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.
I just discovered this forum, I think it's great since there is not much help around for us international student nurses. I am graduating from an associate degree RN program in the US in December 2006. I'll take my NCLEX in January, hopefully :wink2: . I am in the process of sending job applications, and I have a difficulty figuring out how to talk with the hospital about sponsorship. Since my OPT is only for 1-year I would like to start the green card paperwork as soon as I start working. But I don't know whether I should talk about it with the hiring manager me during the interview, with a nurse recruiter? Or better go to Human Resources and ask incognito? I believe they won't reveal that info over the phone! Please help with some info, or refer to someone. I am clueless how to start this process.
If anybody else has advice... Please speak up!!!!!!!
I graduated from a University in NY with a BSN and am currently working in NY as an RN. I wish to apply for a green card yet was told by the International Student Office at the University of Rochester (linked with my hospital) that there is a back up for applications for Indian passport holders and that they are not accepting applications even. Does anyone know how true this is? I was also reading through some threads and noticed that the pay has to be the same as an average nurse in America makes? This worries me too because in Western NY we don't get paid too much and I currently make about $20/hr. I'd appreciate if it you could clarify this and well as give me some advice on how to go about applying for a GC now that I've passed my NCLEX. Thanks
You need to have an employer that is willing to petition you.
Sorry, but that office is giving you wrong information, you can have your I-140 and I-485 submitted before the cut-off date and get the EAD and be in line for the green card when they do open up again. They are correct that they are essentially gone, but since you are in the US, you would be going the AOS route. Petitions will be accepted at least until the cut-off date and that is another month, at least.
And the salary paid if you have a green card is the same as an American RN. Your salary there is going to depend on what the others are getting.
And your attorney can be anywhere. Make sure that they do hold a license to practice law where they are practising...........for immigration they only need to be licensed in the US, but not state specific and if any problems occur, then trouble starts.
I just discovered this forum, I think it's great since there is not much help around for us international student nurses. I am graduating from an associate degree RN program in the US in December 2006. I'll take my NCLEX in January, hopefully :wink2: . I am in the process of sending job applications, and I have a difficulty figuring out how to talk with the hospital about sponsorship. Since my OPT is only for 1-year I would like to start the green card paperwork as soon as I start working. But I don't know whether I should talk about it with the hiring manager me during the interview, with a nurse recruiter? Or better go to Human Resources and ask incognito? I believe they won't reveal that info over the phone! Please help with some info, or refer to someone. I am clueless how to start this process.
If anybody else has advice... Please speak up!!!!!!!
I'd be extremely greateful.
Scully
Big question that I have for you..............where were you born?
And no one can offer you a job as an RN with green card petition until you pass the NCLEX exam, that is required for any paperwork to be submitted. If you were born in one of the countries that will be affected by the retrogression, then nothing will be able to be submitted for you until that is over.
And you never, ever use the word sponsorship, that brings back horrible memories of the H1-B visas that are no longer available. What you want is petitioning.
But as a foreing nnurse, you would be much better off starting the process of looking once you have passed the NCLEX exam, many more choices for you. Most want to see a passing score, especially if you are international.
Can we work on a H-1 visa if the retrogression thing takes effect.
There are no H1-B visas available for nurses, and if there were, you would have major issues of trying to find a hospital that will function under those. Way too much paperwork involved, and a staff of three just to do the paperwork that goes along with it. Have not been around in more than two years, since RNs have been expedited.
The big question is where were you born? If not in one of the countries to be affected, then it really will not be an issue for you. But count the H1 visas out, not viable alternatives.
Big question that I have for you..............where were you born?
And no one can offer you a job as an RN with green card petition until you pass the NCLEX exam, that is required for any paperwork to be submitted. If you were born in one of the countries that will be affected by the retrogression, then nothing will be able to be submitted for you until that is over.
And you never, ever use the word sponsorship, that brings back horrible memories of the H1-B visas that are no longer available. What you want is petitioning.
But as a foreing nnurse, you would be much better off starting the process of looking once you have passed the NCLEX exam, many more choices for you. Most want to see a passing score, especially if you are international.
Dear Suzanne, thanks a million for answering.
I come from Poland, been in the US for about 4 years after getting my BA in linguistics in Poland. I wonder if my country is affected by the retrogression - whatever it means. If that's not too much of a problem, could you explain what the retrogression is? Or refer to a site where I could find some info on this. You're mentioning: "And you never, ever use the word sponsorship, that brings back horrible memories of the H1-B visas that are no longer available. What you want is petitioning." Good to know:mad:, but I have no idea what happened with the H1B visas. I just met a Polish nurse who got recruited in Poland for an H1B visa. I'm very new in this area, so I'm not even sure where to start.
