HELP!! new canadian nursing grad wanting to relocate to US (TX)

suzanne4, RN · Apr 3, 2006

Please see the sticky that I wrote at the top of the Canadian forum.

You will need to write the NCLEX-RN exam, as well as obtain a Visa Screen Certificate from CGFNS. Since you are Canadian, you qualify for the NAFTA TN Visa which means that you can begin the process of coming down her as soon as you have a job offer and the Visa Screen Certificate in hand.

Please check out that sticky, as the Canadians have different things that can speed them along.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

yanga82 · Apr 3, 2006

Please see the sticky that I wrote at the top of the Canadian forum.
You will need to write the NCLEX-RN exam, as well as obtain a Visa Screen Certificate from CGFNS. Since you are Canadian, you qualify for the NAFTA TN Visa which means that you can begin the process of coming down her as soon as you have a job offer and the Visa Screen Certificate in hand.
Please check out that sticky, as the Canadians have different things that can speed them along.
Let me know if you have any more questions.

Thank you very much for your reply suzanne4. i am on my way to check your stickies but thought to ask you a few more specific questions (hope you don't mind) (also, apologizing if i'm asking you to repeat same answers to what you had posted in the past)

1. you mentioned that I write the NCLEX-RN exam and i had been thinking that that would be a good idea :) but what i really wanted to know was that i have to get the ATT, right? so, how do i get this ATT? is this where i have to choose the BON? also, as i mentioned in my previous msg that my final destination was TX, so do i have to go to TX BON or, as you mentioned in some other msgs, try NY BON?

2. so by the sound of it, the visa screening is done by CGFNS, correct? then does that mean that i have to do nclex-rn & cgfns, the test? (or am i completely getting the wrong idea in my head?)

3. now the thing that really really worried me from your reply was that i have to have a job offer when i cross the border. but then when should i start the job search? after the test? before the test? after i got the certificate? (this whole thing is really getting to technical for my liking TT) especially if i'm tryin to go to tx but was going through ny bon? also, do you recommend any ways that would help me to get a job offer?

suzanne4 i really really really do appreciate your help and the time to respond to my questions. thanks a million. i hope you have a g'nite

yanga82 · Apr 3, 2006

oooh i just checked your stickies in canadian forum. you mentioned minnesota. so is it better to do it through mn than ny or tx?

suzanne4, RN · Apr 4, 2006

The ATT is the document that you receive that is the permission for you to take the NCLEX exam. Think as the NCLEX-RN as being the final step to which ever state that you wish to get a license in as final step in the licensing process. You will need to submit an application for licensure by examination to the state, after they approve your credentials, then they will permit you to take the exam.

As a Canadian, you can come down and look at facilities, or do everything via telephone and internet. But to get the TN Visa, that will permit you to work, you need to have the Visa Screen Certificate in hand, as well as a job offer. The RN Visa is employer dependent, so you cannot get it without the jjob in hand.

You do not need the CGFNS exam, just the Visa Screen Certificate, and if you choose Texas for initial licensure, you wil also need to get the CES from them, as well. It is really your choice as to which state that you wish to use.