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.

I got more questions:) -if I get an H1B visa, then apply for a GC, how long it takes from the moment I apply(for the GC) to the time I get it(the green card)? -I heard numbers like 7 years. Is that true, and is it job related( cause i have physician friends who were on H1B, and got the GC in one year after they applied). -Maybe it is nationality related? I am a Russian National. if it is do I fall into that category? I would appreciate your response.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I got more questions:) -if I get an H1B visa, then apply for a GC, how long it takes from the moment I apply(for the GC) to the time I get it(the green card)? -I heard numbers like 7 years. Is that true, and is it job related( cause i have physician friends who were on H1B, and got the GC in one year after they applied). -Maybe it is nationality related? I am a Russian National. if it is do I fall into that category? I would appreciate your response.

GC is allocated by place of birth but will also depend which EB category you come under and most nurses come under EB3 and with retrogression you will still be affected and join the long queue. Doesn't matter if already in the US on a H1b visa

Hi All,

I am a BSN final year student in US in H4 Visa originally from India.I will be graduating in few monthts.I am receiving financial aid from a hospital in a rural area with a contract of 2 years after my complettion of the study.Now I am in dilemma,that when I graduate from college how can I work in the hospital? I know I can not work in H4 visa.Is H1B possible for fresh BSN graduate from US? I know the hospital will be ready and they will do their maximum, to avail my service as they spend money on me.What options I have infront of me?Please give me some advice on this matter.

Thank you for your time

As a new grad BSN you don't qualify for a H1b visa. The visa requires a bachelors in a specialty along with several years experience in that specialty. A BSN isn't required for nursing here in the US. Basically the job posting usually requires a BS/BA and doesn't have to be in nursing. A hospital may sponsor you but their job requirement must state a BA/BS as a minimum along with several years paid experience. As a new grad a H1b visa isn't an option. If you can get opt that can help but even after its done you may still not qualify for a H1b visa. Good Luck

hi Nurse Cubanita,

Thanks for the reply!

University will not apply for OPT as I have only 6 months left to finish the program.I am in a toal dilemma now!If h1B not possible I may not be able to work after years of hard work.Do u think ant possible option in my situation?

How do I write the board exam?Does the school register for that?How about CGFNS & TOFEL?

I am doing Nursing in US and I have SS # too.

Thanks for your time again

Thanks for the relpy

rosamma1,

You said you were on H4. Has your husband filed I 485 yet ? are you elig for EAD card ? I am guessing not.

You basically have 2 options at this time

a) Apply for an H1C visa. However to do this you have to be employed at one of 14 hospitals in the US. Here is some more information below.

THE ABC'S OF IMMIGRATION - H-1 C VISAS FOR REGISTERED NURSES

b) Keep on studying. Apply for an MSN program especially as a Nurse Practitioner or an APN (Advanced Practice Nurse). Nurse Practitioners and APN's are eligible for H1B visa.

Best of luck.

Texancanadian,

Thanks for the reply.I heard H1C visa classification expired on december 2009 and has not been renewed again by congress. Is it correct?

hey guys,

im also an f1 visa and will grad june,2011. ill be applying for my opt v soon. ive already started lookin for jobs but every hospital keeps asking if i need sponsership now or in the future. i said yes n seems like noone wants to hire me cos of it...even thoguh i know im good. if i do get a job for my opt, i plan to do masters to be an NP n then apply for a visa. dou guys have any advices for me??? thanks in advance! :)

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You need to make sure you maintain status once your OPT finished, it is very common now to find it hard to find a employer willing to wait due to retrogression.

Hi everyone, I come here in need of your sage advice. Currently, I am on F-1 Visa and have been accepted to 2 nursing schools. My plan is to get my license and work internationally (not excluding the U.S.), which means I need to get a Bachelor degree at least. Here are my two options:

- One is an ADN program lasting 2 years at my present community college, after which I plan to attend to the bridge program to get my BSN. (It would be very kind of you if you can fill me in about the current state of admission from RN to BSN) (expense around 13,000 x2 + 25,000)

- The second is a BSN program lasting 2.5 years at a different state university. (expense around 24,000 x2)

In general, I would like to ask your opinions on which route I should take, convenience-wise and expense-wise. Thank you very much.

I am a bsn graduate from philippines and i am american citizen do i still need to take english profiency exam to meet the colorado state of nursing requirements? And all of our reference book are written in english..

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