B.sc Nurse from India, going to the US on an F1 VISA

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Hi,

I've just completed my B.Sc. nursing this year(2014) from India, and I have been accepted for a 1 year certificate program (surgical technology) in Seattle, on an F-1 Visa.

  • Is it possible for me to do my NCLEX-RN exam while I am on a student visa?
  • What Visa will I be eligible for after completing my course and my NCLEX-RN?

I would really appreciate if you guys could give me options, which will benefit me and help me stay in the US.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

It is possible to do your RN application with a state whilst on a student visa(F1)

You may find it hard however once you have completed your course in staying in the US and working. H1b is minimal BSN and very costly with employer shouldering the costs. Will not open until April 2015 with commencement if lucky Oct 2015. Only exception would be if the hospital is not affected by the cap like A not for profit institution of higher education, affiliation with an institute of further education or not for profit research organisation

If you find a employer willing to wait the 10 plus years then you could apply for a immigrant visa but it doesn't allow you to live and work in the US whilst waiting

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shrevn for how many years u got the visa

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five years F-1 visa (student)

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The F1 Visa will allow you to work for 20 hrs each week and also you can do an internship after the completion of your education here. However changing your F1 to a work visa is a complete different ballgame. You can not be employed in the US unless you have a work permit/ work visa. The hospital will have to sponsor you for a work visa petition. A hosp. can only sponsor a nurse from overseas if they can prove that thy could not find any suitable nurse here in the US. Currently there is a high rate of unemployment among the fresh nursing force in the US therefore filling a nurse position is not as difficult as it was a few years ago unless you have some special skills that can not be found here, something like research background etc.

You can do your NCLEX from anywhere online.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Usually the initial 20 hours a week is done on campus and you have to apply for permission to work once you have started your course. Not sure if they can apply for internship due to the nature of the course but they don't lose anything by asking the International student adviser

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Have you asked the school where you are getting the certificate from, if there have been any very recent (within the last year only) of successful international students such as yourself, if they were able to find employment?

I would ask to see if you can find out where they are working.

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Yes you can register for the nclex exam on your F 1 visa, you just need to be smart enough to combine your course work with studying for nclex exam. After you have your Rn license you can then begin to search for employer that can sponsor you for an H1B visa which will permit you to work in the state.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Yes you can register for the nclex exam on your F 1 visa, you just need to be smart enough to combine your course work with studying for nclex exam. After you have your Rn license you can then begin to search for employer that can sponsor you for an H1B visa which will permit you to work in the state.

New grads are ineligible for H1B as it is a specialist visa

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