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.

Ask your school or call the BON for an answer.

I can't imagine a home care agency over seeing a new grad without a license, big risk for the agency.

Ask your school or call the BON for an answer.

I can't imagine a home care agency over seeing a new grad without a license, big risk for the agency.

Absolutely. When I was a new grad I was smart enough to realize that I did not have the clinical judgment and skills needed to work without supervision in a home health care setting. Can't imagine why any new nurse would think they do.

Absolutely. When I was a new grad I was smart enough to realize that I did not have the clinical judgment and skills needed to work without supervision in a home health care setting. Can't imagine why any new nurse would think they do.

We as new grads don't have the clinical judgment and skills, that's another reason why in the US they don't hire new grads as clinical instructors. That's why in the home care setting and education they require you to have experience as a staff nurse before they will even consider you. Which makes sense to me, it's a life or death situation.

hi,

i am an international student who will be graduating from nursing school in may 2010. my question is :

1. when do i need to apply for my opt?

2. do you know any hospitals around ny area that sponsor petitioning for green cards?

if so, please let me know, your help will be greatly appreciated!

:)

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi,

i am an international student who will be graduating from nursing school in may 2010. my question is :

1. when do i need to apply for my opt?

2. do you know any hospitals around ny area that sponsor petitioning for green cards?

if so, please let me know, your help will be greatly appreciated!

:)

you need to apply for opt at least 4-6 months before you graduate ( you need to check with your international advisor asap)

have seen many international students post they struggle in ny to find a employer willing to petition for gc but be aware as a new grad you will be affected by retrogression and even if you find a employer will have to either maintain f1 status and stay in school once opt is completed or leave the us and work elsewhere whilst waiting for a immigrant visa

With the economy the way it is, even domestic new grad RNs are having issues finding a job. With all the cutbacks hospitals are doing, there's no need to import when they (supposedly) don't have the money to fund new grad programs period.

Hi, I am an international student attending a nursing school in Florida (RN-associate degree). My status is F1 . Am going to graduate in May 2011, after which am planing to take the NCLEX exam. I just realized now that I need to apply for OPT ASAP, and that I am required to get Visa Screen Certificate after I take the NCLEX,thanks to this topic, and I am wondering if it is really that hard to find a sponsor for a green card (assuming they don't issue H1B visas anymore). I would really appreciate anyone who could clarify any information that I misunderstood. and also, I know that I was supposed to research about this before I started school, but I still got about 11 months before graduation, so what can I do during this time to increase my chances to get a job with H1b or green card. I don't mind moving to any state if there is better chance of finding a sponsor. I would really appreciate any helpful information. thank you very much for your time.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi, I am an international student attending a nursing school in Florida (RN-associate degree). My status is F1 . Am going to graduate in May 2011, after which am planing to take the NCLEX exam. I just realized now that I need to apply for OPT ASAP, and that I am required to get Visa Screen Certificate after I take the NCLEX,thanks to this topic, and I am wondering if it is really that hard to find a sponsor for a green card (assuming they don't issue H1B visas anymore). I would really appreciate anyone who could clarify any information that I misunderstood. and also, I know that I was supposed to research about this before I started school, but I still got about 11 months before graduation, so what can I do during this time to increase my chances to get a job with H1b or green card. I don't mind moving to any state if there is better chance of finding a sponsor. I would really appreciate any helpful information. thank you very much for your time.

H1b you will find it hard with an associate degree as requirements is BSN plus it is a specialised visa and a new grad will not be specialised. If you do find a employer for GC then you join the long long queue of retrogression and once your OPT is up (saying you get it) unless you maintain your student status you will have to leave the US and return home. Also if you have your ADN make sure you can work in your home country because not all countries accept ADN

Sorry to say, but there are very very little chances for h1b, my OPT expires in a couple weeks, I am a BSN, i have tried everything, I found a company who would sponsor, but its the immigration who doesn't give the visa easily, I have talked to many smart people and h1b visa really not the choice of staying in the country. I am hanging in the air and very upset about a whole thing, I have a great job that sadly I will have to leave due to the gaps in the immigration system. Good luck!

Thank you very much guys. At least now I know what to expect when I graduate:) Hopefully some door is gonna open. Silverdragon 102, and Palme, I really appreciate your quick response. And Palme, good luck to you, I really hope you can find a way to keep your job and stay in the country. Any other opinion is appreciated. God Bless you

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

max30max I wish you well and things may change between now and when your OPT finishes and I applaud you in doing your research because we see it many times where people have left things too late to sort something out. Better to be prepared for the worse and give a big cheer if it is better than expected :)

That's exactly how i think about it, silverdragon102 :) Again, thank you very much for being so nice:), and responding fast. God Bless

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