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.

Hi Susan,

i just got done with my ADN program in US and planning to take my NCLEX in January of next year. I just want to know what my next step needs to be. I do want to get my BSN, but it is extremely expensive. (know of any loan program). i mean i am just at a loss at this moment and i do not really want to return back. Is there anything i could do? My OPT has already been used previously.

thanks for your help

Hi Susan,

i just got done with my ADN program in US and planning to take my NCLEX in January of next year. I just want to know what my next step needs to be. I do want to get my BSN, but it is extremely expensive. (know of any loan program). i mean i am just at a loss at this moment and i do not really want to return back. Is there anything i could do? My OPT has already been used previously.

thanks for your help

If you want to keep your legal status, I'm afraid you'd have no option but to continue going to school.

I don't know much about this, but you can probably get a practical nurse license in Canada and try looking for a job that can sponsor you there. I think, I read somewhere on this forum that ADNs are equivalent to Practical Nurse in canada, and that they sponsor working permits also, unlike if you insist to stay in the US, you'd have to at least have a masters degree to get work sponsor.

i thought it was a BSN here

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

ADN will not meet work visa requirements so really no alternative but maintain school or return home

Hi all,

I am new to this forum. I got my BS in Finance in March 2011 and started the OPT and will expire in May 2012. I am not able to find a job that can support me to stay in the US. To maintain my legal status in US, I am thinking to continue to study ADN because people said there's always short of nurse and so easy to find a job. However, I have already used my OPT, so there's no more OPT for me after I get my ADN? After I read some of the posts on this forum, I think a lot of international students who has a nursing degree are struggling the same problem as I am. Should I forget this idea..? Is there any ways I can keep my legal status in the US...?

Hi all,

I am new to this forum. I got my BS in Finance in March 2011 and started the OPT and will expire in May 2012. I am not able to find a job that can support me to stay in the US. To maintain my legal status in US, I am thinking to continue to study ADN because people said there's always short of nurse and so easy to find a job. However, I have already used my OPT, so there's no more OPT for me after I get my ADN? After I read some of the posts on this forum, I think a lot of international students who has a nursing degree are struggling the same problem as I am. Should I forget this idea..? Is there any ways I can keep my legal status in the US...?

You can continue your status by going to school (take nursing program prerequisites at a college)... but you should try getting into an accelerated BSN Program instead of ADN Program. Every degree you earn, if i'm not mistaken, you get another year of OPT.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

As well as the previous post think about what you are going to do once you have BSN and you still can't find a way to stay in the US. Who knows how long retrogression is going to last it has already been ongoing since Oct 06 and no sign of it ending

I wasn't suggesting a permanent solution, since Simonyam's OPT will expire soon, to maintain student visa status obviously the student should continue going to school, if Simonyam is considering nursing, then by all means take the prerequisite at a local community college (cheaper tuition for international student).

Simonyam, in terms of finding a way to continue your status since your OPT will expire soon, why don't you consider a master's degree?? Masters in Finance or MBA or what not. Or if you decide to go for a BSN degree after your BSN continue with a masters in nursing. Again it's not a permanent solution but whatever field you're in, you are more likely (but not assured) to find a job that can sponsor you when you have a masters degree.

Thank you for your reply. By what I know, I think OPT can use only once in my life, so even after I finished an accelerated BSN Program, I will not have a chance to find a job because I will have no OPT. Am I right?

Thank you for your reply. By what I know, I think OPT can use only once in my life, so even after I finished an accelerated BSN Program, I will not have a chance to find a job because I will have no OPT. Am I right?
Speak with your international advisor at school first before making any decisions. Also make sure that your country will accept a ABSN degree before you enroll in a program. There might be countries that don't accept it. It's pointless to go to school if your home country doesn't recognize the degree.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If your course leads to a higher qualification I believe you get OPT again, as mentioned previously you need to chat to your student adviser

Hi Susan,

So I have been reading this topic for a while and I would like to have this straightened out.

I am attending a BSN degree in Alabama and would graduate in May 13'. I am on F1 visa. I plan to apply for OPT before I graduate so I can have time to review and take the NCLEX, then apply for Visa Screen Certificate.

-According to CGFNS, a Visa Screen Certificate is valid for 5 years. Does that means I have 5 years to stay in the US legally and look for a job that apply for my green card? Or do I still have to go back home when OPT expires?

-How long does the Visa Screen Certificate application process take (estimately)? What if my OPT expire while it is still processing?

Thank you very much

Kyle

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