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.
Is there any America edcuated new graduate who has no previous nursing experiences feeling desperate like me? As I just shouted out loudly with great excitement when I passed NCLEX at my 1st attemp, now I feel like I'm abandoned. I studied hard, graduated last Dec. from ADN, and studied a month for NCLEX trying to just focus on passing before worrying anything else. and now, the worries emerge. I'm excited to start to work as a real RN but where can I go?
Anyways, Thanks Suzanne and other kind friends always take time to answer my questions. As Suzanne responded me in VisaScreen section that since no hospital is able to petition foreign nurses at this moment I may just go back home and wait. However, I'm concerned that if I go back to my hometown, the skills that I have learned (even though they are fundamental) will be fading away. That plus time waiting might add some trouble for later in searching a RN position in USA as again I lack of experiences. and it seems to me that it does not look like usa really has a great demand in nursing staffs?
This afternoon, an agent called me and told me that a nursing home is willing to help me get EAD ASAP, will do the GC, and will pay me $20 cash until the permit is done and then increase the rate that is possible also around $20 after tax. Does EAD not have conflict with GC, why the nursing home can be sure that they can do that for me at this time? I asked the agent why a nursing home can do the EAD and not a hospital, she simply stated that nursing home is usually owned by one owner. Unlike multi-owners hospital has to get yes from each of their participants. Nursing home is really my last choice. However, at this point, if that's true that I can get to stay & work legally first. that's fine. I may work and take some courses to get some BSN credits.
ok, but after I review several previous posts and the content, I went to look at my visa and saw my f1 expires on 07/2006 (I studied education before going into nursing). which means no matter what, I'm not eligible to apply for the EAD, right?
the last question is I'm licensed in TN, and it says active multistates. what does the multistates compact really mean to me? I read it but still kind of confused about that.
I'll appreciate anyone who reads and answers. or just say a coulpe of comforting words that I need right now. and sorry for venting this long complaints...
Sorry, but do not trust that person, they are wanting to do something illegal in terms of getting you a visa, and giving false information to USCIS is grounds to be deported. Sorry, but what they are teliing you is a bunch of garbage, and has nothing to do with the number of owners or any such thing. There are no visas available for RNs, period. And this wonderful person needs to be reported to USCIS for trying to compromise nurses.
Shame on them.....................
And look at the key point, they will pay you cash, meaning that they will have you working illegally.
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The compact license is only valid for other states if you keep a residence and that is your legal residence where you are now. If you move out of state, then it is no longer valid. If you look at the license, it states if you move, you must notify them. The license for that one state will still exist, but the compact part will fail to exist.
The OPT needed to be applied for before you graduated, that is the one major requirement of it. Once you graduate, there is nothing that can be done to use that.
PLEASE !!!! listen.. that person is telling you lies. Do not under any circumstances work under the table... that is what that is. Legal employment requires a SSN. You will be the one loosing your license and being deported for working illegally. Just saying I didn't know will not save you. Right now the climate for immigration is very strict, they are deporting people daily that over stayed, forgot to renew visas, didn't apply for citizenship and their greencards have expired. If you work for someone when someone finds out your working for cash all they need to do is call immigration and they will come and pick you up. If there is an issue about the care at the nursing home and a lawsuit, you will be working illegally. Who do you think they will blame... Please follow the rules and just be patient. It is very tempting to get some cash, but you risk loosing everything you have worked so hard for and the result will be a one way ticket home. This is when patience is not only a virtue but it will save you a lot of misery doing it the right way. Short cuts don't work. Immigration detention is not a place anyone wants to be.
Is there any America edcuated new graduate who has no previous nursing experiences feeling desperate like me? As I just shouted out loudly with great excitement when I passed NCLEX at my 1st attemp, now I feel like I'm abandoned. I studied hard, graduated last Dec. from ADN, and studied a month for NCLEX trying to just focus on passing before worrying anything else. and now, the worries emerge. I'm excited to start to work as a real RN but where can I go?
Anyways, Thanks Suzanne and other kind friends always take time to answer my questions. As Suzanne responded me in VisaScreen section that since no hospital is able to petition foreign nurses at this moment I may just go back home and wait. However, I'm concerned that if I go back to my hometown, the skills that I have learned (even though they are fundamental) will be fading away. That plus time waiting might add some trouble for later in searching a RN position in USA as again I lack of experiences. and it seems to me that it does not look like usa really has a great demand in nursing staffs?
