illegal immigrant nurse

TazziRN, RN · Jun 5, 2007

Hey guys!! I'm 20 years old. I came from Spain 5 years ago and I overstayed my visa. At that time, I could not fix my immigration situation in any way. I am going to graduate from the RN program at my school in December. After that, I really have no idea what to do about my legal status. Some people say I could fix my status if I find an employer and some people say that being illegal there is no way to change my status. Does somebody is in the same situation or knows somebody who has change from illegal to legal? Any advice? I have paid my tax and never ask for anything to the goverment...

But you're illegal...........you took the place of a legal resident/citizen in the nursing program.........

Never mind, I'll shut up now

Cristhian1986 · Jun 5, 2007

Yes, I took the place of a "legal" resident. But with all due respect to this country, at 16 years old you do not get a lot of choices to stay here legally. I worked really hard to get in the program, in which just 100 people pass out of 2200. I pay three times the regular tuition and I just want an opportunity to work in this country. I did not cross the border, and I am not a gang member of anything like that, I am just a victim of the system, that does not work anymore. I love this country

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jun 5, 2007

I wish you all the best, you probably should contact an immigration lawyer. I admire your honesty and hard work. I realize you came here as a child and had no control over your situation. I have a problem with illegals who come here purposely to take advantage of our economy and charity. They work, pay no taxes and then send their monies back home.

You are obviously not this type of person. I will pray that things will work out for you.

Cristhian1986 · Jun 5, 2007

Thank You very much Dutchgirl. I really apreciatte your comments. I am against those immigrants who just want to take advantage of this country. However, I think there are some people that deserve an opportunity.

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 5, 2007

I wanted to point out that most illegal immigrants do pay taxes. They get a "tax number" that allows them to pay taxes as an illegal immigrant. Just wanted to point that out.

CHATSDALE · Jun 5, 2007

i don't know if you can get a license if you are illegal, how did yo establish residency for school??

talk with a lawyer but you may have to return to spain and get in line, i really don't have any expertise in these matters

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2007

Marry an American citizen and then apply for residency. The INS may make you go back to Spain to pick up your final papers just to be nasty, but you'll be legal. Also, there are lawyers who specialize in immigration. Consult one. They'll tell you what your options are. I went through the whole INS residency thing with my husband who was born and came from another country. He came here on a student visa. We did the whole process ourselves. It was mostly a waiting game and sitting around in the lobby of the INS office was time-consuming, but I know of many others who used lawyers.

MikeyJ, RN · Jun 6, 2007

Marry an American citizen and then apply for residency.QUOTE]
Doesn't work that way anymore. Immigration laws have changed post 9/11. I have a very good friend who is married to an illegal immigrant from Mexico - she is a U.S. citizen but her husband is not. He does not receive special treatment for marrying a U.S. citizen -- in fact he is going back to Mexico in August to apply for citizenship in the U.S.

msdobson · Jun 6, 2007

Cristhian,

You are asking for legal advice on a nursing forum. Whatever advice you get here is hearsay only (as well as any advice you get from family and friends) .

You need to contact an IMMIGRATION LAWYER as soon as possible to address your concerns. These things take time, so do this right away. Don't wait until the last moment.

Good Luck.

flower2007 · Jun 6, 2007

I am from The Netherlands, Europe also, now in the USA legally, I would check to see if there are any american RN recruiters(websites) in your country, i know that they recruit alot of people from overseas, Like Europe, fillipines, Africa .....they give them greencards and all, ussually this process takes about 6-8 months, so you might have to go back to your country of origin to be safe, Listen...when immigration finds out you are illegal, you are....OUT, trsut me they do not play around regardless of your story...ones you broke that rule of overstaying your visa...you broke the law....they can deport you and never allow you back in or maby not allow you for atlaest 10 years.

I would play it safe if i were you, and go back and do it right. It took us alot to get residency and i think everyone should go through the same process.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jun 6, 2007

I wanted to point out that most illegal immigrants do pay taxes. They get a "tax number" that allows them to pay taxes as an illegal immigrant. Just wanted to point that out.

Illegals are allowed to get a tax number so that they can pay taxes as an illegal immigrant?? What is wrong with this picture?

They may be paying taxes but they are costing us more than they are paying in.

On average, illegal households pay more than $4,200 a year in all forms of federal taxes. Unfortunately, they impose costs of $6,950 per household.

http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html