Immigrating to the USA from Canada as an RN

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Hello everyone!

I am currently a nursing student at UBC. I should be graduating in a year with a bachelors of applied sciences in nursing and be an RN. I am considering moving to the USA permanently from Canada and work as a nurse there. But I just want to hear from nurses who were in a similar position as me. If you would not mind answering,

- which states would accept a Canadian NCLEX RN certification?

- what was the time line for you to get your PR in the USA?

- should I try to get some work experience as an RN in Canada before applying?

- and any tips to increase my chance for immigration?

I should be a Canadian citizen by the end of the year (currently a PR in Canada right now). I am 26 years old right now. I will be around 28 by the time I would like to apply for the American immigration.

Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If IEN then average processing times are 4-6 months depending on where you are looking at for living and working.

Processing times for work or immigrant visa will depend on place of birth (mainly immigrant visa for place of birth). If planning on using TN then you need to be a Canadian citizen before applying. To make yourself more desirable I would recommend gaining experience first

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On ‎2‎/‎16‎/‎2019 at 9:13 PM, Silverdragon102 said:

If IEN then average processing times are 4-6 months depending on where you are looking at for living and working.

Processing times for work or immigrant visa will depend on place of birth (mainly immigrant visa for place of birth). If planning on using TN then you need to be a Canadian citizen before applying. To make yourself more desirable I would recommend gaining experience first

Could you clarify what TN means? Thank you for the reply! And are all Canadians RNs considered IENs? Thanks!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If trained outside the US then generally you are classed as IEN. TN relates to the NAFTA that Canadian citizens can use to work in the US

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Specializes in Surgical/Trauma/Neuroscience/Cardiac ICU.
On 2/25/2019 at 9:48 PM, Silverdragon102 said:

If trained outside the US then generally you are classed as IEN. TN relates to the NAFTA that Canadian citizens can use to work in the US

Hello,

Going to the US is one of my option as well. I'm Canadian and new graduate RN (just got my registration this Feb. 28th) with RPN experience.

There is a career fair I am going to attend this week (March 7th) in Toronto. Luckily, I was in contact with a US hospital recruiter who will be there. She told me to apply via their career website & now I have a long distance phone interview tomorrow (March 6th) with one of their hiring manager.

If happen to be hired, how long is the process to wait to get the visa. I think this will be a direct hire from the hospital and not a staffing agency. I just do not like to be waiting for long.

*I'm just looking into my options because I might have an offer from another Canadian province. Fingers crossed.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

NAFTA is applied for by yourself at the border. You will need visa screen certificate from CGFNS which will involve something from the state stating you meet their RN requirements and have passed NCLEX. Letter of job offer from the hospital. Suggest researching requirements for NAFTA and nursing

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