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.
Unfortunately , I am not eligible for OPT, b/c I have an H-4 visa It allows me to got to school, but I can't work:angryfire. I think, the only one option for me is to wait and hope that this mess with GC numbers will be over soon.
Happy New Year, and wish that 2007 will be The HAPPIEST year for everybody !!!!
Get your visa changed to an F-1 for your last semester. That is something that is available to you, and then you would qualify for the OPT. No reason that you cannot do that, or you will not be able to do anything next summer.
I've asked you a few times before, I'm currently working in Texas as an OPT, which expires in this May. Now, I'm planning to apply for I-140.
My husband is studying as F-1 in a different state. I wonder if it is available to change my status into F-2 before OPT expires, to wait for green card to open again.
I've asked you a few times before, I'm currently working in Texas as an OPT, which expires in this May. Now, I'm planning to apply for I-140.
My husband is studying as F-1 in a different state. I wonder if it is available to change my status into F-2 before OPT expires, to wait for green card to open again.
I would appreciate any advice for me.
Happy New Year!!
It's a risky procedure, depending on your luck.
F visa is in non-immigrant category, you are not allowed to have immigration intention as a student. Filing I140 is obviously showing immigration intention, which will make you ineligible for F2, F1, B type of visa.
I've asked you a few times before, I'm currently working in Texas as an OPT, which expires in this May. Now, I'm planning to apply for I-140.
My husband is studying as F-1 in a different state. I wonder if it is available to change my status into F-2 before OPT expires, to wait for green card to open again.
I would appreciate any advice for me.
Happy New Year!!
Contact an immigration attorney to see what is the best route for you. You are going to need much more than the I-140 to be able to work, and currently none can be submitted if you are in the US. The I-140 does not permit you to work.........
Most that come and study on an F-1 visa for nursing stay, so that is not an issue, but the fact that there is nothing that can be done beyond that right now is the issue.
Your other option would be to continue on with your schooling, and remain an F-1, that would be something to consider as well.
Is this applies to all the RNs from all the countries or just those from India,
China and Philipines. I do not understand how this things really works. My
wife will be graduating in May 2008 as a BSN and we are from Nepal. I was
wondering if she could start her process as soon as she compltes her exam
for certification or will have to wait because of this 'retrogression'.
Thanks.
Not one thing can be done until she actually graduates and passes the NCLEX exam. Currently, all processing of the Adjustment of Status is on hold for RNs. I hope that things will open by the time that she graduates, you are speaking of 18 months from now.
Until there are new visas created, Schedule A is also no longer available.
Right now, even if she were from Canada, she ould be waiting for the processing for a green card.
i think that i may have the same situation with the previous user/member of this forum.
i am in an adn program and will graduate this may 07. i am planning to apply for opt this january or february. however, my f-1 visa was expired since dec. 05, but my i-20 is still valid until the day of my graduation. and i still do have a valid passport. also, i do plan to take and pass the nclex asap in order to do my opt.
you mentioned this:
until your visa is current, there is not one thing that can be done. you need a current visa in the us to even get a ssn#...........suggestion as i keep telling you: do not submit anything for the opt until your visa is valid, or you can get into trouble with immigration. suggest that you speak to an immigration lawyer asap.
you can only make any changes when you are current. anything that is expired caused you grounds to be deported now.....and immigration is cracking down.
same thing as a tourist visa that is good for ten years, it is only actually current for the time that was given when you entered the us..........if you are unable to leave the us, then the visa is not current. think about it that way.
my questions are the following:
1. what is the purpose of getting my visa current?
i already have my ssn, which i got when i worked on campus as a student worker. i thought (as per my readings and understanding on your posts in this forum), the visa itself is only required for purposes of entering the us or for us entry. and that the i-20 is more important on keeping it valid while i am in the us to legally stay in this country.
2. would that mean that if my f-1 visa is to be renewed, i would be required to go back to my home country (the philippines)?
because as far as i know, the legal way to obtain the visa is to go back to your country. however, it does not make sense to me at all, specially that i will be graduating.
