For those of you that are studying in the US under either an F-1 visa, or any other where you do not have permission to work, and will need to apply for a green card when you finish your schooling-----this is for you.
You must meet all of the requirements for immigration that a foreign-trained nurse does, the only exception that you have is that the English requirements are waived for you. You still need to submit the application and get a Visa Screen Certificate. This is offered by CGFNS and the application is available on their website, http://www.CGFNS.org. There is only one application available, whether you did your training in the US, or overseas.
You will still need to find an employer that will petition for your green card. You will still need to undergo a physical exam at a physician's office that is approved by USCIS an have verification of all titers and vaccinations. If you do not have verifiable proof of having had chicken pox, etc., you will need to have either a titer drawn, or receive the vaccination. Immigration is very strict now with this, they will no longer go on what you are verbally telling them.
Hope that this helps...............most of you will also be able to get an OPT for one year of training while your documents are being processed, but you can only receive the OPT once, especially if this is now a second career for you, and you already used your OPT status for the other.
If you are coming to the US just for the MSN, and already have a BSN from overseas, you will be required to write the English exams. You are only exempt from them if this is your initial training as a nurse, meaning ADN or BSN only.
Since she trained in the US, she is exempt from the English exams but will need to go thru the rest of the process for obtaining a green card, which means passing NCLEX and getting a Visa Screen Certificate. If she trains in the US, then the 2 year degree is accepted, but if she trains out of the US, then usually it is not accepted.
She can write the exam for CA, she just will not get her license until she gets her SSN#. She will get her SSN# before she begins work. She can apply for an OPT that will allow her to work as soon as she graduates, but this must be done before she finishes. She can then get an Adjustment of Status (AOS) filed on her behalf...................and the final process will be getting her green card, and one for you................:)
Since she trained in the US, she is exempt from the English exams but will need to go thru the rest of the process for obtaining a green card, which means passing NCLEX and getting a Visa Screen Certificate. If she trains in the US, then the 2 year degree is accepted, but if she trains out of the US, then usually it is not accepted.
She can write the exam for CA, she just will not get her license until she gets her SSN#. She will get her SSN# before she begins work. She can apply for an OPT that will allow her to work as soon as she graduates, but this must be done before she finishes. She can then get an Adjustment of Status (AOS) filed on her behalf...................and the final process will be getting her green card, and one for you................:)
I thought VISASCREEN is for foreign professionals who studied "outside the US"?
My wife , as an H4, did her full study here in Los Angeles including her general education. Can you confirm?
Can she get NCLEX in NY and have it endorsed in CA to work here?
By the way, I am not sure what OPT means, why she needs it and how she can apply for it.
Thanks a lot. You have answered a lot of questions going on my mind for the past year. Very good site.
H1-B is not a valid option for you. They no longer exist for nurse, plus you would never, ever want one. Employers are not required to pay you the same rate as the US nurses with that type of visa, as well as the facility essentially owns you. Definitely not a good thing for anyone.
There is nothing that you can do with an employer petitioning for you until after you have actually taken and passed the NCLEX exam. That is required for any papers to be submitted on your behalf.
I would worry more with getting thru your program right now. This is quite some time off for you, and things change.:) Needs change, wants change.
Where are you going to school?
So I am wondering what visa will I be on while I'm waiting for all this? I can't be on F-1 because I will be done with school and I only have 9 months of OPT left. Will they process everything in time?
I thought VISASCREEN is for foreign professionals who studied "outside the US"?
My wife , as an H4, did her full study here in Los Angeles including her general education. Can you confirm?
Can she get NCLEX in NY and have it endorsed in CA to work here?
By the way, I am not sure what OPT means, why she needs it and how she can apply for it.
Thanks a lot. You have answered a lot of questions going on my mind for the past year. Very good site.
If she is applying for a green card, she needs the VSC. The only requirement that is waived is the English exams. Visa Screen Certificate is for any nurse applying for a green card, and that is what she would be doing. It will be much faster for her to get it, only a period of a few weeks, instead of a few months, since her school is in the US, but she will need it.
OPT has actually been around for along time. It permits a student that has just graduated to be able to work in the US for one year, then either return to their country, or be in the process of getting a green card, in the case of nurses. If she doesn't have it, she will need to wait until she gets thru the Adjustment of Status process before she will be able to begin work. This just permits it faster, but must be applied for before the actual graduation, after it is too late.
