Canadian LPN/RPN looking to obtain Licence in California

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Hi all,

Long story short my grandmother who has lived in california for the past 30 years. was generous enough and paid for my entrie nursing course here in canada, and I am looking to see if I would be able to get licenced in California to spend the final years with her, I have tried looking online but I can not find a staright forward aplication or anything like that.

My offical title is Registerd Practical Nurse I am from Ontario Canada and have been licenced for over a year now currently working in a pscyiatric forensic ( mental health and the law) . any information would be greatly appreaciated

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Hi all,

Long story short my grandmother who has lived in california for the past 30 years. was generous enough and paid for my entrie nursing course here in canada, and i am looking to see if i would be able to get licenced in California to spend the final years with her, i have tried looking online but i can not find a staright forward aplication or anything like that.

My offical title is Registerd Practical Nurse i am from Ontario Canada and have been licenced for over a year now currently working in a pscyiatric forensic ( mental health and the law) . any information would be greatly appreaciated

The US equivalent in CA is LVN. The application is here: http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/licensing/forms.shtml. You apply for a license by examination and once authorized you register and take the NCLEX-PN.

You cannot apply without a valid US social security number (only issued to citizens, permanent residents and those with a valid work visa). If submitted without a valid SSN the application is rejected without refund of fees paid.

Do you have work rights/ visa? LVN /RPN will not meet TN visa or other work visa requirements ...

Do you have work rights/ visa? LVN /RPN will not meet TN visa or other work visa requirements ...

No i do not, is there a way around this? or another route i could take?

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
No i do not, is there a way around this? or another route i could take?

No , there is not other than a legal marriage to a US citizen or bridge to your RN in Canada as it's a BSN. Then once you earn a US RN license you can secure work via TN visa.

Specializes in Home Health.

If your grandmother is a US citizen & has lived in the US for 5 consecutive years as a US citizen & has income equal to 125% over the poverty level, she may sponsor you for a green card. Since she financed your education, she will probably easily meet the financial requirements for sponsorship. There is a lot of paperwork & a lot of fees to pay & it's a slow process but it can be done. I have successfully sponsored 1 adult grandchild & co-sponsored 2 others with my daughter. When I sponsored the oldest, my daughter had not met the 5 year residency; but by the time we did the other 2 sponsorships, my daughter had lived in the US as a US citizen over 5 years but she needed a co-sponsor to meet the monetary requirement.

Another option: If there is some way you could manage to work in Canada for 6 months & a day & save enough money to manage the other 6, you could spend 1/2 the year with your grandmother while sorting out your other options. You would then maintain your Canadian health care in Canada but would need to purchase visitors insurance for your time in the US.

Hope this is of some help

out of curiosity whats the hourly wage range for a lvn ? just a ball park figure ? ( i understand it may vary from state to state)

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
If your grandmother is a US citizen & has lived in the US for 5 consecutive years as a US citizen & has income equal to 125% over the poverty level, she may sponsor you for a green card. Since she financed your education, she will probably easily meet the financial requirements for sponsorship. There is a lot of paperwork & a lot of fees to pay & it's a slow process but it can be done. I have successfully sponsored 1 adult grandchild & co-sponsored 2 others with my daughter. When I sponsored the oldest, my daughter had not met the 5 year residency; but by the time we did the other 2 sponsorships, my daughter had lived in the US as a US citizen over 5 years but she needed a co-sponsor to meet the monetary requirement.

Another option: If there is some way you could manage to work in Canada for 6 months & a day & save enough money to manage the other 6, you could spend 1/2 the year with your grandmother while sorting out your other options. You would then maintain your Canadian health care in Canada but would need to purchase visitors insurance for your time in the US.

Hope this is of some help

Can you posts links to this because all I can find is parent can sponsor a child but not a grandchild.

OP even if your grandparent can sponsor you are still looking at years and years before GC is issued allowing you to live and work in the US. Your best bet is to work and get BSN which would allow you to get a TN as long as you have a employer and they provide certain information like employment letter. TN visa are issued at the border

Specializes in Home Health.

I did a search & see what you mean. I have to unfortunately, surmise that the US has changed their policy within the last year or so regarding grandparents. I filled out a Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for my adult granddaughter & she has a green card. I am also a co-sponsor for 2 other adult grandchildren-one is waiting for her green card right now but has met all the requirements & just needs her final appointment but they have done her fingerprinting & medical so just waiting.......

All applications were done & green cards issued within a years time as was my husband's many years ago when we decided to move stateside. My husband's was done while still in Canada & the grandchildren's were done after they were already in the US.

Was your grandmother born in the US? Do you have a parent who is a US citizen through your grandmother who could sponsor you? I'm wondering from what I read on the government site if your grandmother might have to sponsor her child first & then you could get sponsored on his/her coattails.

You may have to consult an immigration lawyer for a consultation.

The simplest seems to be a 6 month/6 month split but you'd only be able to work 1/2 year in Canada each year & I don't know the employment situation where you live. I work per diem in the US & occasionally take month long leaves without difficulty so that might be an option as well if you want to spend more time with your grandmother.

Silverdragon has an excellent idea regarding pursuing a higher degree in hopes of landing a US employer.

Heaven knows it's always complicated when dealing with immigration issues.

I just recently became a dual US/UK citizen as my Mom is from the UK & they recently changed their laws & I'm now the proud owner of a UK passport. I traveled "home" to the UK on my new passport last year.

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