3. what are your suggestions/advices as to what are my next steps regarding my current situation?
i understand the retrogression of gc. if ever granted with an rn license, what type of filing do i need to do? i am aware that i would need to look for an employer that would petition a gc. is that still possible even if applications are back-up at this moment?
i would greatly appreciate your response to my queries. and i stand to be corrected if i mentioned something wrong in this message.
i think that i may have the same situation with the previous user/member of this forum.
i am in an adn program and will graduate this may 07. i am planning to apply for opt this january or february. however, my f-1 visa was expired since dec. 05, but my i-20 is still valid until the day of my graduation. and i still do have a valid passport. also, i do plan to take and pass the nclex asap in order to do my opt.
you mentioned this:
until your visa is current, there is not one thing that can be done. you need a current visa in the us to even get a ssn#...........suggestion as i keep telling you: do not submit anything for the opt until your visa is valid, or you can get into trouble with immigration. suggest that you speak to an immigration lawyer asap.
you can only make any changes when you are current. anything that is expired caused you grounds to be deported now.....and immigration is cracking down.
same thing as a tourist visa that is good for ten years, it is only actually current for the time that was given when you entered the us..........if you are unable to leave the us, then the visa is not current. think about it that way.
my questions are the following:
1. what is the purpose of getting my visa current?
i already have my ssn, which i got when i worked on campus as a student worker. i thought (as per my readings and understanding on your posts in this forum), the visa itself is only required for purposes of entering the us or for us entry. and that the i-20 is more important on keeping it valid while i am in the us to legally stay in this country.
2. would that mean that if my f-1 visa is to be renewed, i would be required to go back to my home country (the philippines)?
because as far as i know, the legal way to obtain the visa is to go back to your country. however, it does not make sense to me at all, specially that i will be graduating.
3. what are your suggestions/advices as to what are my next steps regarding my current situation?
i understand the retrogression of gc. if ever granted with an rn license, what type of filing do i need to do? i am aware that i would need to look for an employer that would petition a gc. is that still possible even if applications are back-up at this moment?
i would greatly appreciate your response to my queries. and i stand to be corrected if i mentioned something wrong in this message.
thank you very much.
your visa is not valid, it goes by the date that is stamped in the passport when you entered the last time. think of your visa as being the same as the tourist visa, even if it is given for ten years, it still has a requirement as to how long the stay is valid for. so you are overstayed technically, and this is per immigration attorneys. you need to get that taken care of before you apply for the opt, or it will be grounds for deportation, and you can be picked up by ins. they are doing that now for the littlest thing.
this is a mistake that many make, many stay thinking that they are current, but it is per the date that immigration stamped in when you arrived. getting stopped for a traffic citation could cause you major issues.
at the moment there is a retrogression in place, not one thing can be done as far as a petition for a green card, there are no options available to you other than the opt until more visas are created.
getting your visa current is as simple as just leaving the country and then returning, again, speak to an immigration attorney. an adjustment of status cannot be filed if you are out of status........even if there were visas available to you. you still have the i-20 so you do not need to return to your country, but just cross the border and return. essentially like that, but speak to an immigration attorney first. that is usually all that is required.
i wanted to ask if anyone knows any hospital or nursing home in Chicago IL that files GC for international RNs that studied in the United States???
Right now, there is not one facility in the US that can petition for anyone from anywhere in the world for a green card as there are no green cards currently available. There are many facilities that will petition, but you need a current visa first, not sure if you have taken care of that yet.
And without a currrent visa to adjust, not one thing can be done even in the future anywhere in the US. Just a higher chance of having to leave the US.
At the moment there is a retrogression going on for all nurses, makes no difference if you trained in the US or not; that does not give you any pull with immigration, other than waive the English exams. Still have the same requirements to be met, and not one thing can be done without a valid visa. Remember that to even apply for the OPT, a copy of your visa with the I-94 must be submitted with the application for same. Not having a valid visa will cause INS to pay you a visit. This is my point that I am trying to get across to you.
i wanted to ask if anyone knows any hospital or nursing home in Chicago IL that files GC for international RNs that studied in the United States???
I will be happy to help you, but only with a valid and current visa. But agian, not one thing will be able to be done without visas being available that is why the OPT is so important for you to get. But please make sure that you have a current I-94 before submitting a copy of your current passport, it goes to immigration to get approved.
Just a clarification on the F-1 student status: When you enter the US on a student visa or when you change your status to F-1 from the U.S, you are usually admitted for the duration of your student status. That means your departure date will indicate D/S (for duration of status). What this means is that you may stay in the country for as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America. You are still in legal status. Make sure your I-20 and passport are current.However, if you happen to depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you are expected to return with a new Visa. There is more information on the U.S. state Dept. website: http://travel.gov/visa. Click on frequently requested visa information. Then go to student visa section.
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
Get your visa changed to an F-1 for your last semester. That is something that is available to you, and then you would qualify for the OPT. No reason that you cannot do that, or you will not be able to do anything next summer.