Do I need to renew my BC RN license if I am working in the US?

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Specializes in med/surg.

I am a Canadian nurse from British Columbia about to work in California on a t4 visa. Do I need to maintain a practicing RN license in BC? I think I may of read somewhere that I need a practicing license to maintain my T4 visa but am not sure. I'd like to know before I fork out 500 dollars to renew.

Much appreciated!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

What category exactly is a T4 visa?

If you intend to work in BC at any time in the future it might be a good idea to maintain at least an associate registration with CRNBC. It'll save you from having to start from scratch when you return to Canada. If your visa is actually TN status, then you run the risk of having your status revoked at the border if you come home for a holiday for example, because you must maintain your TN status in perfect order the entire time. TN status is adjudicated at the border so every time you re-enter the US it's like you're starting over, even if your status isn't up for renewal. That would suggest to me that you should maintain active, practicing registration in BC the whole time you're away.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Thank you for your response Janfrn. I will do that.

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