Canadian Citizen Nclex passer

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 7, 2010

Moved to the International forum

As long as you are a Canadian citizen and have passed NCLEX you can apply for NAFTA visa as long as you meet requirements ie job with letter from employer and visa screen certificate

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 7, 2010

The bigger issue here might be that you weren't allowed to write the NLE. All Canadian provinces and several US states require you to have been registered as a nurse in the country where you were educated, and you can't do that without having written the local exam. So you may have difficulty becoming registered, no matter that you've passed your NCLEX. Ontario is definitely going to look at that aspect.

Jenfree_01 · Sep 7, 2010

Thank you for your reply, I have a few more questions if thats ok.Is it better to get a visascreen certification before I apply for a job?Most jobs ask if I will have a valid RN license at time of hire and a verification of legal right to work in the states. Job hirings are applied online and if I put no, then Im automaticaly not eligible for the job. So its

1. apply for visa screen certification

2. Show visa screen and NCLEX passing letter to future employer

3. If hired, Apply for SSN

Thank you again for your help

Fiona59 · Sep 7, 2010

But you seem to missing the most important factor. NO licence in the Phillipines.

Jenfree_01 · Sep 7, 2010

Thank you for that info Janfrn...If only I knew about that before I left the Philippines..So in short your advice for me is to go back and take my philippine RN exam?If I do pass my Philippine RN board exam, will I be able to take the CRNE?The College of nurses of ontario gave me a Baccalaureate equivalency table to complete, it consisted of 8 essay questions about my experiences as a foreign grad nurse. I was also able to hand in a letter from the PRC stating that I was not eligible to take the Philippine RN exam since I am a canadian citizen. However, if they strongly require me to take the Philippine RN exam, I could always just apply for dual citizenship and then take it. What do you think I should do?

Thank you so much for your advice!!! =)

healthdesk · Sep 7, 2010

Thank you for your reply, I have a few more questions if thats ok.Is it better to get a visascreen certification before I apply for a job?Most jobs ask if I will have a valid RN license at time of hire and a verification of legal right to work in the states. Job hirings are applied online and if I put no, then Im automaticaly not eligible for the job. So its
1. apply for visa screen certification
2. Show visa screen and NCLEX passing letter to future employer
3. If hired, Apply for SSN
Thank you again for your help

Just to clarify on that, the Visascreen certificate is not a "verification of legal right to work in the states", you got it all confused there.

Having a valid work visa such as an H1B, a PR status, or in your case a TN do give you that "legal right" however.

Jenfree_01 · Sep 7, 2010

Thank you Mage82ph, So I need to have a working permit in my case a TN visa before I apply for a job?Coz on the application they ask if I am legal to work in the states and if I answer no I'm automatically not eligible for the job. I was reading through the requirments for a TN visa and in order to get one I need a job offer. So now I really dont know what to do....Thank you for your help....

healthdesk · Sep 7, 2010

Thank you Mage82ph, So I need to have a working permit in my case a TN visa before I apply for a job?Coz on the application they ask if I am legal to work in the states and if I answer no I'm automatically not eligible for the job. I was reading through the requirments for a TN visa and in order to get one I need a job offer. So now I really dont know what to do....Thank you for your help....

Jenfree, here is the thing, what you need is to find an employer who would be willing to give you a job offer to subsequently apply for a TN. But the fact remains that the US has many hiring-freezes all over, and many American new grads are having a hard time getting that first job. Yes it's true, what you see online are job vacancies for those who are already in the US who have the "legal right" to work, or for experienced nurses, since unemployment in the states is still in an all time high. In other words they don't do much "importing" now, so it might be difficult to find such an employer given the current job market.

I don't know your reasons for moving south, but it can be a tough one for you, especially if you're a new grad or without experience, but of course it is not impossible. You may want to work here, which is a good option given your situation, however you are currently locked because you did not take the NLE in the Philippines, which is prerequisite for eligibility to write the CRNE as the other members were trying to stress out.

healthdesk · Sep 7, 2010

By the way, you cannot get an SSN, even if you are physically in the States, it can only be issued if you already have the TN or other valid work visas.

Otherwise it would be illegal, the same is true as to how they issue an SIN here at home.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 7, 2010

As mentioned to get TN you need employer and that is probably going to be the biggest hurdle to jump over at the moment

Jenfree_01 · Sep 7, 2010

Hi mage81ph

i read:

They may obtain Trade NAFTA ("TN") status if:

1. They have an offer of employment from a U.S. employer for a period not to exceed three years;

2. They are licensed in Canada/Mexico and in the state of intended employment;

3. They are in possession of a VisaScreen certificate;

4. They have a proof of Canadian or Mexican citizenship; and

5. They pay a small fee to enter the U.S.

If I am not licensed in canada (#2) does that mean I cannot apply for a TN visa even if I have all 4 requirments? if yes, then I guess I'm going to follow your advice and take the NLE.