I'm in a similar boat as many people--I've been in the US for 9 years, got my middle, high school and college diploma here, and i am classified as international student.
I just got accepted into the accelerated program at Pace University in NY that starts in Sept 2008.
I feel like I'm asking questions that already has been answered but I had a few.
While I was getting my undergraduate degree my visa changed from E-2 (dependent of my parents) to F-1 towards the end. Long story but I did not get to apply for OPT for my undergraduate degree. I am planning to apply for OPT before I receive BSN next year. I was wondering who i should consult for the matter--school international counselor or a lawyer? I doubt it but would it be possible to get two years of OPT for my undergraduate degree and bsn?
Also, is it possible to apply for a greencard while I am on OPT? I read something about petition but I don't quite understand. What would I need to discuss with my potential employers? and how long does it usually take to get a greencard that way? I know that it's a long and hard process and want to guess when I would be able to pursue my specialty (as a family nurse practitioner).
I plan to get my Master's in nursing as well but I don't think that I will do it at Pace because I want to get MSN/MPH. My dream is to go to underdeveloped countries and help people.. The closer i get to reaching my dream, the farther and harder it seems to get there, especially with all the immigration business. I'll save the trouble of talking about the past.
Once completing OPT, if the gc does not fall through, is it possible to get another student visa to goto school for MSN?
and last question--are the any hospitals who sponsor international student nurses as travel nurses outside of the US?
I'm sorry that it was so long. I'd appreciate any input/advice. Thank you! :loveya:
If you have to wait to get into a better school, that will put you out of status because you have an f-1 visa and if you're not enrolled in school, they'll start counting your 60 days.
The only school i'm a little aware of is sarah lawrence and that's cuz i looked into it when i finished high school but never quite made it to ny.
Keep in my accelerate programs are more expensive. The one at my current school had students paying about 30k in 2005. Not sure what they pay now but we regular students were payng 25k so while it may be expensive, you do kinda save in the long run.
I did go to a school in PA that does have a good name and a good program. just not sure i'll recommend it to anyone.
The nurse that is posting is wishing to work in other countries when she graduates and the accelerated programs are not accepted in many of the other countries for licensure as well as for immigration purposes and this is what she needs to truly check it to see if it will work for her.
"What you need to be very aware of before you start an accelerated program is that many countries do not accept it for immigration and licensure since it is accelerated and does not meet their requirements in terms of actual hours completed in an approved school of nursing."
Can you please tell me which countries do not accept US Accelerated program? Thanks.
The statement undergraduate students are not eligible for H1B is not true. Currently, 65000 H1b are for bachelor degree and up; (another 20000 for master degree and up)
It's true that RNs are usually not eligible for H1B
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
EU for one will not acept accelerated prorams but then in the UK your transcripts are evaluated individually and will depend on hours both theory and practical, so you may get the odd acceptence but would not be the norm
"What you need to be very aware of before you start an accelerated program is that many countries do not accept it for immigration and licensure since it is accelerated and does not meet their requirements in terms of actual hours completed in an approved school of nursing."
Can you please tell me which countries do not accept US Accelerated program? Thanks.
The statement undergraduate students are not eligible for H1B is not true. Currently, 65000 H1b are for bachelor degree and up; (another 20000 for master degree and up)
It's true that RNs are usually not eligible for H1B
They are for those that have specialist training, the 20,000 that you are speaking of are for those that obtained the Master's degree in the US, not from other countries.
The minimum for the H1-B is the bachelor's degree but there are many other requirements that were actually supposed to be in place but apparently they have not been followed so the US government is investigating all of them right now. So my statement is actually correct, it is not for students, and that is what your sentence includes.
So, in fact if the Bachelor's degree is required then it is not available for any Bachelor student as student means that they are still in training or in school.
The H1-B visa was designed for specialists and there are only 11% that have gone to specialists and there are only 65,000 granted per year to those that have at least the Bachelor's degree, and they have not been for nurses in more than four years. And this thread is speaking of nurses.
The UK does not accept the accelerated one year BSN, nor do any of the other EU countries, Canada does not accept it, nor does Australia for a few.
