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.

Hey All,

I am in school now and using my CPT to work 20 hrs a week Maximum. I have applied for OPT and still have my full 1 year. I am looking for a job based on the one that can sponsor me for green card.

Suzanne, I have an employer that does not sponsor but they said that they are willing to give me all the documents I need to sponsor myself. What do you think about this move?

Efe

It just means that you have to pay 100% of the bill. As long as they provide you with the required documents, that is all that you need. They essentially would still be the ones doing the petitioning.........

Actually that is the best way to go in my opinion.........

Hey All,

I am in school now and using my CPT to work 20 hrs a week Maximum. I have applied for OPT and still have my full 1 year. I am looking for a job based on the one that can sponsor me for green card.

Suzanne, I have an employer that does not sponsor but they said that they are willing to give me all the documents I need to sponsor myself. What do you think about this move?

Efe

I am in that track. It is fair if there is no contract based on it. If you pay for your lawyer and paperwork, there should be no contract. But at least you should have some money to pay the lawyer though. Most hospital that sponsor ask foreign nurses to sign up to three year contract. I think it would be good if you pay by yourself and not tied to three year contract.

Depends on what the hospital calls the bonus, that would cover the immigration expenses. Not really any different than signing a contract for a hospital to pay your relocation expenses, etc..............but you are still in control of everything.

Ying has to pay her immigration costs, but the hospital is giving her a relocation bonus that will cover most of it and she gets the full salalry with nothing deducted from it. By handling things thru an attorney that she got to select, things were processed quite quickly, she received her EAD in under 5 weeks..............

hi suzzanne,can i get ur tips for passing the nclex-rn.im a foreign trained and will be glad to hear from u .some of the materials im using are mosby and saunders cat . i need ur help.thank u.

You need to send me your e-mail address by pm, do not post it here. Where did you train and how long ago, so I know what other information that you will need.

Hi All, Hi Suzanne,

Its my first time to post and I hope I'm doing it right. I have been reading a lot of your forums hoping to get tips. I am in North Carolina on vacation using a B1B2 tourist visa. I'm from the Philippines. My brother works as a doctor here and he has convinced me to take up ADN. I have began my application process and there's a good chance that a school may accept me and issue out an I-20 very soon. The problem is that the DSO or international student advisor is telling me that I can't apply for the F-1 here and that I have to file it in my home country. Something I would rather not do to cut on travel expenses. I consulted an immigration lawyer regarding the matter and she said that lawyer intervention is really not necessary as the school is supposed to assist me in filing the I-539 or change of status form to convert my status to an F-1. Who's right and who's wrong?

WayneTautz

I pass NCLEX and get a Visa Screen Certificate. I found an employer petition for the green card for me, and I have already worked for one month for my hospital. However, a critical problem comes now. They offer me $21/hr which is lower than the prevailing wage from EDD in our state. My lawyer said my case must be denied if I couldn't get at least the prevailing wage. Therefore, I tried to negotiate with my hospital, but they insisted the current salary. I have no idea how to do now, because my OPT is going to end on Jan 10th. How can I find another hospital around my area in such a short period before Jan and have every paper work done???? :uhoh21: :crying2: :o Any one who knows which hospital will sponsor to apply for green card in baldwin park city area, 91706????

Vicky

Hi All, Hi Suzanne,

Its my first time to post and I hope I'm doing it right. I have been reading a lot of your forums hoping to get tips. I am in North Carolina on vacation using a B1B2 tourist visa. I'm from the Philippines. My brother works as a doctor here and he has convinced me to take up ADN. I have began my application process and there's a good chance that a school may accept me and issue out an I-20 very soon. The problem is that the DSO or international student advisor is telling me that I can't apply for the F-1 here and that I have to file it in my home country. Something I would rather not do to cut on travel expenses. I consulted an immigration lawyer regarding the matter and she said that lawyer intervention is really not necessary as the school is supposed to assist me in filing the I-539 or change of status form to convert my status to an F-1. Who's right and who's wrong?

WayneTautz

An F-1 can be applied for in the US, it doesn't need to be done from your home country. Be aware that there are two separate application processes for school here, at least for nursing programs. The initial acceptance that you received would be for the general program, you will need to complete the pre-reqs then apply to the actual nursing program. Unless you already have them completed. Just so you are clear on that. There are waitin glists at almost every community college, so do not expect to be done in the two years either.

I would listen to the lawyer, before I would listen to the advisor. Students change form H-4 to F-1 all of the time. And in the US.

I pass NCLEX and get a Visa Screen Certificate. I found an employer petition for the green card for me, and I have already worked for one month for my hospital. However, a critical problem comes now. They offer me $21/hr which is lower than the prevailing wage from EDD in our state. My lawyer said my case must be denied if I couldn't get at least the prevailing wage. Therefore, I tried to negotiate with my hospital, but they insisted the current salary. I have no idea how to do now, because my OPT is going to end on Jan 10th. How can I find another hospital around my area in such a short period before Jan and have every paper work done???? :uhoh21: :crying2: :o Any one who knows which hospital will sponsor to apply for green card in baldwin park city area, 91706????

Vicky

What salary are they paying to the rest of the nurses there?

If you want, you can send me your resume and I can forward it on for you. The facilities that I know if would be within a twenty minute drive or so, of course depending on traffic. But $21 for that area is way too low, that is for sure.

Whci hospital offered only $21? And for how long is their contract? You should be in the $29 range plus overtime for the last four hours in a 12 hour shift.

Dear Suzanne,

Truly you are a beacon on stormy seas for many of us. Thank God for people like you.

If the school cannot/will not help me file my I-539 from inside the US, do you know if it is wise for me to just go ahead send in a "Change of status" application? I mean, should I go ahead and apply on my own?

Wayne

Hi All, Hi Suzanne,

Its my first time to post and I hope I'm doing it right. I have been reading a lot of your forums hoping to get tips. I am in North Carolina on vacation using a B1B2 tourist visa. I'm from the Philippines. My brother works as a doctor here and he has convinced me to take up ADN. I have began my application process and there's a good chance that a school may accept me and issue out an I-20 very soon. The problem is that the DSO or international student advisor is telling me that I can't apply for the F-1 here and that I have to file it in my home country. Something I would rather not do to cut on travel expenses. I consulted an immigration lawyer regarding the matter and she said that lawyer intervention is really not necessary as the school is supposed to assist me in filing the I-539 or change of status form to convert my status to an F-1. Who's right and who's wrong?

WayneTautz

Hi

I think it will be wise for you to listen to the student advisor at your school. They do these things all of the time and they know better. B1/B2 is different from H4. You may change status here but your 120 has to be activated at the port of entry. I am not too sure about this, but I think your school advisor may be right.

Do your research very well.

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