CGFNS Visascreen and CES Processing Time Canadian RN

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I am wondering if any RNs have gone through the CGFNS Visascreen process recently. I am hoping to get an average for the processing times for Canadian nurses. I submitted all documents and had all my transcripts/documents from my university as well as licensing information, sent off right away, which was around July 15th. I also applied for a CES report for my Washington State nursing license.

Just curious if anyone can give me a heads up if this process is a couple of months or if I'm looking at more like 3 or 4 months.

I have already written my NCLEX exam in Canada, so really I am just waiting on CGFNS to process and issue the certificates.

Any additional info from anyone who has gone through this recently would be appreciated!

Hey everyone!

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this same situation and could answer my question.

I recently graduated from McMaster with a BSN from their accelerated program. I have another Bachelor of Science that allowed me to condense my nursing degree. I was recently offered an RN position in Pennsylvania, and I am working on my CGFNS requirements for a TN. The only school transcript requested on their portal is my Mac one because it's directly related to my professional license. Should I be sending my transcript from my other school as well, even though it's not listed? I already have my PA license and am supposed to be starting mid-September, and I would HATE for the CGFNS to come back and ask for my other transcript late to delay the process. 

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Mental Health.
jennycrands said:

You need to apply for the visa screen (this meets the federal requirement for nurses in the USA) and the CES report (if that's what you need for Illinois, make sure you check on the CGFNS website which type of report you need for which state) but both can be done concurrently. I'd recommend getting all your papers in ASAP, as it takes about 4+ weeks for them to process it all. You can figure the rest out while you wait on CGFNS. Start looking for jobs, and maybe reach out to some hospitals and see if they are familiar with hiring Canadians. It seems pretty common over here in Washington.?

Hi Jennycrands,

I'm from ONT. Do you email the CGFNS PDF with your signed consent to your school and to CNO? Do you email it to the registrar at school? Do you email it to cno.cnomail.org?

Thanks,

Kint

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Specializes in Mental Health.
RN-tash said:

Hey everyone!

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this same situation and could answer my question.

I recently graduated from McMaster with a BSN from their accelerated program. I have another Bachelor of Science that allowed me to condense my nursing degree. I was recently offered an RN position in Pennsylvania, and I am working on my CGFNS requirements for a TN. The only school transcript requested on their portal is my Mac one because it's directly related to my professional license. Should I be sending my transcript from my other school as well, even though it's not listed? I already have my PA license and am supposed to be starting mid-September, and I would HATE for the CGFNS to come back and ask for my other transcript late to delay the process. 

Thanks in advance!

Hello, how did you send your paperwork/pdf from CGFNS to CNO? Email? Did you have to fill up CNO's own registration verification ($16) on top of the form you were given by CGFNS?

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VikkiPink said:

I'm actually going through this process right now. 
CGFNS visa screen, you submit all your documents. They evaluate you to determine if the education and requirements are the same and if you are eligible for legal practice in the USA. Once they deem you eligible, they send you documents confirming a TN VISA, which is the work visa you bring to the border to be able to get across the border. 

 

Hi everyone! Just as many of you some time ago, I'm currently in the process of getting my evaluation of my studies.

This thread helped me a lot! The only question that I have, RN, is about the requirements that CGFNS asks for to determine if my education is equivalent.

Is there a specific chart or something like that so we can compare by ourselves?

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in ICU.

This process is very confusing. This forum is the only place where I am getting clarity. I'm so grateful for all of you. I am an Ontario RN and want to work in Texas. If anyone can confirm I understand correctly:

-Visa screen is mandatory to work in the USA

-CES is optional. You must check with the state you wish to work to see if they require it. If it is required then you must purchase both from CGFNS

Thank you all.

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Johanna said:

This process is very confusing. This forum is the only place where I am getting clarity. I'm so grateful for all of you. I am an Ontario RN and want to work in Texas. If anyone can confirm I understand correctly:

-Visa screen is mandatory to work in the USA

-CES is optional. You must check with the state you wish to work to see if they require it. If it is required then you must purchase both from CGFNS

Thank you all.

Hi Johanna! That's right; you need the visa screen as part of the requirements at the border, no matter what state you work in. From a quick search on CGFNS, it looks like you need the CES report for licensure in Texas, also. You can pay for both at the same time, and they will be processed together (the documents you submit will be submitted to the visa screen and the CES report, so it happens at the same time if that makes sense). I hope that helps! Good luck!?

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Specializes in Oncology, Palliative and Dialysis.

Hi 

I am also a Canadian RN. I just recently got my Texas RN License. I Applied the CES report from CGFNS. Texas Board accepted it. Because I don't want my school to take so much time to send so, I have all my docs available with CGFNS. After that, I passed my Texas jurisprudence exam, my fingerprints paid the fee, and in 2 months, I got my license. It was an endorsement license. 

I hope this can helps you.

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Specializes in ICU.
jessie09 said:

Hi 

I am also a Canadian RN. I just recently got my Texas RN License. I Applied the CES report from CGFNS. Texas Board accepted it. Because I don't want my school to take so much time to send so, I have all my docs available with CGFNS. After that, I passed my Texas jurisprudence exam, my fingerprints paid the fee, and in 2 months, I got my license. It was an endorsement license. 

I hope this can helps you.

 

jennycrands said:

Hi Johanna! That's right, you need the visa screen as part of the requirements at the border, no matter what state you work in. From a quick search on CGFNS, it looks like you need the CES report for licensure in Texas, also. You can pay for both at the same time, and they will be processed together (the documents you submit will be submitted to the visa screen and the CES report, so it happens at the same time if that makes sense). I hope that helps! Good luck!?

Thank you so much! 

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Specializes in ICU.
jessie09 said:

Hi 

I am also a Canadian RN. I just recently got my Texas RN License. I Applied the CES report from CGFNS. Texas Board accepted it. Because I don't want my school to take so much time to send so, I have all my docs available with CGFNS. After that, I passed my Texas jurisprudence exam, my fingerprints paid the fee, and in 2 months, I got my license. It was an endorsement license. 

I hope this can helps you.

Thank you so much. I am starting the paperwork for CES and will pay for VisaScreen as well shortly. I am studying for the NCLEX-texas license now. I took the CRNE exam after nursing school in 2009. Did the criminal background check and fingerprinting process take long for you? 

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Johanna said:

Thank you so much. I am starting the paperwork for CES and will pay for VisaScreen as well shortly. I am studying for the NCLEX-texas license now. I took the CRNE exam after nursing school in 2009. Did the criminal background check and fingerprinting process take long for you?

I don't remember that taking long. I didn't have to do fingerprints since I was not moving from another state, so it was quite fast. I know everywhere has different rules, but that was the case for Washington. Getting a social security card was actually what took the longest for me.

 

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Specializes in ICU.
jennycrands said:

 

Thank you for all the advice and insight. I am so happy for you that you're all done with the whole process. I can't wait to say the same. All the best!

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kintos said:

Hi Jennycrands,

I'm from ONT. Do you email the CGFNS PDF with your signed consent to your school and to CNO? Do you email it to the registrar at school? Do you email it to cno.cnomail.org?

Thanks,

Kint

Hi everyone. I know this thread is old. I am wondering, for Ontario nurses, did CNO email the license verification (their own form) to the CGFNS, and CGFNS accepted it?

Thanks in advance for the response!

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