Confused RE visascreen....

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OK need help here gang.

Im a Canadian RN who has been living and working in Kansas for the past several years, actually since 1998. Passed NCLEX then when I first came down. Renewed TN last in 2003 and so never saw any of the bull about VisaScreen because it just never got down to me news-wise. Stopped working for a bit so didn't worry about TN because I wasn't employed or have any plans to be, used visitor status instead - just went home to see family on occassion, and came back.

NOW would like to start work again and coming across all the VisaScreen hullaballoo.

Question. WHEN DID THIS ?%$?$? TAKE EFFECT?? I am asking because of the following:

I have come down to visit friends in MI and KS. The friend that picked me up in Ontario while I was there for the last few weeks and I ran into an utterly peachy *note sarcasm here* customs guard at the border and had to go into Detroit INS waiting area. While I was in there, there is an 8.5 X 11 paper that says last date for 7 occupations INCLUDING RN to get through on TN without VisaScreen is July 26, 2005. Many of the websites I have encountered say that is the cutoff date for RNs already in the country and working, but this mentioned NONE of that, just that RNs wanting TN status had til Jul 26 2005. I have already had an offer of employment within the last few days, and am eager to get back to work again.

DO I have another month to get across the border again and get my TN? I can get the VisaScreen paperwork done after I start work, but just need to know if I read that damn paper right.

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You actually need the Visa Screen Certificate in hand to be able to get a new TN Visa. This is the first that I heard of it being extended to July 25 pf this year. Everyone coming from Canada has needed to have it. And if you get your application in the mail by tomorrow, you may get lucky enough to have it by then.

Please go to http://www.cgfns.org for all of the information that you need, as well as the application that you can download.

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OK need help here gang.

Im a Canadian RN who has been living and working in Kansas for the past several years, actually since 1998. Passed NCLEX then when I first came down. Renewed TN last in 2003 and so never saw any of the bull about VisaScreen because it just never got down to me news-wise. Stopped working for a bit so didn't worry about TN because I wasn't employed or have any plans to be, used visitor status instead - just went home to see family on occassion, and came back.

NOW would like to start work again and coming across all the VisaScreen hullaballoo.

Question. WHEN DID THIS ?%$?$? TAKE EFFECT?? I am asking because of the following:

I have come down to visit friends in MI and KS. The friend that picked me up in Ontario while I was there for the last few weeks and I ran into an utterly peachy *note sarcasm here* customs guard at the border and had to go into Detroit INS waiting area. While I was in there, there is an 8.5 X 11 paper that says last date for 7 occupations INCLUDING RN to get through on TN without VisaScreen is July 26, 2005. Many of the websites I have encountered say that is the cutoff date for RNs already in the country and working, but this mentioned NONE of that, just that RNs wanting TN status had til Jul 26 2005. I have already had an offer of employment within the last few days, and am eager to get back to work again.

DO I have another month to get across the border again and get my TN? I can get the VisaScreen paperwork done after I start work, but just need to know if I read that damn paper right.

I've spoken to different crossings, and not all of them are asking for it yet. Some haven't even heard of it before. If you'd like more info, pm me.

I used to work in KS. Have a really good friend there. I miss it sometimes.

Good luck!

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Per CGFNS Website today:

Credentials Certification Deadline Approaching for Trade NAFTA Healthcare Professionals Working in U.S.

CGFNS issues reminder of July 26 deadline extension for qualified workers

Philadelphia, PA - March 29, 2005 - The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) has issued a reminder to selected Canadian and Mexican healthcare professionals working in the United States about a credentials certification deadline that is fast approaching. The deadline of July 26, 2005 affects registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and medical technologists who are working under Trade NAFTA status, and who were employed and licensed in the U.S. prior to September 23, 2003.

The credentials certification includes an educational analysis, licensure validation, English language proficiency assessment (not required if educated in Canada, outside of Quebec), and in the case of nurses, a passing score on an approved exam of nursing knowledge. The VisaScreen™ program is a credentials certification program administered by the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP), a division of CGFNS. CGFNS is the only federally approved credentialing organization for all four professions listed above.

According to Barbara L. Nichols, CGFNS Chief Executive Officer, the need for certification of Canadian and Mexican healthcare worker credentials arises from Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), which became effective September 23, 2003. "The rule required that certain Canadian health professionals entering the U.S. to work under Trade NAFTA, or applying for a temporary or permanent occupational visa, must have their credentials certified. In July 2004, the Department of Homeland Security extended the deadline to July 26, 2005, but only for professionals who were already employed and licensed in the U.S. prior to September 23, 2003," Nichols notes.

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