Is the Associate Degree in Nursing are elligible for a permanent residence/greencard?

suzanne4, RN · Mar 2, 2008

Just to clear up some misinformation that you do have: The LPN training done in the Philippines does not qualify for any type of legal visa. We do not have a shortage of them, so therefore, there is no legal way to use that training here in the US when you need to go thru the immigration process. It is only accepted if the person already is a US citizen or holds a green card already.

The ADN is also not accepted as the US government requires that the training be considered a first level professional nurse in your country, and your own government does not accept it for licensure. Only the BSN from your country is accepted for immigration purposes as well.

Please be aware before you start anything, that you are looking at more than five years for even a chance at a visa, and by the time that you finish, it will probably be longer and slimmer odds of getting one.

Since you already have a Bachelor's degree, you may qualify for the second courser program that is available there, but again, it will not guarantee that you will be able to get a visa for the US. If asking the route to take, that is the only one that will work for you.

There are already multiple threads on that topic so will not go over it here again. Just do a search for what is available and where in your country.

lenjoy03, RN · Mar 4, 2008

PN is not recognize here in the Philippines. I ask you, what will your work be after you graduate from PN?

If a PN and RN apply on the same hospital, who do you think will be hired? Hospitals are partly business, why hire two staff while you can hire only one that can do both jobs? PN can't do all the RN's work but RN can do both. I'm not degrading you, but this is the truth! If you apply as a orderly or nursing aide, hospitals prefer nursing aide who is a midwife.

Do research before deciding what course you want to take... Just a friendly suggestion...

suzanne4, RN · Mar 4, 2008

And if your goal is the work in another country, or even your own, you need to have the degree that they accept for licensure, as well as immigration.

And the only training that your country even accepts is the four year BSN for licensure. A two year degree from there does not meet the requirements in the US as it needs to be the first level in the country where you received your training, and since your country only accepts the BSN, then that is what you will need.

And why someone would consider training for a job that they cannot even get in their own country just does not make sense to me. And there are no legal visas for those that do not have an acceptable BSN to work in the US as an RN. Anything else, and you will be doing it illegally and subject to being deported.

Suggest that you do some more reading. And add into the equation, that with the number that have already finished school, they are looking at about a five year wait for a chance at a visa, if you have not even started, it may not happen for a very long time.

Please do not pick something so that you think that it will get you to to the US, but something where you really want to do it and would be willing to practice in that role anywhere in the world.