H1B visas

First of all Suzanne - I'm ignorant about immigration law. However, why in the world would the US allow nurses who aren't fluent in English work here? What am I missing in this?

Wyoming RN - I think you have a point! Good website. Thanks.

There are no more H1-B visas..............................end of subject................

The only way that a foreign nurse can now work in the US is with a green card, permanent residency status. This also means that they have to be fluent in English and pass tests that state such.

With an H1-B visa, the nurse only needed to pass a basic written test, there was no testing of speaking or listening skills involved. That has changed.

Personally I have always been against temporary visas for nurses because they were exploited by many hospitals and agencies. With the green card, the nurse can get the same salalry that an American nurse does, but also has to pay the same taxes, etc.

1. If the state which you wish to work in requires CGFNS, then you will have to start with them for registering for the exam. You will also be reuqired to complete the Visa Screen process. Also download forms from the same site. http://www.CGFNS.org

2. I am not sure if Nigeria is exempt from the English exams, if not, you will be required to take TOEFL, TSE, and TWE or the IELTS series with the academic branch and the speaking section.

3. Once you complete the Visa Screen process and get the certificate from CGFNS, you cantake that form, plus a letter from the hospital or agency that will be sponsoring you to the US Embassy where you live. The process is a little more detailed, the hospital or agency has to submit many papers on your behalf in the US, etc. But this is the basics.

4. In order to get the Visa Screen Certificate, you also have to pass either the CGFNS exam or NCLEX. NCLEX is a national licensing exam that is required of all nurses to work in the US, even if you are an American.

Hope that this has helped......if you have any more questions feel free to post them or send me a PM.

:balloons:

First of all Suzanne - I'm ignorant about immigration law. However, why in the world would the US allow nurses who aren't fluent in English work here? What am I missing in this?

They have to pass the English exams to get a Visa Screen Certificate. And that is required of all nurses that are applying for any type of visa. The only ones that are exempt from that requirement are those that went to nursing school for their basic RN training in the US, or they are being petitioned by a spouse.

There are no H1-B visas for nurses, this is the point that I keep trying to make. There are no facilities petitioning for that anywhere in the US.

Thanks for that. They would make nice topics for my blog. I did some reading on H1b due to your posts in the Philippines section. It's sad that the Visa was exploited by unscrupulous companies for profit. Anyways, it's over now for nurses as you've said.

:)

This thread is more than three years old, please look at the date of the thrread. These have not been available since 2004.