This afternoon, an agent called me and told me that a nursing home is willing to help me get EAD ASAP, will do the GC, and will pay me $20 cash until the permit is done and then increase the rate that is possible also around $20 after tax. Does EAD not have conflict with GC, why the nursing home can be sure that they can do that for me at this time? I asked the agent why a nursing home can do the EAD and not a hospital, she simply stated that nursing home is usually owned by one owner. Unlike multi-owners hospital has to get yes from each of their participants. Nursing home is really my last choice. However, at this point, if that's true that I can get to stay & work legally first. that's fine. I may work and take some courses to get some BSN credits.
ok, but after I review several previous posts and the content, I went to look at my visa and saw my f1 expires on 07/2006 (I studied education before going into nursing). which means no matter what, I'm not eligible to apply for the EAD, right?
the last question is I'm licensed in TN, and it says active multistates. what does the multistates compact really mean to me? I read it but still kind of confused about that.
I'll appreciate anyone who reads and answers. or just say a coulpe of comforting words that I need right now. and sorry for venting this long complaints...
Is this condition will last forever ? If there is no more hospital willingly to give us (International nurses) petition, what we are studied for ? I am going to graduate in 2008, does anybody think that I won't get a job and GC here ? So, It means nursing education is no longer worthed for International students, doesn't it ?
what it means is that you can use that liscense to practice in any state that has the compact liscense e.g New jersey without having to go through the endorsement.I am currently in memphis,Tn,i graduate in August and hope to take my boards that same month,then i will cross my fingers and see what currently happens.Dont you qualify for OPT?i qualify for OPT and i am currently getting a lot of experience working as a nurse extern in one of memphis hospitals.whats the name of the Nursing home?you can go in there or look for anyone who works there?
You are forgetting the onbe key fact, if you actually move from your home state, then the compact part of the license becomes null and void.
That nursing home offer was 100% illegal and nto pay under the table just shows that they are not doing things legally and you can be deported and not be able to return to the US for at least ten years.
Not a smart move.
The OPT is only available if it is applied for before the nurse actually graduates and was under the F-1 visa, and did not use it before for the same degree. Not all qualify.
Is this condition will last forever ? If there is no more hospital willingly to give us (International nurses) petition, what we are studied for ? I am going to graduate in 2008, does anybody think that I won't get a job and GC here ? So, It means nursing education is no longer worthed for International students, doesn't it ?
The retrogression last year lasted for about 1/2 year. And if you take the time to think about the F-1 visa that you are on, it states that you will be leaving after you finish your training, and possibly stay for the OPT, and then you woudl return home or to another country. US immigration has actually looked the other way to that.
I don't want to risk my future. I will pass that. By the way, I didn't feel the manager of the nursing home wanted to know what kind of person I was and she was not talking much about her facility when I asked.
I am just very upset about not being able to practice. I was so excited to become a RN and so much looked forward to starting this career.
I don't want to risk my future. I will pass that. By the way, I didn't feel the manager of the nursing home wanted to know what kind of person I was and she was not talking much about her facility when I asked.
I am just very upset about not being able to practice. I was so excited to become a RN and so much looked forward to starting this career.
Expect things to get fixed by summer, at least somewhat. Please do not get too discouraged. You can get everything done the legal way, and be first in-line for a visa when they are issued, so all is not lost.
Hi Suzanne, thanks for all your big help and service. If you could answer this for me. I am graduating this Spring, and will be getting my AAS degree from NY state. Once I graduate, I have an offer to work in a hospital where I will be working in my OPT. They said they will be sponsoring my GC, but since the retrogression is on, they might do that once it gets lifted. I understand from several other posts that in order to apply for GC, you need to have NCLEX and VSC. When I apply for the VSC, do I have to have NCLEX in my hand? Or in other word, can I apply for VSC without NCLEX. NCLEX may take few more months when I go and sit for it, and also the VSC will take few months as well. My plan is to get both at the same time if possible, and I hope the retro will be lifted by then. Any thoughts? I really appreciate your comments. Thank you.