The other issue here that may not be addressed is that a student that is in the US on a student visa has only 60 days to obtain another visa to remain in the US, if they are not under the OPT. And the H1-B visa is done by a lottery system with applications only accepted in April with a start date of the following October, so this type of visa does not even apply to most.
And it usually requires that the graduate hold a license and whatever else that is required; for the RN, it would be the actual license for the state where they wish to work as well as a Visa Screen Certificate and this must already be in hand as it needs to be submitted with the application.
Same as for other professions as well. And over 80% of these H1-B visas have actually gone to Indians that had their work sent over here, that is also what is being investigated right now by the US government. And they are not grads of US programs or schools.
If you have to wait to get into a better school, that will put you out of status because you have an f-1 visa and if you're not enrolled in school, they'll start counting your 60 days.
The only school i'm a little aware of is sarah lawrence and that's cuz i looked into it when i finished high school but never quite made it to ny.
Keep in my accelerate programs are more expensive. The one at my current school had students paying about 30k in 2005. Not sure what they pay now but we regular students were payng 25k so while it may be expensive, you do kinda save in the long run.
I did go to a school in PA that does have a good name and a good program. just not sure i'll recommend it to anyone.
Best wishes in whatever you choose to do.
I decided to go through the Pace University's accelerated program for BSN and maybe go somewhere else for MSN. Thank you Proverbs!
"What you need to be very aware of before you start an accelerated program is that many countries do not accept it for immigration and licensure since it is accelerated and does not meet their requirements in terms of actual hours completed in an approved school of nursing."
Thank you for your concern, suzanne, silverdragon and jialif. but i think it might be okay because I'm going to pursue my master's in nursing as well.
as of right now, because i'm on a student visa, i think that i'll go through with the bsn program for the next year.. and after my opt training, ill probably apply for H1B with my non-nursing degree in international development.
Yes, you can work as an RN with the OPT; provided that the OPT is for nursing.
But you need to be aware that most countries go by the length of time that you are in a program, not just that you have the BSN or the MSN. And this is what we are trying to warn you with for what you wish to do.
I would definitely check it out.
You also need to be aware that the open period for the H1-B visa is only April of each year for a start date of October and it is done by lottery system and there are only about 65,000 per year. So chances are not good at getting one at this time, even from another field. They are usually getting a very large number of applicants for a very limited number of visas.
I'm an international student also, and a bit confused..lol..i don't get something..i was told that if you pass the nursing program, the hospital can sponsor your green card and that is 99% sure (thats what i have been told anyway) so have they changed the rules now???
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I'm an international student also, and a bit confused..lol..i don't get something..i was told that if you pass the nursing program, the hospital can sponsor your green card and that is 99% sure (thats what i have been told anyway) so have they changed the rules now???
thanks:)
It used to be that way but in Oct 2006 retrogression set in and no visas therefore employers can not file for you in the same way. All they can do is file I140 which does not allow you to stay in the US and work whilst your AOS is being processed. Training in the US does not guarantee a visa
Hospitals can petition for the green card, but the issue is that there are not any at this time. Not sure why your international advisor never informed you of what is going on now.
Training in the US no longer guarantees that one can remain here to work, you may be able to get the OPT; but anything past that, and there is no work available as there will not be any visa for you.
The I-140 can be submitted, but that does not permit you to remain in the US, the I-485 needs to be accepted and the US government is not accepting those and that is where your problem is.
Much has already been written on this topic, please just do a search for it.
Proverbs 16:3
262 Posts
If you have to wait to get into a better school, that will put you out of status because you have an f-1 visa and if you're not enrolled in school, they'll start counting your 60 days.
The only school i'm a little aware of is sarah lawrence and that's cuz i looked into it when i finished high school but never quite made it to ny.
Keep in my accelerate programs are more expensive. The one at my current school had students paying about 30k in 2005. Not sure what they pay now but we regular students were payng 25k so while it may be expensive, you do kinda save in the long run.
I did go to a school in PA that does have a good name and a good program. just not sure i'll recommend it to anyone.
Best wishes in whatever you choose to do.