From what I'm reading here I can't believe that with such a shortage of nurses in the US it's still so hard to get this process work smoothly.
I live in Washington DC area currently, looking for a job in DC, Virginia or Maryland. Can you or anyone recommend anything, do you know of any institution here that would petition for me?
Hello everyone, I need real advice on my situation...
I came to the US in 1996 with a student visa, finished a degree in physical therapy assistant and have been working with the SS# that was given to me when I completed my first diploma. I never left the country or stopped working, even though I was only authorized to work for 1 year. I am now completing my nursing degree in December and don't have my legal situation resolved yet. Since I have a SS#, I believe that I will not have trouble sitting for the NCLEX but I need to adjust my legal status. Does anyone know which direction I should go? I have been to a couple of immigration lawyers but they told me that there's nothing that can be done. Would a recruiting agency be able to help me? I am originally from Portugal and I know the US are recruiting nurses from there every 4 months, could I go back and apply that way? I need a solution...:uhoh21:
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hello everyone, I need real advice on my situation...
I came to the US in 1996 with a student visa, finished a degree in physical therapy assistant and have been working with the SS# that was given to me when I completed my first diploma. I never left the country or stopped working, even though I was only authorized to work for 1 year. I am now completing my nursing degree in December and don't have my legal situation resolved yet. Since I have a SS#, I believe that I will not have trouble sitting for the NCLEX but I need to adjust my legal status. Does anyone know which direction I should go? I have been to a couple of immigration lawyers but they told me that there's nothing that can be done. Would a recruiting agency be able to help me? I am originally from Portugal and I know the US are recruiting nurses from there every 4 months, could I go back and apply that way? I need a solution...:uhoh21:
Thank you for your time
I think the biggest problem is sorting out your status and would suggest finding a lawyer who has experience in this area. A recruiting agency would not be able to help because of this, any forms you complete you would have to declare this and if not sorted can result in a ban.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Dear Suzanne, thanks a million for answering.
I come from Poland, been in the US for about 4 years after getting my BA in linguistics in Poland. I wonder if my country is affected by the retrogression - whatever it means. If that's not too much of a problem, could you explain what the retrogression is? Or refer to a site where I could find some info on this. You're mentioning: "And you never, ever use the word sponsorship, that brings back horrible memories of the H1-B visas that are no longer available. What you want is petitioning." Good to know:mad:, but I have no idea what happened with the H1B visas. I just met a Polish nurse who got recruited in Poland for an H1B visa. I'm very new in this area, so I'm not even sure where to start.
From what I'm reading here I can't believe that with such a shortage of nurses in the US it's still so hard to get this process work smoothly.
I live in Washington DC area currently, looking for a job in DC, Virginia or Maryland. Can you or anyone recommend anything, do you know of any institution here that would petition for me?
Thanks a lot again
Scully
May be worth asking this in the thread especially for questions for Suzanne
Hello everyone, I need real advice on my situation...
I came to the US in 1996 with a student visa, finished a degree in physical therapy assistant and have been working with the SS# that was given to me when I completed my first diploma. I never left the country or stopped working, even though I was only authorized to work for 1 year. I am now completing my nursing degree in December and don't have my legal situation resolved yet. Since I have a SS#, I believe that I will not have trouble sitting for the NCLEX but I need to adjust my legal status. Does anyone know which direction I should go? I have been to a couple of immigration lawyers but they told me that there's nothing that can be done. Would a recruiting agency be able to help me? I am originally from Portugal and I know the US are recruiting nurses from there every 4 months, could I go back and apply that way? I need a solution...:uhoh21:
Thank you for your time
A recruiting agency should be the furthest thing from your mind at this point. There is not one thing that can be done until you get current, and the fact that you have stayed and worked illegally since then will not be in your favoe with immigration.
Your best bet is to leave the country as soon as possible and then try to get petitioned from home...........and go via Consular Processing, but that will not be easy for you to do either.
They have gotten very strict on this matter, and it is one thing if you came as a child and overstayed because your parents stayed, but you came as an adult, and have been here for multiple years after yo uhave finished. You are not in status, and actually for most states, will need to show proof by either a passpost or something similar...........
Since you have been in the US and for so long, is your passport even current at this point?
No, My passport expired in 2000. Having overstayed in the country I am afraid of leaving knowing that most likely they will deny my case anyway and then what will I do? I am married to an american citizen but we separated 3 years ago. I didn't want to take that route but it seems like that's the only way to go about it at this point. I wonder if after I get a work permit and start working legally...I have to follow through with that case until the end or can I switch it over to a petition through an employer... I can't imagine being married for 3 more years to someone I have no intentions on being with anymore.
Silverdragon102, BSN
1 Article; 39,477 Posts
don't think H1 is available for nurses and don't think I would want to as not protected same