Curious questions..............???? (for those wishing to work in US)

suzanne4, RN · Jul 14, 2005

I would appreciate some input from those of you that use this forum. I am getting overwhelmed with pms as well as e-mails asking similar questions dealing with immigration or working in the US.

I would like to be able to make up a "sticky" that is more current with useful information that would benefit everyone and make it the easiest for all of you to get here and begin work legally and as quickly as possible.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. :)

letina · Jul 14, 2005

Hi Suzanne,

I think the issue uppermost in people's minds is the timeframe involved. It seems most of the UK nurses on here are waiting anything up to 3 years from start to finish so I think any suggestions/advice on this subject is always welcome.

Myself, I have always expected that it will take at least a year from the time the petition is filed, yet I am being told by my contacts at the hospital in the US that the turnaround is not this long. A thought has occurred to me - are some RN's getting thru the process in a much shorter time and we are not hearing about them? Maybe those who are having a smooth transition don't post on these forums because they are not enduring the same problems we have? Can this be possible do you think? I'm having a hard time accepting that it can be done any faster, yet this is what I keep hearing.

Tina :)

suzanne4, RN · Jul 14, 2005

If the nurse is actually coming with a green card, and not just an AOS, then the earliest time frame is one year and that is out of the Vermont office for processing. Right now things are a little off, and perhaps a few were completed earlier because of the retrogression with the PIC country nurses. However, now that they are being added back into the quotient, the numbers will get delayed again to at least one year.

You need to take into account the time that it takes before the petition is approved, then documents get sent to be filled out and returned, these have to be processed, bill gets sent, payment must be sent back, etc. Then the final step is the interview with the Embassy, depending on how busy that they are and how many others are waiting to come over, etc. Fastest that I have seen is one year from time of petition to having green card in hand.

With the AOS, that is completely another story............they may also be speaking of the Canadians that do not have to go thru any of this, just a TN Visa at the border once they have a job offer and the Visa Screen Certificate in hand.

letina · Jul 14, 2005

With the AOS, that is completely another story............

Can we please have some more info about AOS? I have read about a lot of nurses going this route. If the nurses are already in the US and using AOS, are they in the country legally? How so, if they don't have a green card?

NYrnTX · Jul 15, 2005

USCIS will process AOS application only if AOS applicant is legally entered in to the US on some other Visa and kept legal status. Most common are dependant visa / Visitor visa. Visitor visa is not recommended because while applying for Visitor visa one has to declare (s)he does not have an immigration intent.

Dependant Visa : These are the legal visas issued by the USCIS for the spouse/children

While applying for AOS, application packet must include documents that would convince USCIS that (s)he was legally entered and also kept legal status in the US till then. If not, a NOID / RFE will be issued and things would go real messy.

Why AOS seems so smooth is because, immediately (say, 6 weeks) after filing your application (I 140/AOS) USCIS will issue an authorization to work (EAD) that would make the applicant eligible to get a SSN and legally work in the US. Also, it is important to note that Visa Screen certificate is NOT required while applying for AOS (required only later stage). Meaning, the only thing it requires to apply for AOS is just the NCLEX RN / CGFNS exam pass. Since EADs are issued soon after filing AOS, it appears that things are smooth. Also, once started working, getting the actual green card may not be that important for many and some may remember about it only when the actual green card appears on the postal mail box one fine evening. (That could be the reason there are very few AOS nurses posting here compared to CP)

Also, folks who are doing AOS, generally wont take CGFNS exam but they take NCLEX directly. Since CGFNS is a major bottleneck during the immigration process, AOS nurses prefer to avoid them wherever possible, though they are not completely avoidable for any nurse.

Can we please have some more info about AOS? I have read about a lot of nurses going this route. If the nurses are already in the US and using AOS, are they in the country legally? How so, if they don't have a green card?

suzanne4, RN · Jul 15, 2005

But the biggest problem arises if the nurse doens't have the Visa Screen Certificate by the time that it is needed, and if being processed thru Vermont can be only a few months. Immigration no longer gives make-up time to get it, if you do not hwave it by the time that they want it, and they only give you a short window period now, everyhting gets cancelled. This is why I push so hard for the nurse to already have the English exams at least already completed. You also want a nurse that understands English well taking care of you also........and that can speak it. :)

Nurse Dependent · Jul 15, 2005

hope these inputs help (from my wifey's pov):

1. coming in with a 10-year experience in home country (phils.). basically with surgery and burns.

2. current processing is through an agency. agency seems to work fine, as long as you are aligned with a good agency. (ie with a reputable law firm in the US, financial assistance, etc.)

3. in this order: LOCATION (being relocated in a place where family members are a stone's throw away. starting in a new place is easier this way, starting out in a place conducive for inter-cultural dynamics. crime rate. ). SALARY (making all the trouble worth while). TYPE OF MEDICAL FACILITY (how the nurse's current skill can be put into good use, and be further developed).

4. my wife finds her starting salary a tad short of her expectations, albeit respectable at best. otherwise, other considerations augment the deficit (tax free).

5. northern cali

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2005

Hi Suzanne,

I am not a new grad but I am sure I'll feel like one when I get to your country :chuckle

1) I have over 16 years experience

2) I am coming through an agency, and there have been no hickups to date, all has gone very smoothly. You know my main gripe which is not knowing where I am going, but am ok wth that atm.

3)Salary-I will be on less than in UK. I would like to have holidays=to UK

I would like to work in big teaching hospital less gossipy

4) Contract appears rigid but fair

5) Anywhere initially, just wanna start work and settling in

Hope this helps

lana80 · Jul 15, 2005

Just trying to come up with some more information that would make this site even more beneficial to all of you.....just need some info first........
1. How many of you are planning to come to the US as a new graduate vs. having at least two years experience in working as an RN in your home country, or any other country? If planning to come as a new grad, what type of information do you think would be the most beneficial for you to have?
2. Do you think going thru an agency has been more beneficial to you, or if you could direct hire, would that be your primary goal?
3. What would you be looking for in a facility? Location, salary, benefits?
4. Do you think that the contract that you signed is beneficial to you, for those of you that have already done so?
5. Which part of the country do you wish to work in?

Hello Suzane!

my friend is going to sign on contract in NJ hospital via the agency. they offer him 29$/h, money for 2 month renting appartment and oneway fly ticket.

Is it a good offer for beginning?

Thank you!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 15, 2005

Hi Suzanne

Here is my summary

1.coming with 19 yrs experience in the UK generally Medical

2.Doing process with recruiter. I prefer as it means I am going where I want to go

3.Looking for good support/mentorship, Salary I am getting is more than I am on in the UK, Benefits appear good.

4.Contract appears fair (did get you a brief points of main items before I signed)

5.AZ (when we finally get there :) )

Due to unforeseen events with hospital backing out and having to find a new petitioner it has caused a delay which hopefully has now restarted as filing went in yesterday but the process has been longer than expected. Also with CGFNS taking their time processing documents

planet_adia · Jul 15, 2005

1.Not a new grad. With ten years experience.

2.Going through an agency is more beneficial because when I tried direct hire application the hospital backs out after being in process for 8 months, due to trimming on the number of applicants they said.

3.Location: I prefer that which I can raise my child better, values etc.

Salary: enough for me to have a place of my own in the first two years

4.Contract is fair.

5.NY because it's the fastest i suppose