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.
The OPT is actually submitted by your school to immigration. When you start the green card process, the first petition to be submitted is the I-140 which is approval of the job and employer.
Petitioning is only done by the employer, never by an individual.
With the retrogression in place, nothing more than the I-140 can be submitted at this time, and that is after the NCLEX exam is completed. That is why I told you to make sure to have the OPT or you will not be permitted to work.
Any time that you leave the US, there is no law that states that you need to be readmitted. Even look at the visa that you are on now, it states that you are at the discretion of the immigration official at the airport when you return. You can be refused re-entry.
Nest, you mention NY; I have not seen one hospital willing to petition from there in more than a year. The only selection that you will have is a nursing home or an agency....but be very wary of the agencies that are doing petitioning from there. Many issues have come up lately, including lawsuits.
thanks for the mail.Do you know any nursing home or agency that can be trusted?or any hospital in NJ or Conneticut?i dont mind working there as long as i get the green card.Thabks for all your response.
thanks for the mail.Do you know any nursing home or agency that can be trusted?or any hospital in NJ or Conneticut?i dont mind working there as long as i get the green card.Thabks for all your response.
Eki
I never recommend nursing homes or those agencies. They are way too scary for most.
If i ever get an employer to petition for me.will i need a visa screen certificate?
Yes, you will. Going to nursing school in the US only exempts you from the English requirements, nothing more. Imigtration requirements are the same for all.
So,, there's no way to work and get petition for GC in anywhere in NY after graduating from a nursing school in the US?
Does Anyone know any hospital in the US petitions for international students? in any state...? I feel so sad and frustrated that I might be wasting my time and money for nothing right now. I am graduating in this year, and I don't know what to do. I can't go back to my country... and I like nursing, can't even think about switching my major to other in order to get a GC.
How are you guys all holding up in this situation?.......
So,, there's no way to work and get petition for GC in anywhere in NY after graduating from a nursing school in the US?
Does Anyone know any hospital in the US petitions for international students? in any state...? I feel so sad and frustrated that I might be wasting my time and money for nothing right now. I am graduating in this year, and I don't know what to do. I can't go back to my country... and I like nursing, can't even think about switching my major to other in order to get a GC.
How are you guys all holding up in this situation?.......
There are places that petition in all states, we have just stated that we have not seen any in NY (hospitals) petition in more than a year.
Right now, suggest that you get the OPT. Without that, you will be unable to work with the retrogression going on.
Thank you. I know that I need to get the OPT. But, after a year my OPT is over, then if I am still in retrogression, and the hospital doesn't petition more than a year, what should I do?
You mean that.. before retrogression, usually foreign nurses received their GC less than a year?
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Thank you. I know that I need to get the OPT. But, after a year my OPT is over, then if I am still in retrogression, and the hospital doesn't petition more than a year, what should I do?
You mean that.. before retrogression, usually foreign nurses received their GC less than a year?
Yes before retrogression if in the US you recieved GC less than 12 months as you do AOS and get EAD which allows work whilst rest of paperwork is sorted. Hopefully things will be sorted before the year is out
Thank you. I know that I need to get the OPT. But, after a year my OPT is over, then if I am still in retrogression, and the hospital doesn't petition more than a year, what should I do?
You mean that.. before retrogression, usually foreign nurses received their GC less than a year?
Earlier this year, before the retrogression went into effect, you could have an AOS (Adjustment of Status) submitted on your behalf. As soon as that was submitted, everything was fine. Most got their actual green card well before the year was up, but as long as you have a petition in process, then there is no issue. You would be getting another EAD with the green card application.
Not sure what you mean by hospital not petitioning for more than one year. At the moment, not one thing can be done until the retrogression is lifted or more visas are made available.
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
The OPT is actually submitted by your school to immigration. When you start the green card process, the first petition to be submitted is the I-140 which is approval of the job and employer.
Petitioning is only done by the employer, never by an individual.
With the retrogression in place, nothing more than the I-140 can be submitted at this time, and that is after the NCLEX exam is completed. That is why I told you to make sure to have the OPT or you will not be permitted to work.
Any time that you leave the US, there is no law that states that you need to be readmitted. Even look at the visa that you are on now, it states that you are at the discretion of the immigration official at the airport when you return. You can be refused re-entry.
Nest, you mention NY; I have not seen one hospital willing to petition from there in more than a year. The only selection that you will have is a nursing home or an agency....but be very wary of the agencies that are doing petitioning from there. Many issues have come up lately, including lawsuits.