Calling all UK nurses going to US

World UK

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Hi everyone,

There seems to be a lot of questions posted about different recruitment agencies. How about you all posting the details of who you are using? It would be a useful tool for all who are thinking of signing up with an agency. Please give details of your experiences and the information you have been given with regard to placement, time frame involved, what the agency is promising you etc etc.....

Tina :)

Specializes in med/surg.
you would think they would make the whole process a bit easier seeing how 'desperately' they need RN's hey??! a complete nightmare from the start... yes, i had trouble with transcripts from the UK too! and lots of other documents....you REALLY have to be determined to go and work in the USA !!!

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat:

Lets also add just a tad stubborn too:D

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Specializes in med/surg.
Please give the details, steps and persons concern for the forumers to know about it.

Thanks!

Do you mean everything from word go to getting over? If so that would be great!

I know the first few steps to get you started:

1) Ensure that you really, really don't mind filling out endless forms often with duplicated information. Be sure you're determined & possibly a little bit stubborn!

2) Decide if you're clever enough/determined enough to go it alone or not.

3) If the answer's "yes I can go it alone" check out all the relevant threads & follow their instructions. You can now go to point number 6!

4) If the answer is "no" check out the other threads to determine what to expect from the agencies.

5) Sign up with your chosen agency.

6) Get an N-CLEX review book - Saunders is a good start -& study like mad. Do the Kaplan course or similar & practice those questions until you're sure you can nail it!

7) When you're almost ready apply to the BON (Board of Nursing) either where you want to work (or where you can find out from the threads that is quickest or where your agency has told you to apply). Paperwork varies State to State so you'll have to do whatever they request to get your eligibility to apply for your ATT (Authorization To Test). You may need to get a CES (Credentials Evaluation Service) from CGFNS or get your University to send transcripts of your nursing education straight to the BON - this is State dependent so you will have to follow their guidelines for that. The cost varies from State to State. Currently the CES is $278. Universities will charge around £30 for doing the transcripts too.

8) Once you have eligibility you'll have about 30 days (may be State dependent here) to book your N-CLEX. They do the test in London. A little tip is that if you have "Airmiles" use them to stay at the "Jury's Inn" on Russel Road. It's quiet, you get breakfast & it's only a 5 minute walk away. Tell them you want a quiet room - & why. It costs $200 to register & $211 for the test at the moment.

9) Ace the N-CLEX!! You will then get some form of US license - again what you get exactly varies State to state.

10) At this point the go-it-aloners can start to find direct hire hospitals in earnest.

11) Agency peeps may then start to be touted around by their agencies & will have yet MORE duplicate paperwork to fill, have interviews, tests etc (I had to do a sort of N-CLEX style test for someone, despite having the real thing).

12) Once you have been offered a job then the company will file the I-140 for you - yet more paperwork & photocopying. There is a chance that you may benefit from paying $1000 to expedite your I-140. Whether this helps will depend on where you apply to (some States are almost as quick - right now Florida is processing in 30 days apparently) & where you come from! Check out the threads.

13) Be prepared all of you to photocopy just about everything you have documentation wise; passports, birth certificates, school exams etc etc etc!

14) Apply to CGFNS for your VisaScreen...yes..MORE paperwork & photocopying. This also involves getting transcripts from your university, even though you will most likely have done a CES or had them sent to the BON already. Currently the VisaScreen costs $398.

15) If you have licensed with a State for convenience of their speed of processing there will come a point at which you have to transfer that license to the State you want to work in. I haven't done that yet. Cost will vary, of course!

This is where I'm at now so someone else needs to come in & add the next part of the progress, or anything they think I've missed out so far!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Do you mean everything from word go to getting over? If so that would be great!

I know the first few steps to get you started:

1) Ensure that you really, really don't mind filling out endless forms often with duplicated information. Be sure you're determined & possibly a little bit stubborn!

2) Decide if you're clever enough/determined enough to go it alone or not.

3) If the answer's "yes I can go it alone" check out all the relevant threads & follow their instructions. You can now go to point number 6!

4) If the answer is "no" check out the other threads to determine what to expect from the agencies.

5) Sign up with your chosen agency.

6) Get an N-CLEX review book - Saunders is a good start -& study like mad. Do the Kaplan course or similar & practice those questions until you're sure you can nail it!

7) When you're almost ready apply to the BON (Board of Nursing) either where you want to work (or where you can find out from the threads that is quickest or where your agency has told you to apply). Paperwork varies State to State so you'll have to do whatever they request to get your eligibility to apply for your ATT (Authorization To Test). You may need to get a CES (Credentials Evaluation Service) from CGFNS or get your University to send transcripts of your nursing education straight to the BON - this is State dependent so you will have to follow their guidelines for that. The cost varies from State to State. Currently the CES is $278. Universities will charge around £30 for doing the transcripts too.

8) Once you have eligibility you'll have about 30 days (may be State dependent here) to book your N-CLEX. They do the test in London. A little tip is that if you have "Airmiles" use them to stay at the "Jury's Inn" on Russel Road. It's quiet, you get breakfast & it's only a 5 minute walk away. Tell them you want a quiet room - & why. It costs $200 to register & $211 for the test at the moment.

9) Ace the N-CLEX!! You will then get some form of US license - again what you get exactly varies State to state.

10) At this point the go-it-aloners can start to find direct hire hospitals in earnest.

11) Agency peeps may then start to be touted around by their agencies & will have yet MORE duplicate paperwork to fill, have interviews, tests etc (I had to do a sort of N-CLEX style test for someone, despite having the real thing).

12) Once you have been offered a job then the company will file the I-140 for you - yet more paperwork & photocopying. There is a chance that you may benefit from paying $1000 to expedite your I-140. Whether this helps will depend on where you apply to (some States are almost as quick - right now Florida is processing in 30 days apparently) & where you come from! Check out the threads.

13) Be prepared all of you to photocopy just about everything you have documentation wise; passports, birth certificates, school exams etc etc etc!

14) Apply to CGFNS for your VisaScreen...yes..MORE paperwork & photocopying. This also involves getting transcripts from your university, even though you will most likely have done a CES or had them sent to the BON already. Currently the VisaScreen costs $398.

15) If you have licensed with a State for convenience of their speed of processing there will come a point at which you have to transfer that license to the State you want to work in. I haven't done that yet. Cost will vary, of course!

This is where I'm at now so someone else needs to come in & add the next part of the progress, or anything they think I've missed out so far!

and that is just the start :D :D

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someone else needs to come in & add the next part of the progress

16) I140 approval - documents then sent from USCIS to NVC

17) Choice of Agent form

18) Fee bills

19) DS230 form(s) to complete - Packet 3

20) Packet 3 completed and documents sent to US Embassy

And wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait etc

21) Packet 4 - medical and interview

22) Bye Bye UK

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Specializes in med/surg.
16) I140 approval - documents then sent from USCIS to NVC

17) Choice of Agent form

18) Fee bills

19) DS230 form(s) to complete - Packet 3

20) Packet 3 completed and documents sent to US Embassy

And wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait etc

21) Packet 4 - medical and interview

22) Bye Bye UK

Thanks Owain!

Can you give a little more detail please, if you don't mind - like what is the choice of agent form & Fee bills? I can kinda get the latter but is this for those going it alone or with agency or both?

Be grateful for a little more expansion here :)

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