Hi Suzanne, thanks for all your big help and service. If you could answer this for me. I am graduating this Spring, and will be getting my AAS degree from NY state. Once I graduate, I have an offer to work in a hospital where I will be working in my OPT. They said they will be sponsoring my GC, but since the retrogression is on, they might do that once it gets lifted. I understand from several other posts that in order to apply for GC, you need to have NCLEX and VSC. When I apply for the VSC, do I have to have NCLEX in my hand? Or in other word, can I apply for VSC without NCLEX. NCLEX may take few more months when I go and sit for it, and also the VSC will take few months as well. My plan is to get both at the same time if possible, and I hope the retro will be lifted by then. Any thoughts? I really appreciate your comments. Thank you.
The VSC will not be processed without having the NCLEX-RN exam passed. If you trained in the US, it will not be months for you to get the VSC, just a month or two.
Right now, even if the retrogression were lifted, you cannot start the process for the green card until you pass the NCLEX exam. The VSC is not needed currently for the initial petition to be filed.
It will be impossible to get the VSC at the same time that you take the NCLEX exam. VSC requires passing of the NCLEX exam.
Right now, the only way that you will be able to work is with the OPT, there is not one other thing available to you. But just so that you are aware, we have not seen one hospital in NY do the petitioning for someone in more than two years. Even for students that graduated from there.
Suzanne, Thanks for the quick response. I am in Rochester, NY. I talked with the recruiter in Strong Memorial Hospital. Per her, they will sponsor me, but I have to come up with my own lawyer and the associated cost. I must have overheard if this is the case that none of the single hospital is willing to file a petition on employee behalf. I will again confirm with the hospital to see if or no this will be an option.
Is this condition will last forever ? If there is no more hospital willingly to give us (International nurses) petition, what we are studied for ? I am going to graduate in 2008, does anybody think that I won't get a job and GC here ? So, It means nursing education is no longer worthed for International students, doesn't it ?
If you are in the US, and have graduated right now, but do not qualify for the OPT; then there is not one thing that any employer can do for you to stay and work. You are talking of graduating one year from now. Things do change.
But another thing to consider, when a student comes here on the F-1 visa, it is under the impression that they will be leaving the US at the end of their training, no matter which field. For nursing, immigration looks the other way, and permits the nurse to stay, when there are visas available. But it is not mandatory that the graduate be provided a job.
Whether or not, you can get a job when you graduate will be up to immigtration and what is going on at that time. Graduates from foreign nursing schools actually are required to have the BSN or something similar.
You are speaking of something that no one can guess about 16 months from now. Even one year ago that there would be a retrogression in place right now for all. It will also be dependent on where you were born. The visa is based on that, not where you trained. Training in the US does not give you any advantage with US immigration over a foreign-trained nurse.
You are still required to have a Visa Screen Certificate, only the English requirement is waived.
Suzanne, Thanks for the quick response. I am in Rochester, NY. I talked with the recruiter in Strong Memorial Hospital. Per her, they will sponsor me, but I have to come up with my own lawyer and the associated cost. I must have overheard if this is the case that none of the single hospital is willing to file a petition on employee behalf. I will again confirm with the hospital to see if or no this will be an option.
A hospital only provides the documents to the attorney to process and submit. But from my sources lately, no place even in that area was willing to do any petitioning for any foreign nurse. And this was before the retrogression started. The only thing that you have going for you is that they will be familiar with you from the OPT, but check with the Human Resource Dept directly and make sure that they are willing to do this.
Hospitals do not file on their own, they use the services of an immigration attorney. And this is for any foreign nurse. Just some will pay the fees, and the others have the nurse pay their own.
As I just shouted out loudly with great excitement when I passed NCLEX at my 1st attemp, now I feel like I'm abandoned. I studied hard, graduated last Dec. from ADN, and studied a month for NCLEX trying to just focus on passing before worrying anything else. and now, the worries emerge. I'm excited to start to work as a real RN but where can I go? 
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
Sorry, but do not trust that person, they are wanting to do something illegal in terms of getting you a visa, and giving false information to USCIS is grounds to be deported. Sorry, but what they are teliing you is a bunch of garbage, and has nothing to do with the number of owners or any such thing. There are no visas available for RNs, period. And this wonderful person needs to be reported to USCIS for trying to compromise nurses.
Shame on them.....................
And look at the key point, they will pay you cash, meaning that they will have you working illegally.
--------------------
The compact license is only valid for other states if you keep a residence and that is your legal residence where you are now. If you move out of state, then it is no longer valid. If you look at the license, it states if you move, you must notify them. The license for that one state will still exist, but the compact part will fail to exist.
The OPT needed to be applied for before you graduated, that is the one major requirement of it. Once you graduate, there is nothing that can be done to use that.