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
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..............
NAFTA visa only covers RNs, not LPNs.
I would love to know the names of some immigration attorneys....do you know any in the Southwestern Michigan/Nothern Indiana area? What is "OPT"? Thank you.
I just graduated from 2 year LPN program in May and passed the NCLEX-PN in July. (this month) I have been looking for a job as LPN, but I have been experiencing difficulty to find a job becuase I am Japanese and I need the H1-B visa support. I had several job offers, but the problem is H1-B visa. Most organizations told me that 2 year LPN or RN are not qualified for H1-B visa since H1-B is for BA/BS. (I have 4 year college degree, not Nursing.)Most organizations support RNs who have 4 year RN degree. This is not just organization's policy. It's regulated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. (Formaly INS) It's been this way for several years. Before I decided to go to the Nursing school, I discussed with my immgration attorney 2.5 years ago. She told me that LPN is qualified for H1-B. Did USCIS change the immigration law for Nurses? I feel like totally busted! I have no idea how I can find a job or what I should do next. I know that I am not planning to go back to RN program right this moment. I rather to work as an LPN and have some nursing experience before I take RN program so....
I was one of the best nusring students when I had clinical at a clinic. They offered me a job before I passed the NCLEX-PN. My classmates found jobs right away and started working as LPN. I'm the only one still looking for a job... I feel terrible now. Any suggestions?
H1-B is no longer an option, it doens't exist for nurses currently. Hasn't in over two years. There has always been a problem for an LPN to get a visa to work here. The only way around it is on a spousal visa, or you have to wait. There is no fast-tracking of LPNs.
And it never covered LPNs, only RNs. A two year RN that has trained in the US, can qualify for the green card, but an LPN license will not give you any faster access. Sorry that your attorney gave you wrong information.
Immigration policies van change at any given time. When the H1-B visas were available, they were only for RNs. You must have a Visa Screen Certificate to work in the US, and these are for RNs.
Sorry that you are going thru this..............but I do not have anything else to offer at this time.
Thank you for your advice. Do you know exactly when USCIS chaged this regulation? Otherwsie, if you are true, I think I am going to sue my immgration attorney for malpractice.
Many foregin nurses are coming from other countries such as Philippines to the US as nurses. They can get the special work visa and they are eligible for the green card....thay are treated SO WELL. And I am the one educated in nursing in the US, graduated from a Nursing School in the US, passed the NCLEX-PN and I am actually an LPN in the US.....I cannot get a job just because LPN is NOT qualified for H1-B!? Is it so funny???.....
You said that 2 year RN is qualified for green card, right? How about H1-B? I guess I should look into the 2 year RN program....
An OPT = Optional Practical Training. An OPT is essentially a one year work visa that any foreign student who graduates from at least a two year program in the U.S. automatically qualifies for. Your sister would not qualify if she planned to attend LPN school.
Have your sister meet with an international student advisor at any community college or other nursing school for more info.
Thank you for your advice. Do you know exactly when USCIS chaged this regulation? Otherwsie, if you are true, I think I am going to sue my immgration attorney for malpractice.
Many foregin nurses are coming from other countries such as Philippines to the US as nurses. They can get the special work visa and they are eligible for the green card....thay are treated SO WELL. And I am the one educated in nursing in the US, graduated from a Nursing School in the US, passed the NCLEX-PN and I am actually an LPN in the US.....I cannot get a job just because LPN is NOT qualified for H1-B!? Is it so funny???.....
You said that 2 year RN is qualified for green card, right? How about H1-B? I guess I should look into the 2 year RN program....
They are coming as RNs, that is the big difference. There are no H1-B visas currently available for nurses. Three years ago they were there, but no longer. But they were never good for the LPN license.
With a two year RN in the US, you qualify for the green card, but not with the LPN. This is why I always tell everyone that they need to do some research on their own. Your attorney probably heard two year degree, and thought that ti was the same, but it is not. This has always been the practice, not anything new.
Thank you for your advice. Do you know exactly when USCIS chaged this regulation? Otherwsie, if you are true, I think I am going to sue my immgration attorney for malpractice.
Many foregin nurses are coming from other countries such as Philippines to the US as nurses. They can get the special work visa and they are eligible for the green card....thay are treated SO WELL. And I am the one educated in nursing in the US, graduated from a Nursing School in the US, passed the NCLEX-PN and I am actually an LPN in the US.....I cannot get a job just because LPN is NOT qualified for H1-B!? Is it so funny???.....
You said that 2 year RN is qualified for green card, right? How about H1-B? I guess I should look into the 2 year RN program....
There is no reason to do another two year program. If you have the LPN already, there are bridge programs available that can be done in less time and you should not have any problem getting into them.
An OPT = Optional Practical Training. An OPT is essentially a one year work visa that any foreign student who graduates from at least a two year program in the U.S. automatically qualifies for. Your sister would not qualify if she planned to attend LPN school.
Have your sister meet with an international student advisor at any community college or other nursing school for more info.
I hope this helps!
An OPT is granted after completing an RN program to get additional training in that area for one year. It doesn't cover LPN programs.
pinkpokey
2 Posts
I would love to know the names of some immigration attorneys....do you know any in the Southwestern Michigan/Nothern Indiana area? What is "OPT"? Thank you.