desperate. :crying2:

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Sep 28, 2010

Hello I'm back again I got a job offer for a position as a psych nurse at a childrens hospital but now the employer is telling me they can't fill out the LCA as the position only requires an associates degree not a bachelors. Apparently most positions in the US are the same as this except for nursing unit management positions which I am not experienced enough for. How is it possible for me to attain an e3 visa when there are no positions that match the requirements? (BSN is only preferred not required). Any continued help would be great. I'm desperate.

Maybe try at a magnet hospital? They try to employ more BSN's.

Aunurse1 · Sep 28, 2010

Maybe try at a magnet hospital? They try to employ more BSN's.

Thank you for your help it was a good idea. However, even at these hospitals it seems the job positions require at least an Associates degree not a BSN so it doesn't satisfy the LCA form for the e-3 visa.

I figured Nursing was considered a specialty profession but in the United States all the RN positions only require an Associates degree. To make it even more frustrating when I talked to an employer they said they usually only hire people with a bachelors. So it seems I can't get the e-3 visa because of a technicality. I don't see how a registered nurse can even use the e-3 visa unless they are going to a management or nurse practitioner position. I don't understand why the consulate didn't bother to mention it isn't possible to get an LCA as a registered nurse.

Mallory11 · Oct 12, 2011

I am a qualified Registered Nurse currently working in Australia. I have a Bachelor of Nursing and have been working in Australia for almost a year. I am applying for a VISA to work in the United States as I am engaged to a man that lives in Kentucky. For the E3 VISA application I need a job offer (LCA) from the hospital I want to work at but the hospital won't give me a job unless I have a VISA. I am looking for any information about this from people who may have already completed this process as it all seems very confusing. I also need to sit the NCLEX exam but I have been unable to apply due to a lack of Social Security number (required to fill out the application). Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

Hi, I'm also an RN from Aus with a BN, I'm interested to find out how you've gone, and if you've successfully gotten a job via E3, where you recommend hunting for RN positions that satisfy E3 criteria (Bachelors degree NOT associate!)

Thanks, hope it worked out for you :)