Change status

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 28, 2006

Any idea? :idea: How to change from tourist visa to work permitt or green card?
- Can I actually do it?
- How soon can I make a change? :uhoh3:
- How long does it take?
- is it legal or illegal?
- Will the hospital pay for this?
- Do I need the atorney to do this? How much approximately does it cost?
-Any useful information or website:idea:
Thanks:biggringi :biggringi :biggringi

you need a hospital to petition you for your green card, can take up to 4 months before you can work, therefore you must be able to support yourself. You will need visa screen and a pass for either CGFNS exam or NCLEX (more hospitals prefer NCLEX to CGFNS exam) the hospital may pay for it. Better to go routine route instead of change status route

I am sure suzanne will be along to answer

suzanne4, RN · Mar 28, 2006

Anna is 100% correct. Green cards for nurses are employer-based, so you cannot apply for it on your own. You need to have a petition submitted by an employer.

You must be in the US at least 60 days before anything can be filed on your behalf, and you must have a passing score on one of the nursing exams to be submitted with the petition.

Entire process is about 4 1/2 months before you will be able to work, so please make sure that you have the funds to cover you thru that period. It is completely illegal for you to do any type of work during that time, if you get caught, you get deported.

Also, make sure that you do not overstay your visa. And you do not want to go the route of visa extension, nothing can be done until you get an answer from immigration and that can be about ten weeks, and if they deny the extension, you have to leave. So not a good idea.