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.
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.
Hi, I've been reading a lot of posts and I need to ask you some things, this is my case: I'm under an H-4 visa, my husband's employer is doing the petition for the family and are actually doing all the paperwork. For what I heard, with the Term process it should take about 8 to 12 months to get the greencard. I just got into a ADN and during the paperwork meeting they asked us to filed some kind of working paper because they have a government grant. The lady in charge was kind of worried that I do not have a work permit. I told her that I do not have it yet but by the time I finish the program I will have the greencard. I know that I can study with my visa and I'm actually classify as a resident. I know the people in the nursing deparment do not have any idea on how things work. I think I'm the only case they ever had.
DO you think there is going to be a problem? I just felt as if I was doing something wrong, and I'm not, I gave them a copy of every document I have. They say it is Ok, but I'm still worried. I just want your oppinion.
Thanks in advance.
V.
You do not need to have a work permit to be able to attend school with the H-4 visa. If your husband did get his petition for the I-485 submitted during this last open time then there is not much chance that you will have the green card in 8 to 12 months. There were about 800,000 petitions submitted during July and August of this year, and only 140,000 green cards issued per year for all under the EB-3 category.
With the H-4 visa, it depends on the state if you are considered for resident tuition or not, it is not automatic for all.
Please be aware that there is no guarantee at this time that you will have the green card by the time that you graduate, even if being petitioned thru your husband's employer right now. We are expecting delays for quite a few for a couple of years. But if your husband is in the midst of being petitioned and has had the I-485 submitted, then he can always apply for the EAD for you if needed. Be aware that the H-4 visa will not permit you to work in any capacity at all while in school, that is why quite a few change to the F-1 to be able to get the CPT/OPT and be able to work while in school.
Just a note to add onto what Lawrence has posted about the H1-C visa:
It takes an average of four months to get this visa for work at one of 15 facilities in the US that can sponsor under it. You are unable to even start the process without having passed the NCLEX exam and have a VSC in hand. Applying for it does not permit one to remain in the US during the wait time, so this is not really a viable alternative for a new grad wishing to work in the US after they graduate from a US program. As mentioned above, you have only 60 days to have a visa in hand that will let you remain in the US; the student visa expires after 60 days from the last day of class.
Just a note to add onto what Lawrence has posted about the H1-C visa:
It takes an average of four months to get this visa for work at one of 15 facilities in the US that can sponsor under it. You are unable to even start the process without having passed the NCLEX exam and have a VSC in hand. Applying for it does not permit one to remain in the US during the wait time, so this is not really a viable alternative for a new grad wishing to work in the US after they graduate from a US program. As mentioned above, you have only 60 days to have a visa in hand that will let you remain in the US; the student visa expires after 60 days from the last day of class.
Suzanne where can I find the list of those 15 facilities? Are they throughout the US?
I contacted all of them about a year ago. If you are a new grad, realistically, only Mercy Regional Medical Center (Now Laredo Medical Center) in Laredo, Texas will sponsor your visa. The hospital is nice, but the pay rate is only 17.00/hr, and Laredo is a shi##y town on the border with Mexico. It's very hot there even in February. The nearest US city is San Antonio which is about 150 miles away. To get out of city you need to pass immigration control. I did not take my papers with me, so on the way back I almost got in trouble. They did not arrest me because I'm obviously not Mexican :)
Should you decide to pursue your visa, you can stay in the country legally as long as your application is pending with USCIS provided you filed it before your current status expired.
hi ! i am a final year bsn student from india.i will graduate in sept 2008 and after that i would like to do my crna in u.s.a.but i dont know what are the requirements for applying for a students visa in the U.s.also i have no idea about the good nursing schools offering the crna course.we dont have the course in our country and i have always wanted to become a nurse anesthetist.do i have to pass the rn nclex first before applying for a students visa.
i will be grateful if anyone can help me on the subject.thanking u in advance.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi ! i am a final year bsn student from india.i will graduate in sept 2008 and after that i would like to do my crna in u.s.a.but i dont know what are the requirements for applying for a students visa in the U.s.also i have no idea about the good nursing schools offering the crna course.we dont have the course in our country and i have always wanted to become a nurse anesthetist.do i have to pass the rn nclex first before applying for a students visa.
i will be grateful if anyone can help me on the subject.thanking u in advance.
We have a CRNA forum so you should find some information there but would image you will need licensure and pass in NCLEX to get on the course. Also as I understand it may need English exam also for student visa. Have posted a link which should help you and you must show proof that you can support yourself whilst on the course, International fees will be high, as no guarantee you will get permission to work on student visa and even then are restricted to how long and where you can work.
I contacted all of them about a year ago. If you are a new grad, realistically, only Mercy Regional Medical Center (Now Laredo Medical Center) in Laredo, Texas will sponsor your visa. The hospital is nice, but the pay rate is only 17.00/hr, and Laredo is a shi##y town on the border with Mexico. It's very hot there even in February. The nearest US city is San Antonio which is about 150 miles away. To get out of city you need to pass immigration control. I did not take my papers with me, so on the way back I almost got in trouble. They did not arrest me because I'm obviously not Mexican :)
Should you decide to pursue your visa, you can stay in the country legally as long as your application is pending with USCIS provided you filed it before your current status expired.
