Changes to Immigration

I would if I were you mushberry. If a visa says multiple entry, that should be the final word. Immigration is not supposed to depend on "well, that guy said" type instructions. It would be a good idea to clarify so they don't screw up any other nurses coming into the country.

Please let me know what they say. I am planning to vacation in Canada the week of the 22nd of July. I won't go if I can't get back in. At present I have a TN good till May 2005.

I would if I were you mushberry. If a visa says multiple entry, that should be the final word. Immigration is not supposed to depend on "well, that guy said" type instructions. It would be a good idea to clarify so they don't screw up any other nurses coming into the country.

Edit:

Ok, I called US Citizenship and Immigration (http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm). They confirmed what I said above. After that 26th of July, if you possess a TN Visa, but not a Visascreen certificate, then when you try to re-enter, you will not be allowed back in. In fact, the immigration officer I spoke to on the phone said that you can have your TN Visa taken away from you upon your attempt to re-enter the US. As long as you remain in the country, then you are grandfathered in as Suzanne4 said, however, if you leave and try to re-enter, you can't without the Certificate. I just thought I'd clear that up.

Also, I also asked about immigration by other means...and found out that I am not required to apply for permanent residency if I don't want to. After I get married I can just keep staying on TN visas, or I can apply for permanent residency, and if I apply for residency, there is a form I can fill out so I can keep working while the process goes through. *phew*

Anyway, if you want to call and verify what I said above, the number I called is: 1-800-375-5283

They linked me to an immigration officer, who gave me the above info.

The Visa Screen law went into effect last year. Even to file for a change in status for someone who is already in the country, the Visa Screen Certificate has to be filed with the change, not with just the final interview, and this went into effect last September.

Fir the TN Visa, you are under different rulings, but if you leave after July26 and wish to return, you need to have that Certificate in hand, or thye do not need to let you in. And I am sure that they are going to be watching this matter rather tightly for awhile. All of you have known about this ruling for quite some time, it just didn't happen over night,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Supposed to be grandfathered in for the first year if you already have the TN, but peersonally I wouldn't chance it.................

According to the rulings, you have one year to be grandfathered in, go to website for Visa Screen and look at the rulings.

I orginally planned to vacation in Canada and come back the 29th of July. We have switched our plans to come back July 25th or 26th. I have a TN good till May 2005, BUT no visa screen.

I orginally planned to vacation in Canada and come back the 29th of July. We have switched our plans to come back July 25th or 26th. I have a TN good till May 2005, BUT no visa screen.

The rule went into effect last year, so during the first year from when that law became effective, you had one year to get the Visa Screen Certificate taken care of. As long as you were in the US by the 26th of July, you could begin work, but you will need ot have Visa Screen Certificate in hand to return. This is not a new law that is just going into effect, there was a one year grace period given, that is what is meant by being grand-fathered in.

Sorry if you misunderstood what I was saying before.

The rule went into effect last year, so during the first year from when that law became effective, you had one year to get the Visa Screen Certificate taken care of. As long as you were in the US by the 26th of July, you could begin work, but you will need ot have Visa Screen Certificate in hand to return. This is not a new law that is just going into effect, there was a one year grace period given, that is what is meant by being grand-fathered in.

Sorry if you misunderstood what I was saying before.

I don't think it was just a case of misunderstanding. You seemed to say I was wrong, when I was not, and a lot of other people did not know about what I was saying either. Just because you've told people before doesn't mean everyone either a) read it, or b) understood what you were talking about. Perhaps I did misunderstand you, but you probably should have been more clear.

Okay Mushberry, just to confirm once and for all.... I've just read this entire discussion by searching on the net and I've been unable to contact immigration with an answer. My girlfriend who currently works as a RN in North Carolina and has for almost a year now has a TN visa that doesn't expire until November. She has not passed the NCLEX yet and obviously not gotten her "Visa Screen". We are going up there to visit and will be coming back July 24th 2004, I guess the day before all this is supposed to happen.

So to confirm, it won't do her any good to renew her TN visa because even if she has a current active TN visa, but does not have the Visa Screen certificate, if she goes to visit past July 25th, 2004 they will not let her back in the US w/o the Visa Screen certificate correct? I think people have been thinking if they have a current TN Visa they will have a year from July 25th 2004 which would be July 25th 2005, which is incorrect..... correct?

Thanks for the help, all this is way too stressful