Help! Australian RN wanting to register in California

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 5, 2012

Moved to the International forum

California will not accept application without a US SSN and you can not get that until in the US with a valid work/immigrant visa. You will need visa screen certificate but until you pass NCLEX it isn't worth applying for

hettyhetty · Feb 6, 2012

hmmmm... ok, thanks for your reply. If I apply for eligibility for NCLEX through another state, will I be able to transfer to the CA board? if yes, will I need to have had a job offer in that state in order to get a visa and therefore a SSN first so I can apply to California? how does it work? I am Australian and eligible for the E3 visa and will not need a green card - does this make a difference?

Thanks again

Help!I am an Australian RN wanting to register in California (my boyfriend has had to move there - I realise it's one of the harder states to register in, but I'm doing it for love!).I don't know where to start - from what I gather, CA doesn't use CGFNS, but their own eligibility screening. Is this true? Do I also need a visa screen? should I start that process at the same time that I am completing the package from the California Nurses board? (which I haven't requested yet).I have a lot of other questions, but I guess I'll start with those for now... I just want to make the process as quick as possible, although I realise it will still take time. Is there any point in going through an agency? any recommendations if so?Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated - feeling very overwhelmed and disheartened at the moment

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 6, 2012

Until you have a employer and job offer/E3 visa in hand and can apply for a US SSN and one is issued you can not apply to CA for a license. My understanding is you need a employer for E3 and that may be hard in CA when we see many US nurses in many states especailly CA struggling to find work. ghillbert is probably the best one to look for in regards E3 process as they have gone through it and in the US working

allnurses Guide · Feb 7, 2012

Yes CA is tricky - you need a license to get the job offer, but you need the job offer/visa status to get the SSN. I did not go through CA so I am unsure how to get around it. May be worth contacting the board to ask. Bigger trouble is going to be finding an employer willing to employ you, and finding a job that requires a bachelor degree, and having your aus degree evaluated as equivalent to US BSN. Do you normally live with your bf in australia? is there any possibility that you're planning to get married? It is going to be exceptionally difficult for you. I am not suggesting you get married in order to go to the US but if you're planning it anyhow, maybe you should reassess your timeline.