Published Apr 14, 2006
malika
39 Posts
Hi guys !
I am an international student and thinking of becoming Physician Assistant. But after graduation, I am hoping to stay in the U.S. Is Green Card also possible to obtain as a PA just like RNs? How about H-1 visas? What do you think of international student becoming a PA. I am posting this question here, because this is the best web-site which talks about the immigration issues of nternational people. Thank you all of you. Desperately waiting for your answers.
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
Physician Assistants are not fast tracked for the green card, you are looking at about five years for that.
The H1-B visas are available, but be aware that with those, you are not going to get paid what they pay the Americans or those already with a green card. By law, they are not required to. And you will have problems finding sponsorship to begin with, even for the H1-B in this area. There is much paperwork that need to be submitted and frequesntly, etc. Plus they can only offer the job to you if it has been posted for a certain length of time and no Americans wanted it.
Not a good choice. Sorry, I could not give you information that you wanted to hear. (H1-B visas are not available for nurses currently, and I hope that it stays that way.)
Physician Assistants are not fast tracked for the green card, you are looking at about five years for that.The H1-B visas are available, but be aware that with those, you are not going to get paid what they pay the Americans or those already with a green card. By law, they are not required to. And you will have problems finding sponsorship to begin with, even for the H1-B in this area. There is much paperwork that need to be submitted and frequesntly, etc. Plus they can only offer the job to you if it has been posted for a certain length of time and no Americans wanted it.Not a good choice. Sorry, I could not give you information that you wanted to hear. (H1-B visas are not available for nurses currently, and I hope that it stays that way.)
Thank you suzanne 4, for your broad knwledge in all areas. This helped me to make my choice. I could not choose between NP and PA, I probably have to become RN and later NP. Thank you again.
Do something because you really want to do it, not because it will give you a green card faster.
PA or M.D is sth that I really wanna do :) , but if I can't stay in the U.S after graduation, or if I can't get my green card or "normal" job, then I can't risk. M.D, I can't even afford to go to medical school as an international student. so as I said, I have to begin from nursing and later sth I really wanna do.