How hard is it to get sponsorship?

[Citrobacter]

I'm currently working on getting my BSN and heard SO MANY opinions and stories about immigration issues with nurses, mostly negatives. However, I see most of them have already worked as a nurse in foreign countries, so I'd like to hear some stories or advice from someone who have gained their degree and license in the US and have gone through immigration process (either H-1B or Green card).

A little bit about myself, I did my secondary and college in the US and earned Bachelor's degree in the different field. I'm currently under H-1B, working in my field for over 2 years now and going to school to take some pre-requisite courses in the meantime. I'm applying to ABSN program next year, so hopefully, I'll have my BSN by the end of 2019 or early 2020.

I honestly don't have any problem moving anywhere in the country, but I just want to get a job and settle down. I don't have much problem working in 'less popular' department or program.

I want to know if anybody has gone through or seen someone going through H-1B or green card process (with or without OPT) as a newly grad BSN in the US.

* I'm from S. Korea.

[SpidersWeb, BSN]

Hi Citrobacter,

H-1B visa is tied to a specific employer and should something happen, you need to find another employer to sponsor you or leave the US. I'd say a better option would be to go for the EB-3 visa which will allow you permanent residency, i.e. the so called Green Card.

I wanted to have a smooth process so I signed a contract with Avant Healthcare Professionals. Avant is a recruitment company that brings international nurses to the US to fill vacancies as the US is facing a massive nursing shortage which is only going to worsen within the next few years. They're also helping nurses who are already in the US.

Avant will sponsor an EB-3 visa in exchange for an employment contract. They have client hospitals in most of the 50 states and the location of your assignment will be determined based on your skills and experience; they'll look for the ideal match between the employer and the employee.

As South Korea's priority date is current, your visa could be processed within 9-12 months.

However, for visa purposes, it's required you have a few years of clinical nursing experience.

You also have the option of asking a potential employer for a sponsorship but I've understood it's very difficult to succeed this way.