Permanent residency, better know as the green card, is the only visa that is available to nurses to work in the US.
Even for nurses that are already in the US, and are on a student or tourist visa, the only "working" visa that is available is the green card.
The AOS or Adjustment of Status, is just one step towards the green card if you are already in the US. You receive an EAD, employment authorization document, that will permit you to work during that time, while things are being processed. But it is not a visa, it is only a document that gives you the privilege to work for a limited time.
H-1B visas are not available for nurses in the US, and have not been for over two years. If someone tells you about them, then they know nothing about Registered Nurses working in the US.
You would not want on eif they were available, trust me on that one.
I keep getting pms about this, so hopefully this will clear up some things for you.
Hi suzanne4, I'm always amazed of how many things you know :)
I have some questions, maybe you can help me.
I graduated last year from a nursing school in Romania and I want to practice in the US. I will try to get to the US in 2 weeks with a H2b visa and If I pass the embassy interview, when I'll arrive in the US I will apply for NYBON. If not , I will apply from Romania.
After I'll get my license and Visascreen I will search for a hospital to apply for my GC. In both cases, I would like for my wife to come with me. I know that she must apply in the same time with me for the GC, but if she is in Romania and me in the US, how long it will take for her to be able to come to USA? Do you know which visa will she receive?
If she will be with me in the US with H2b visa, can she do the change of status in the same time with me?
What type of work will you be doing with the H2 visa? Nothing in nursing. Who is petitiining you for the temporary work permit? Those are not in nursing, and are usually three years in length.
You are leaving out too much info for me to give you an answer based on what you have posted. Please send me more info if you want an truthful answer, you can send it to my pm bix, uf you do not want to post personal info here.
Me and my wife are applying for a H2b visa for 7 months but not in nursing, we will work in a restaurant and in this time, 4 months from now I hope to take the NCLEX and soon my Visascreen to be ready. And I will find a hospital who is willing to apply for my GC for me and my wife.
So there are 3 probable cases:
-both of us to get this H2b and be in US when the hospital will apply for the GC. My wife will get the GC in the same time with me?
-only my wife will get the H2b visa, so I will be in Romania until I will get my license for NY. How long it will take for me to get to the US?
-only I will get the H2b visa and my wife will be in Romania when the hospital applies for my GC.How long it will take for her to come, the hospital will apply for her too?
Where do you actually wish to work? Have you been working as an RN in your country?
If you are going to be coming to the US, and not planning to work in NY, I would suggest Vermont to you for licensure, it will be faster. And only have a certain time frame to get things taken care of in, do not use NY for initial licensure, unless you are definite about working there.
Make sure that with the visa that you will be coming over on, that you will be able to get it adjusted afterwards. Some are quite strict, and do not permit any extensions, or any adjustment.
So clear this out for me please, you said on other posts that is faster through NY, did anything change?
So, I have a SSN, and don't care yet in which state I will work, so where is it faster to get my license and GC, supposing that I will find a hospital in the same amount of time?
Before you decide on a stat,e where do you widh to work? You are in a different situation because you eill be coming to the US, and soon. That makes a big difference. Also depends on if you have a nursing license in your home country.
If you have a license in your country, the fastest for you would probably be Vermont. They require a license in your own country, or a good reason why you do not have that. And then you can endorse that. They do not require the CES, or CGFNS exam, either.
But really comes down to where you want to work, take that into consideration first. Some states will require the CES even for you to endorse. Others will not.
The hospital must do it, you are applying for a green card under employer sponsorship. You are unable to do it on your own.
Dear Suzanne,
I see you are helping future nurses with all kind of questions. I wounder if you can help in my sister's situation.
She came with H1B visa to work in a company. The company seems reluctant to help her with green card. She has about 2 years to go.
She graduated from a nursing school in her own country.
She is studying for NCLEX on her own on the weekends. It's not efficient. But I couldn't locate any NCLEX classes in CA except for Kaplan. As much as I know Kaplan doesn't teach content, they teach strategy.
My first questions, do you know anyone who would be willing to prepare her for NCLEX either in person or in private class.
Another questions, what do you think she can do in her situation in order to legalize. I thought, if she passes NCLEX, that may get her a job and an employer may help her with green card. But I have no idea how to proceed.
1. Whcih country did she train in, and did she graduate as an RN? How many years was her training?
2. Where in CA is she living?
3. I have designed a study program for International nurses, and it covers content as well. The first tip is provided on the NCLEX Discussion Forum, I highly recommend that she start with that and contact me directly.
I'm Israel trained RN, I have license in Israel and have been work as RN in LTC-facility more then one year. I didn't pass VisaScrin and IELTS exam yet. I want to relocate to US or Canada and want to do it as soon as possible. But... I'm 49 years old and I cann't spend years to wait for all standart process. Last time I wonder will I can run better all this things if I'll come to US and will find job as nurse aid in some LTC or Nursing home? Is it possible? Would I improve my English and would prepare to English and NCLEX exams better if I would live and work in US?
Please do things the proper way and worry aobut getting the NCLEX exam done. Otherwise, you are not going to be getting enough money to live on in most cases, and to support a family the way that you are used to living.
It doesn't take years to get things done, if you have your exams done.
Do not come over plannign to work as a CNA, it will be the worst thing that you can do. Major point is that if you could even get a visa to work like that, and I doubt it right now, it would be a temporary work permit and they employer is not required to pay you the same salary that they pay American staff, so try living and working on $7 per hour. You just can't do it..................without being in poverty, and that is no way to come to the US, especially to step backwards to that extent.
italiano12
5 Posts
Hi suzanne4, I'm always amazed of how many things you know :)
I have some questions, maybe you can help me.
I graduated last year from a nursing school in Romania and I want to practice in the US. I will try to get to the US in 2 weeks with a H2b visa and If I pass the embassy interview, when I'll arrive in the US I will apply for NYBON. If not , I will apply from Romania.
After I'll get my license and Visascreen I will search for a hospital to apply for my GC. In both cases, I would like for my wife to come with me. I know that she must apply in the same time with me for the GC, but if she is in Romania and me in the US, how long it will take for her to be able to come to USA? Do you know which visa will she receive?
If she will be with me in the US with H2b visa, can she do the change of status in the same time with me?
Tks