F-1 International student. Need Advice!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Apr 20, 2011

CPT is generally used whilst still at school OPT is used once you have graduated. If you use CPT to the best of my knowledge the time you spent on CPT is deducted from OPT which may result in less than 12 months work. Not sure where you are from but to qualify for a TN visa you need to be a Canadian or Mexican citizen

dayandnight · Apr 20, 2011

Unfortunately, I am from South Korea so I am not eligible for a TN visa. I am looking for off campus work to use as CPT. I have just a year left to graduate, and since the maximum time that I can use CPT is about just a year before time is deducted from OPT (and I have never done any off-campus work), I can still do a year of CPT without having any time deducted from OPT.

It's just really hard to find jobs though as an International student in general.

Even my school hospital said I cannot get a job at all as an RN here, because they had this big meeting about not hiring students like me.

For Canada, I saw your comment on the "I moved to Canada" thread.

if I get a BSN at the US, doesn't that make me eligible to apply for the CRNE right away after I graduate ?? Or are there extra requirements?

I was thinking that I could take the NCLEX, apply for CRNE at the same time. Then as I am doing OPT I can look for jobs in Canada..

Is Canada as similar as the US as in terms of getting a job??? I heard that they stopped hiring foreign nurses for this year.

elkpark · Apr 20, 2011

Just because one is eligible to work for a year on OPT after graduating, that doesn't mean that anyone is obligated to hire you to work for a year on OPT. Unfortunately for folks in your situation, healthcare employers aren't v. eager to hire someone who can only work for a year when they know that there is little chance these days (given retrogression) that you'll be able to stay and continue working once that year is up. It was different when there were lots of options for people to remain in the US.

It's not any different than if a US citizen were looking for a nursing job but told potential employers that s/he was only available to work for one year -- employers would not be v. interested in hiring that person, because a single year of employment is not a good return on the employer's investment in hiring and orienting the individual.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Apr 20, 2011

We have had US nurses post that the provincial college has required some form of assessment so it isn't cut and dried that you will get eligibility to sit CRNE a lot will depend on the province you apply to

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

Just because you are eligible to work for a year does not mean that you will find an employer that wants to hire you for just a year. And with retrogression, and the current oversupply of unemployed US RNs, there is no need to go through the expense, complicTions and paperwork to sponsor immigrant nurses.

It is very expensive to hire and train nursing personnel, and when employers go to that expense, they want preferably several years of "return" on that investment. Some may actually require 2 yr contracts to give positions to new grads, to insure that they get sOme return. And you are, d/t various issues, unable to fulfill that expected return and are thus, too expensive an investment.

Have you thought about returning to your country? When you are issued a student visa, you are expected to return at the completion of your schooling.

jenn8500 · Apr 20, 2011

Hi,

I applied for registration in a Canadian province and I'm going through the process now. I'm a Canadian citizen, but American educated. Working in Canada with an international degree is not an easy process! To be eligible to sit the CRNE, most (not all) IEN's have to complete a SEC assessment or a portion of it once their education is evaluated. It usually takes a couple of months to have your education evaluated and then if you require the SEC it can be a long wait. I had about a 7 month wait just to do the SEC, but was very lucky to get a spot due to a cancellation. I think the wait varies in each province. Once the SEC is evaluated, you can be eligible to sit the CRNE if you meet the Canadian competencies and do not require any remediation. The CRNE is only offered 3 times a year unlike the NCLEX which is offered everyday. Hope this helps

dayandnight · Apr 20, 2011

We have had US nurses post that the provincial college has required some form of assessment so it isn't cut and dried that you will get eligibility to sit CRNE a lot will depend on the province you apply to

What do you mean by assessment? Is it an assessment about my degree? academic status? Work eligibility?

Also, do other health care facilities (Nursing homes, assisted living) hire foreign nurses?

Thank you everyone for providing good information.

@ Jenn8500 yes that does sound like a long time, but after hearing that it takes 6-8 years to get a greencard, even a year or two doesn't seem that long to me anymore. I am looking for every single option available, and I don't mind waiting. Do you need to apply after graduating with a BSN degree to apply for CRNE, or can I apply a bit earlier than that?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Apr 21, 2011

The province will review your application once you have graduated and passed NCLEX, can't be done before that, they will determine to whether you need SEC or some other form of assessment. Each province has their own requirements.

Most employers will not entertain you without eligibility to sit CRNE and be aware time maybe longer than your stay in the US as some members have and still are waiting for review and they applied more than 12months ago