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.
Suzanne4. :) Thank you for taking your time here, again.
I'll check it out with my school.
If you have used up the OPT, then it is no longer available to you. Not sure the number of hours that you used in the past, etc. Best bet is to check with your international advisor at your school since they have access to your file and hours, etc.
Legal work will depend on if you qualify for another EAD, and your advisor can best tell you this. Without it, you cannot work.
Once you apply for the green card, you are under those dates, not the date of your OPT. The OPT can last the one year, but for most it doesn't, as they get their green cards before.
You have a document that will permit you to wrok, that is all that you need to worry about. You will be fine.
Suzanne: Are you saying I can apply for a green card DIRECTLY from my OPT and not have to go through the H1 process?
EDIT: I just read your PM (and the stickies on this forum). I'm slightly confused. The sticky mentioned "nurses". I graduate in may and will hopefully nail the NCLEX in July. You're saying I still need to get my green card and ot the H1 ???
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Suzanne: Are you saying I can apply for a green card DIRECTLY from my OPT and not have to go through the H1 process?
EDIT: I just read your PM (and the stickies on this forum). I'm slightly confused. The sticky mentioned "nurses". I graduate in may and will hopefully nail the NCLEX in July. You're saying I still need to get my green card and ot the H1 ???
Suzanne: Are you saying I can apply for a green card DIRECTLY from my OPT and not have to go through the H1 process?
EDIT: I just read your PM (and the stickies on this forum). I'm slightly confused. The sticky mentioned "nurses". I graduate in may and will hopefully nail the NCLEX in July. You're saying I still need to get my green card and ot the H1 ???
That is exactly what I am saying. First, you would never find a facility to sponsor your H1 status, they ar not doing that anymore.
All that you need is a passing score on the NCLEX, and your employer can begin your petition process for the green card. You will also need to get a Visa Screen Certificate and that is it.
The gren card is the best visa that you can get, you get full rights that any permanent resident does and have full choice as to where you wish to work.
Please feel free to drop by this forum, as well as the NCLEX Discussion forum for material that will be of great benefit to you.
I just find this website today, and I already learn a lot from you. Thanks a lot.
I am a nursing student in Pittsburgh. I will graduate in August this year. I began to looking for job from this month. I already talked to two hospitals, everything looks fine (they all give me offers), until I ask about green card. Both of them say they can not support me. I am upset for that. Do you know any hospital in Pittsburgh pa like to petition for their employ? thank you.
Yichen5
20 Posts
Suzanne4. :) Thank you for taking your time here, again.
I'll check it out with my school.