I had my Embassy interview yesterday. It wasn't at all what I expected, very informal and I was just asked how long had I been nursing, how did I get my job in the US, and when was I planning to leave. And that was it....paid my fee for my passport to be returned by courier (which they said would be today or tomorrow)....and I'm good to go :w00t:
Feel kinda strange today, I've been sort of thriving under all this immigration pressure for the past 18 months, and now it's all done.
So......here's to the end of an era, and a new beginning :cheers:
Thank you to all who have helped and supported me (you know who you are :icon_hug: )
Good luck to everybody who's still waiting......keep the faith, it's all worth it in the end.
No, I didn't use an agency. I did all the CGFNS & NCLEX applications myself then went for direct hire. I wanted to be in control of where I would live and work and figured going independently was the only way to be sure of this. If you can afford to fund the process yourself, this really is the best way and it can be done.
Good luck :)
Hi
When you say fund yourself-How much have you paid in all and for what? This would help when advising nurses to go alone.
Registration with Pearson for NCLEX...........$200
Extra fee to Pearson for NCLEX in London....$150
Now, this is where it gets interesting......once you have a job offer from an employer who is willing to petition you, an Immigration Attorney is needed to do all the legal work for the immigration process. There have been various figures relating to what the cost of this is, but I believe it to be in the region of $5000......however, your employer should bear the cost of this, mine has done so. The only extra money I had to pay was $380 for my husband's visa fee. Also, my employer has given me $1900 as a reimbursement for the fees I paid myself to CGFNS and for NCLEX, which actually was $1000 over and above what it actually cost me, so I think I got a pretty good deal.
So if you can afford the $900 or so to get to the point of having NCLEX and Visascreen, you are in a good position to approach a hospital and apply for direct hire.
Hope this is of some help to those just starting out and wondering which route to go.....agency or direct hire :)
Thanks for the info Tina! To be honest, I much prefer to go the direct route. Is the best way to just phone hospital's up from the UK and ask them if they sponsor foreigners? Or would it be better to go over there and speak to someone in person? Or is that illegal if you haven't got permission to stay yet!!!!??? So many question's... LOL!
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi,
Thanks for the info Tina! To be honest, I much prefer to go the direct route. Is the best way to just phone hospital's up from the UK and ask them if they sponsor foreigners? Or would it be better to go over there and speak to someone in person? Or is that illegal if you haven't got permission to stay yet!!!!??? So many question's... LOL!
Thanks
Ste :monkeydance:
no reason why you don't go out and speak to them but you would have to come back to the UK to go through the process (AOS can be done but not recommended and you need to be able to support yourself for over 4 months whilst waiting) Would also help if you have NCLEX and VS under your belt and they would more likely offer to petition you
Thanks for the advice Anna. I think then, when the time comes, I will go over there and see what can be arranged. I've heard far too many of these horror stories regarding agencies, plus I'd rather be more independent as Tina say's. :paw:
Thanks for the advice Anna. I think then, when the time comes, I will go over there and see what can be arranged. I've heard far too many of these horror stories regarding agencies, plus I'd rather be more independent as Tina say's. :paw:
I think it is important to bear in mind that all routes to the US will involve some financial commitment either to the agency or the hospital which is sponsering you. You may well be tied into a 2-3 year contract with a hospital and it may involve lots of dollars if you break that contract. So when you are considering hospital v agency, it may be worth bearing in mind no way is free.
Is the best way to just phone hospital's up from the UK and ask them if they sponsor foreigners? Or would it be better to go over there and speak to someone in person? Or is that illegal if you haven't got permission to stay yet!!!!???
There's nothing stopping you contacting hospitals from here in the UK, but you asked which is the best way.....in my opinion, if you can travel to the US and do a bit of networking face to face, that's certainly the best way, that's what I did and I think it got me there much quicker than if I'd have tried to get hired from here. Bear in mind though...if you have NCLEX and Visascreen, you will be in a much stronger postion for any employer to take you seriously. I've heard of some nurses who approach US hospitals direct, only to be told to come back once they have NCLEX. Hope that helps :)
PS : It's quite legal to travel to the US on a Visa Waiver, you can stay for up to 90 days but need to be able to prove, if asked, that you intend to return to the UK and your trip is not to seek work and stay there.
Thanks for the advice you guys, I think the face to face approach would probably be the best way to go about it. I suppose my main dilemma is this business of making up the hours!!!! I had a meeting with a admissions tutor at Salford Uni this morning, and he said on my transcript at the end I will have 75 hours of theory in pediactrics, mental health, and obstetrics, but only 10 hours practical in each!!! It's sooooo frustrating when all the resources to teach me are right on my door step, when I might have to end up going to Canada or somewhere just to make up the difference. Apparently you need a minimum of 60 hours practical in each (according to ogp) which is what? a week and a half per catagory!!!
I'm still a while off going to the US yet anyway, as I have yet to start my degree, but I just wanted to make sure I know as much as I can from the start!!:)
I had a meeting with a admissions tutor at Salford Uni this morning, and he said on my transcript at the end I will have 75 hours of theory in pediactrics, mental health, and obstetrics, but only 10 hours practical in each!!! Apparently you need a minimum of 60 hours practical in each
It's been said before but I'm gonna say it again.......I'm sure this is a deliberate ploy to prevent UK nurses being eligible to get licensed in the US :angryfire
Thanks for the advice you guys, I think the face to face approach would probably be the best way to go about it. I suppose my main dilemma is this business of making up the hours!!!! I had a meeting with a admissions tutor at Salford Uni this morning, and he said on my transcript at the end I will have 75 hours of theory in pediactrics, mental health, and obstetrics, but only 10 hours practical in each!!! It's sooooo frustrating when all the resources to teach me are right on my door step, when I might have to end up going to Canada or somewhere just to make up the difference. Apparently you need a minimum of 60 hours practical in each (according to ogp) which is what? a week and a half per catagory!!!
I'm still a while off going to the US yet anyway, as I have yet to start my degree, but I just wanted to make sure I know as much as I can from the start!!:)
Steven
You know when I was a midwife in the UK. We couldnt take any RN students on our unit because we barely had enough mentors/preceptors to look after the midwifery students. Therefore there was a complete ban on nursing students doing any kind of placement in midwifery. That was in place from at least 2000-present day. I am sure this came from the head of the midwifery depts, in order to ensure the midwifery students recieved their supervision.
I completely agree that this shortfall in hours is a deliberate attempt to shackle UK nurse's to the NHS!!! Next minute you know, they will be banning this website in the UK!! LOL
.......
madwife2002, BSN, RN
26 Articles; 4,777 Posts
Hi
When you say fund yourself-How much have you paid in all and for what? This would help when advising nurses to go alone.