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.
Thanks, Suzanne4 for answering my query in another thread before.I've been reading the threads and they have been very helpful to me.:) My case is somewhat different from the previously posted ones, and I really am in dire need of advice from you or anybody who would care to share their knowledge.I am an F1 visa holder (expiration: March 2005) who entered the US in 2003 pursuing a different course from Nursing. After a 9-month study in CT I proceeded with my CPT. After 6 months in CPT, I applied for I-765/App for Employment Authorization (per registrar who got himself fired) so that I can work longer, had a long wait, and finally received a letter stating that I was denied and thus had failed to maintain my status. However, my registrar (new one) informed me I was never out of status in the SEVIS, and that I had 60 days to make a decision (stay or leave). I decided to stay and immediately enrolled myself in a nursing course in OK to maintain my student status last January 2005. I am on my 2nd sem as a nursing proper freshman, and I hope to graduate on May 2007 (ASN). My current registrar is not very familiar with a case like mine, so both of us are researching (most esp about OPT). Our nursing director in the college told me that the earliest I could take the NCLEX exam is 1 wk after graduation ceremony. A lawyer advised me to get NCLEX b4 grad or apply for an OPT.Here then are my questions:
Do you think I was ever out of status?Both registrars from the 2 schools independently said I was never out of status.
My app for Employment Authorization (i-765) after my CPT in a previous course was denied bec. I was enrolled to
My visa expired March 2005, but my new I-20 does not expire until 2008. How will this affect my app for OPT and green card?BTW, my expected grad is May 2007.
Can I apply for an OPT even before I pass the NCLEX? Is the OPT also considered as an authorization to work? Can you give me a site where can I get more info about OPT - requirements, chances of being approved, etc?
If I don't get an OPT but I do get a willing employer to process my papers, does that mean I need to have an Adjustment of Status? How and when do I apply for this? Do you recommend me getting OPT or AOS?
How early do you think I should apply for a VSC?
Is it true that the USCIS sometimes honor and sometimes not honor the 60-day legal stay in US after grad, most esp if you're applying for a green card with an expired visa?
There! Pheeew!:lol_hitti I did not mean for this to be lenthy and maybe a little redundant, but I hope that this will help other people as well who may have the same problem as mine. I would really appreciate any advice any one of you would give me. Thank you all very much!
You do not need the NCLEX for the OPT, but you will need it for the petition of the AOS. They are completely two different things. As far as your specific questions about your specific case, you will need to consult with an immigration attorney directly.
You do need to have passed the NCLEX exam before the AOS can be submitted by an employer on your behalf.
I got an RN license but I still don't have an employer! When I mention that I neeed sponsorship, rectruiters never contact me again! I want to go to 2 more hospitals before giving up and signing up with an agency. Does anybody know what exactly employers have to do in the process of green card sponsoring? Is it really that complicated? I can get my own lawyer if I have to - if I managed to convince an employer that I can deal with the legal process myself.
I did not mention about the sponsorship when I was looking for a job but I made sure i got a job with a good and big institution. When I got the job, I then mentioned it and they knew they had to do it at that point. Let me know if you need information on some institutions that do it and where you live.
I have come across lot of good institutions where they don't have an existing policy / practice of sponsoring, so get a feel on this from HR.
Hi,
I got an RN license but I still don't have an employer! When I mention that I neeed sponsorship, rectruiters never contact me again! I want to go to 2 more hospitals before giving up and signing up with an agency. Does anybody know what exactly employers have to do in the process of green card sponsoring? Is it really that complicated? I can get my own lawyer if I have to - if I managed to convince an employer that I can deal with the legal process myself.
does any one know the validity of EAD issued (months/years) as part of I 140 & 485 approval. It seems that i can have an EAD with in 90 days once i file my papers. But if i have an year of OPT remaining and if the new EAD validity if for the same times frame, does that make sense?
I changed my job search strategy:I got a letter from a lawyer saying what kind of information I need from an employer in order to file for a greencard. It seems to be working - when I showed this letter to one recruiter after an interview, she said it won't be a problem if I get hired. I hope they will hire me!
I'd be grateful if anybody can help me with these questions:
1) Is a lawyer's fee of $6000 + all the immigration fees a fair fee for sponsoring (NY)?
2)when I spoke to a recruiter from a Staffing Remedies agency, she said that my OPT is valid only for school related activities, and she has to get me a work permit before I can start working (she said it'll take about 2-3 months to get it). Is she right?
3) I mailed my visa screen documents last week. How much time (more or less) does it take to get it? ( I went to school in NY, and my school already mailed my documents.).
My lawyer in Tennessee gave me a fee of $3900 for me and my wife. Also, the others i met said $5000. Youc an use your OPT to work anywhere. You do not need to get any special work permit. Maybe your recruiter is confusing OPT for CPT. PM me if you need any more info... My sister is an RN in Long Island....
6k is a heigher quote, it should be around 3000 for doing i 140, i 485 and AP.
Thanks for all the information!
I changed my job search strategy:I got a letter from a lawyer saying what kind of information I need from an employer in order to file for a greencard. It seems to be working - when I showed this letter to one recruiter after an interview, she said it won't be a problem if I get hired. I hope they will hire me!
I'd be grateful if anybody can help me with these questions:
1) Is a lawyer's fee of $6000 + all the immigration fees a fair fee for sponsoring (NY)?
2)when I spoke to a recruiter from a Staffing Remedies agency, she said that my OPT is valid only for school related activities, and she has to get me a work permit before I can start working (she said it'll take about 2-3 months to get it). Is she right?
3) I mailed my visa screen documents last week. How much time (more or less) does it take to get it? ( I went to school in NY, and my school already mailed my documents.).
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
You do not need the NCLEX for the OPT, but you will need it for the petition of the AOS. They are completely two different things. As far as your specific questions about your specific case, you will need to consult with an immigration attorney directly.
You do need to have passed the NCLEX exam before the AOS can be submitted by an employer on your behalf.