Yes, she can get the NY license and endorse it to CA, or any other state.
I did send you the name of the attorney by pm, if you have any more questions specific to your case.:)
So I am wondering what visa will I be on while I'm waiting for all this? I can't be on F-1 because I will be done with school and I only have 9 months of OPT left. Will they process everything in time?
You will actually have what is called an EAD while everything is in progress.
AS long as things are in process, there is no issue. And the Adjustment of Status is filed in a timely manner.
Hi all.. i was wondering if you guys can help me find fe hospitals in chicago land area that will be willing to sponsor my visa. i have a sem left for my BSN and i wud be graduating in MAY 2006..and i m also looking forward for the advice on the steps to get my things done. i would eb applying for my OPT in feb..,, looking forward to u replies...
Not one thing can be done until after you pass NCLEX, as far as getting a petition sponsored on your behalf. That is a requirement of immigration, as they need proof of a passing score on the NCLEX exam for you to submit any documents.
I know of facilities that will, but again, until you have passed NCLEX, there is nothing that they will or can do.
Working someplace under an OPT is not the same thing as getting a petition filed on your behalf.
You will need to apply for a Visa Screen Certificate as well, but again, that cannot be done until you graduate and have a completed set of transcripts.
ok.. i was thinking in geeting touchwid some hospitals and find wout which one wud work the best .. for me.. n was tring to be lil agressive as i m planing to go back home in dec 06.. so wanted to be on top of things....
Being aggressive now, as you call it, will not help you at all. There is nothing at all that anyone can do until you have actually passed NCLEX as far as petitioning process goes. If you follow what you are supposed to do, there is aboslultely no reason that you can not go home in December, providing that you get it in your contract when you start, your employment contract. If not, it will be impossible for you to get the time off then, as it normally goes by seniority. But you may find issues if you want to go for the entire month then. Just be aware of that.
Lageally, they can't even offer you a job until that time.
thnks for ur reply..well then will finish my study first n plan to take nclex in july... n see what happens frm there..i was jus tring to follow up wid some hospitals as was adviced my couple people...currently i work on a CPT as a CNA...n this hospital does not sponsor..
That is my point. Until you actually have the NCLEX results in hand, there is nothing that can be done. They will not offer a job without that, and they cannot file anything on your behalf until that time. Needs are also going to change.
I get resumes sent to me all of the time, I cannot do anything with them until they have met a requirement of being able to be petitioned in one way or another. None of the more reputable recruiters want to see them until then, same as for HR at a facility.
I just found out about this forum recently from my friend.The info you provide is very helpfull,thank you for your involvment and detailed responces.
I graduated from US nursing school (NYC)in December.I am F1 student and I hold OPT which ends January 2007. I haven't been working so far but I activelly search for a job.I have prospective employer and your explanations are very usefull.
However, I have other issues that I would like you to ask you.As a mentioned I hold F1 visa and my husband who stays with me is my dependant.My last I20 expired in December but I have OPT. My husban's F2 expired in December as well and my school claims that he does not need do anything and as long as I have OPT he is legally with me for duration of my OPT. Problems started when he wanted to renew his drivers licence(which expired in December also) and then we were told in DMV that he is out of status because he does not have valid I20 with his name on it. The copy of my I20 expired on December also.I called USCIS and I was told he is out of status and he should apply for adjustment of status at the same time I apllied for OPT. My school claims that is not necessary because his status has not changed and he still is F2 .Moreover, they claim that there is no such a form(I20) to issue for him for the remaining year(of my OPT).As you see, through the licence renewal we found out that something is wrong with his legal status.
Could you please tell me what is your opinion in this issue.
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
Since she trained in the US, she is exempt from the English exams but will need to go thru the rest of the process for obtaining a green card, which means passing NCLEX and getting a Visa Screen Certificate. If she trains in the US, then the 2 year degree is accepted, but if she trains out of the US, then usually it is not accepted.
She can write the exam for CA, she just will not get her license until she gets her SSN#. She will get her SSN# before she begins work. She can apply for an OPT that will allow her to work as soon as she graduates, but this must be done before she finishes. She can then get an Adjustment of Status (AOS) filed on her behalf...................and the final process will be getting her green card, and one for you................:)