I've been looking at the US Immigration Laws & I was wondering....
Does anyone know if the INS allows associate degree nurses (trained in the US) to get an Immigrant Visa (Green Card) or is a bachelor degree required? I'm asking because I need to choose between an associate degree training and a bachelor degree training because I would love to work as a nurse in the US, and getting an associate degree training is a lot cheaper.
The immigration laws aren't very clear... all they mention is that i need to be a "professional nurse" and have an unrestricted license to practice nursing in the intended state of employment, I wonder what they mean by "professional" though :uhoh21: Someone with at least a Bachelor degree or an Associate's degree?
Hope you guys can give me an answer 'cause I got no clue
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hello Everyone
I can recall being told, that there are different types of green cards. If so, which one are we talking about here when we are discussing nursing. I am actually a Registered Nurse in Australia and have been researching (not actively) about working in the US. So, any opportunity I get to add on to my 'research',............. I am grateful for any help.
As far as I am aware there is only 1 green card, that is to the best of my knowledge and I am currently in the process of immigrating to US, I have already passed my NCLEX and all being well with have completed the CGFNS CES and visa screen in the next few days. I also have a job offer which I need for the immigration process.
If you do decide to go to the US I would suggest that you do not go through California as at the moment they have a extremely long waiting time and you could be looking with them at over approx 13 months and that is just to get your ATT to sit NCLEX.
CGFNS are at times very slow and frustrating it has taken me 12 months to get this far and over the last couple of months it has also involved a lot of telephone calls.
Thanks for this site. There is a lot of really good info!
I'm in the same position as many of you. I'll soon be graduating from the BSN program and am hoping to get a green card thru' hospital sponsorship. Does anyone knows what's the approx. waiting period to get a green card via hospital/agency contract (I'm in CA)? I've always thought the waiting would be about 2 yrs, but lately I've been told it takes up to 4 yrs. Is this true? Wondering if anyone here has the information or has gone thru' similar experience.
Thanks for this site. There is a lot of really good info!
I'm in the same position as many of you. I'll soon be graduating from the BSN program and am hoping to get a green card thru' hospital sponsorship. Does anyone knows what's the approx. waiting period to get a green card via hospital/agency contract (I'm in CA)? I've always thought the waiting would be about 2 yrs, but lately I've been told it takes up to 4 yrs. Is this true? Wondering if anyone here has the information or has gone thru' similar experience.
Thanks in advance~
Are you currently in the US going to school? If so and you are under an F-1, apply for an OPT before you leave school and with this you can begin work right away. If not, you will have to wait like everyone else. Yes, to get your actual green card in hand will take several years form California, but again if you are going to school in the US, it is a completely different story. You will be able to begin work right away provided you get the proper papers filed in a timely manner.
Yes, I'm F-1 student working on my BSN in US. I'm understanding that this OPT only last for 1 yr, and that during this period, I'll still be on F-1 visa for my stay.
So Where does it go from there? Do I try to get the hospital change my visa status during that period? After the OPT period? If I decide to work in another hospital upon finishing my OPT, would there be any problem? Also, will I get paid while on OPT?
SORRy for so many questions. I'm still new and This whole immigration thing is just overwhelming.
Yes, I'm F-1 student working on my BSN in US. I'm understanding that this OPT only last for 1 yr, and that during this period, I'll still be on F-1 visa for my stay.
So Where does it go from there? Do I try to get the hospital change my visa status during that period? After the OPT period? If I decide to work in another hospital upon finishing my OPT, would there be any problem? Also, will I get paid while on OPT?
SORRy for so many questions. I'm still new and This whole immigration thing is just overwhelming.
Thanks again for the response.
mom
Once you finish school and are under an OPT status, you apply for a green card., as long as you are being processed you can work. Yes, you will get paid while you are under OPT status. However, I am not an immigration attorney, and highly suggest that you speaK with one as each case is different.
hey all... i'm a junior in the bsn program... im originally from pakistan but have been raised in saudi arabia. I came to the us like 1998 for high school and now i'm in west viriginia doing nursing.... hope to hear from people like me and not like me!!! take care...
I am an American citizen with an RN diploma and a bachelor's degree. I was born in Canada and came to the USA 11 years ago under a work visa...then green card and now citizenship. My sister is ccurrently living with me. She is a Canadian citizen and is going to school here with an F1 student visa. She originally wanted to complete an associate's degree. However, she has found the last semester of the RN program vewry difficult and has decided to complete the LPN program here in Michigan first (hopefully get some work experience)....then finish the RN at a later time (maybe in 6-12 months). Can she work here in the USA with a LPN liscence? Her school is her in the US and she will write the NCLEX-PN exam and be liscenced in Michigan (I guess). What is OPT and would she qualify for this? She really loves the US and does not want to leave to go back to Canada...but I'm not sure how to advise her. Can anyone advise me on this?
She will have problem getting a permit to work from my standpoint, but the best suggestion is for her to consult an immigration attorney. Let me know if you need any names..............
Silverdragon102, BSN
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