Sorry but incorrect information, you cannot remain in the US with a pending visa for the H1-C; there are no extras that are granted while you are waiting for that. And it takes about four months to get.
We never ever recommend that visa and there are many reasons why, and there are threads about this so not going to post it here.
The only time that one can remain in the US and be considered current is when they are going thru the AOS processing for the green card, anything else and you are subject to being deported if picked up for anything, whether or not you look like any other nationalilty.
hi ! i am a final year bsn student from india.i will graduate in sept 2008 and after that i would like to do my crna in u.s.a.but i dont know what are the requirements for applying for a students visa in the U.s.also i have no idea about the good nursing schools offering the crna course.we dont have the course in our country and i have always wanted to become a nurse anesthetist.do i have to pass the rn nclex first before applying for a students visa.
i will be grateful if anyone can help me on the subject.thanking u in advance.
You are required to have at least one year of full-time work experience as an RN before they will accept you and that needs to be in a critical care area. So that means that you need to have a visa that will permit you to work, and be aware that very few get in with just the one year of work experience. I do not know of one program anywhere in the USA that will accept you with the F-1, it is impossible to do.
You need to pass the NCLEX exam to be able to get the year of critical care experience completed, and CRNA is an advanced practice RN degree, so you must have a license in hand to work as an RN.
As Anna has mentioned, we have a pre-CRNA forum on this bulletin board, suggest that you have a good read there.
Sorry but incorrect information, you cannot remain in the US with a pending visa for the H1-C; there are no extras that are granted while you are waiting for that. And it takes about four months to get.
No Suzanne, this information is correct. As long as your application for change of status is filed before your current status expires, you can stay in the country as long as it's pending.
You can not leave the country while your application of the COS is pending or it will be considered abandoned.
What if I file on time but USCIS doesn’t make a decision before my I-94 expires?
If we receive your application before your nonimmigrant status expires (or, in exceptional cases, we excuse filing after your status expires due to circumstances beyond your control), and if you have not violated the terms of your status and you meet the basic eligibility requirements, then you may remain in the U.S. until we make a decision on your application.
I just graduated from an ADN program in LA. FINALLY!!!! I have found a local private hospital that will sponsor me for the green card. I also understand that it's a long shot. So, I plan to work for a year and go back to school for my BSN.
Questions:
1. I know that I can't apply for green card until I pass the NCLEX. Questions is that when I send my request of NCLEX result, should I need to make a request to send additional copy to any other governmental office for my future green card process?
2. Do u have any attorney who specialized in nursing immigration?
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi Suzanne,
I just graduated from an ADN program in LA. FINALLY!!!! I have found a local private hospital that will sponsor me for the green card. I also understand that it's a long shot. So, I plan to work for a year and go back to school for my BSN.
Questions:
1. I know that I can't apply for green card until I pass the NCLEX. Questions is that when I send my request of NCLEX result, should I need to make a request to send additional copy to any other governmental office for my future green card process?
2. Do u have any attorney who specialized in nursing immigration?
If an International student you are aware of retrogression and that you can not do AOS and be able to work. Currently no visas. Need employer to file for GC, you can't apply for it although you can employ a lawyer if you do not want to use the hospitals. At the moment you can only file I140 once passed NCLEX and found employer and that will not enable you to work
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
Hi, I've been reading a lot of posts and I need to ask you some things, this is my case: I'm under an H-4 visa, my husband's employer is doing the petition for the family and are actually doing all the paperwork. For what I heard, with the Term process it should take about 8 to 12 months to get the greencard. I just got into a ADN and during the paperwork meeting they asked us to filed some kind of working paper because they have a government grant. The lady in charge was kind of worried that I do not have a work permit. I told her that I do not have it yet but by the time I finish the program I will have the greencard. I know that I can study with my visa and I'm actually classify as a resident. I know the people in the nursing deparment do not have any idea on how things work. I think I'm the only case they ever had.
DO you think there is going to be a problem? I just felt as if I was doing something wrong, and I'm not, I gave them a copy of every document I have. They say it is Ok, but I'm still worried. I just want your oppinion.
Thanks in advance.
V.
You do not need to have a work permit to be able to attend school with the H-4 visa. If your husband did get his petition for the I-485 submitted during this last open time then there is not much chance that you will have the green card in 8 to 12 months. There were about 800,000 petitions submitted during July and August of this year, and only 140,000 green cards issued per year for all under the EB-3 category.
With the H-4 visa, it depends on the state if you are considered for resident tuition or not, it is not automatic for all.
Please be aware that there is no guarantee at this time that you will have the green card by the time that you graduate, even if being petitioned thru your husband's employer right now. We are expecting delays for quite a few for a couple of years. But if your husband is in the midst of being petitioned and has had the I-485 submitted, then he can always apply for the EAD for you if needed. Be aware that the H-4 visa will not permit you to work in any capacity at all while in school, that is why quite a few change to the F-1 to be able to get the CPT/OPT and be able to work while in school.