International nursing students in the US

World Immigration

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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.

:balloons:

Hi Suzanne,

The wife passed today her NCLEX. She was very happy. Going forward, she has OPT till end of Feb next year. She finished with an AA degree. Technically, is it possible for her to be sponsored through an H1B program. I know an agency who can sponsor workers from philippines, but I don't want to approach them yet if this is not possible.

Now she has to find some jobs on OPT too. Will you happen to be familiar with the Torrance, CA hospitals?

Thank you for all your help.:yelclap: You help me guide her through this that is why she has OPT today.

:balloons:

Hi Suzanne,

The wife passed today her NCLEX. She was very happy. Going forward, she has OPT till end of Feb next year. She finished with an AA degree. Technically, is it possible for her to be sponsored through an H1B program. I know an agency who can sponsor workers from philippines, but I don't want to approach them yet if this is not possible.

Now she has to find some jobs on OPT too. Will you happen to be familiar with the Torrance, CA hospitals?

Thank you for all your help.:yelclap: You help me guide her through this that is why she has OPT today.

There are no H1-B visas available if she is a nurse. Glad to hear that she passed the NCLEX exam. Does she have any idea of where she wishes to work? The type of unit?

There are no H1-B visas available if she is a nurse. Glad to hear that she passed the NCLEX exam. Does she have any idea of where she wishes to work? The type of unit?

She want's to work in tele, icu, or med surge. However, she's not sure if hospitals here entertain newly grads with only school clinical experience.

She want's to work in tele, icu, or med surge. However, she's not sure if hospitals here entertain newly grads with only school clinical experience.

Sure they do. Everyone has to start somewhere.:balloons:

My sister is based in India, graduating (12+3) with Botany subject in may/07.She is planning for F1 ( nursing studies in USA). which course she should apply for? ASN or BSN.

She wants to fo for ASN but recetly she's heard that there are less chances to get F1 approved for ASN course.

Hello there.. I'm an international student currently studying on an university in Florida under a F1 visa, but actually it's not a health-care program.. So I was wondering:

1. Since I've grown interested into becoming a nurse here in the US, is it possible for me to switch from the program I'm attending to, to a nursing program (preferably without leaving the country)?

2. Which programs would make me eligible to apply for a green card at the time I graduate, take the NCLEX exam, and find myself an employer willing to do the petition?

Thanks for the help!

Hello there.. I'm an international student currently studying on an university in Florida under a F1 visa, but actually it's not a health-care program.. So I was wondering:

1. Since I've grown interested into becoming a nurse here in the US, is it possible for me to switch from the program I'm attending to, to a nursing program (preferably without leaving the country)?

2. Which programs would make me eligible to apply for a green card at the time I graduate, take the NCLEX exam, and find myself an employer willing to do the petition?

Thanks for the help!

You are able to change your major, but be aware that there is no guarantee that you can get into a nursing program right away. The ADN, or the BSN will permit you to apply for the green card; but just so that you are aware, we do have a retrogression in place right now, and even those that have trained in the US cannot automatically get a green card right now. If you do not qualify for the OPT; meaning that you have already used it for another degree, then it will not be available to you. Nurses with the OPT are the only ones that can begin work right now.

Not sure what will be happening, but mkae sure that nursing is something that you really and truly wish to do, not that it is something that will make it easier for you to remain in the US.

Hi, all

It's a beautiful day.

Getting warmer here, South Ga.

I have only a few weeks to graduate.

I'm so exciting!!!

I want to ask to Suzanne and everyone.

Do I have to write about my visa status on my resume,cover page, like I need sponsorship like that?

Can anyone got a job here, and went through all these things give me some tips for me? (Including interview)

Thanks in advance.

An F-1 holder graduated, passed the NCLEX and used the OPT (with temporary EAD). Now the EAD expired and the I140 petition is still awaiting visa. Can this F1 holder apply for a new EAD so that he/she can continue working while waiting for I140?

Thank you very much for the useful information and advise.

An F-1 holder graduated, passed the NCLEX and used the OPT (with temporary EAD). Now the EAD expired and the I140 petition is still awaiting visa. Can this F1 holder apply for a new EAD so that he/she can continue working while waiting for I140?

Thank you very much for the useful information and advise.

The OPT only has a validity of one year, and the EAD for that cannot be renewed. The EAD that you get when you go thru the AOS process and have had the I-140 and the I-485 submitted can be renewed.

But the EAD that comes with the OPT cannot be renewed. The I-140, if submitted after the retrogression began will not permit you to stay in the US, only if it had the other two petititions submitted with it. But my question would be to you, if you knew that the EAD would expire and that there was a retrogression starting, why did you not apply before the retrogression began? At this point, if application was made after October 31, and did not have the petition for AOS included, you will have to either leave the US and wait, or continue with your F-1 status and maintain that by continuing with your studies. That is the only way that you can remain in the US>

Hi Suzanne,

With an F-1 visa, I will be graduating with an ADN this May here in AZ, and my OPT application is under process since February. My question is: Would I still need to apply for a VSC to sit for NCLEX? What are other requirements that I would need to complete or apply in order to take NCLEX?

Thanks a lot!

Several errors were made.

1. I read somewhere that the USCIS will no longer accept I140 application with incomplete documentation, hence, i waited until my vsc is approved before I went to a lawyer.

2. I went to this lawyer in October2006. He knew about the retrogression but he did not file the application right away. It took him several days before completing the job posting then more days before getting the employers' questionaire done and other information gathered before filing the application.

3. He got my credit card information so that he can charge the filing fee against it. I looked at my history but cannot find the charge ($195). But the application was filed and acknowledged with a receipt number dated December 18. I guess the lawyer paid the fee from his own pocket (out of guilt?).

Here I am now on pins and needles. I guess my option is to wait it out here in the USA. I have to get a new I20 for a degree course and enroll full time every semester. A full (12 credit) semester costs $3200 (for non-residents). Learned my lesson too late.

The OPT only has a validity of one year, and the EAD for that cannot be renewed. The EAD that you get when you go thru the AOS process and have had the I-140 and the I-485 submitted can be renewed.

But the EAD that comes with the OPT cannot be renewed. The I-140, if submitted after the retrogression began will not permit you to stay in the US, only if it had the other two petititions submitted with it. But my question would be to you, if you knew that the EAD would expire and that there was a retrogression starting, why did you not apply before the retrogression began? At this point, if application was made after October 31, and did not have the petition for AOS included, you will have to either leave the US and wait, or continue with your F-1 status and maintain that by continuing with your studies. That is the only way that you can remain in the US>

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