Licensure requirements for CA for foreign grad

suzanne4, RN · Nov 13, 2006

I said at the time that they would be doing a review, and again it is dependent upon if the nurse took the NLE exam.........there is no mention of that here. But the issue still is that CGFNS is not issuing a VSC based on that exam. And that still holds.

But again, you wil lstill be waiting a month to get results, and if you decide to endorse, you are unable to as you will not have a license in the US until you actually get here and get a SSN#.

And I still stand by what I have said all along, do not use CA for initial licensure for a foreign nurse, and I continue to stick by that. It wastes too much time.

Higglytown · Nov 13, 2006

Hi, Suzanne!

I recently found out that I passed the NCLEX-RN. The problem is, Calif. will not issue my license until I give them an SSN, which I do not have since I'm not a US citizen. I know that you do not recommend Calif for initial licensure, but I only knew about this after getting my eligibility and I did not want to delay the whole NCLEX process by going through the whole application in another state.

I have no plans yet of working in the US, not in a year at least. But I want to have an official US RN license. My question is, how do i apply for a SSN? Do you think it's ok to get the SSN that is stamped "not valid for employment"? If I do get this kind of SSN, can this be converted easily to the ones that can be used for employment? What agency/institution can I approach with this problem?

Your advice is very much appreciated. Thank you and God bless you!

nurse_plush · Nov 14, 2006

I heard that the US BON members will have a meeting regarding the VSC issue....I hope a resolution will be met as soon as possible....and hope for the best.

batasMTR_RN · Nov 14, 2006

Hi, Suzanne!
I recently found out that I passed the NCLEX-RN. The problem is, Calif. will not issue my license until I give them an SSN, which I do not have since I'm not a US citizen. I know that you do not recommend Calif for initial licensure, but I only knew about this after getting my eligibility and I did not want to delay the whole NCLEX process by going through the whole application in another state.
I have no plans yet of working in the US, not in a year at least. But I want to have an official US RN license. My question is, how do i apply for a SSN? Do you think it's ok to get the SSN that is stamped "not valid for employment"? If I do get this kind of SSN, can this be converted easily to the ones that can be used for employment? What agency/institution can I approach with this problem?
Your advice is very much appreciated. Thank you and God bless you!

hello, sorry but you cannot get SS number until you are physically present in the US and have legal papers to work... why don't you try applying now? since you said you are not ready to work yet in the states... processing takes time also...

nurse_plush · Nov 15, 2006

If ever your validity of 2 years ends after receiving a letter from california that you passed since you wern't a ble to obtain a ssn #, what is needed for you to renew your license by the time you do get to california and obtain your ssn #?

suzanne4, RN · Nov 15, 2006

First, there is no license to renew as one will not be given a license until they get to the US. You have three years to provide CA with a SSN#, or then you will need to reapply to them and pay the fees again. You will not need to take the NCLEX again.

But remember, you will not be a licensed US nurse until CA gets the SSN# first.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 15, 2006

Hi, Suzanne!
I recently found out that I passed the NCLEX-RN. The problem is, Calif. will not issue my license until I give them an SSN, which I do not have since I'm not a US citizen. I know that you do not recommend Calif for initial licensure, but I only knew about this after getting my eligibility and I did not want to delay the whole NCLEX process by going through the whole application in another state.
I have no plans yet of working in the US, not in a year at least. But I want to have an official US RN license. My question is, how do i apply for a SSN? Do you think it's ok to get the SSN that is stamped "not valid for employment"? If I do get this kind of SSN, can this be converted easily to the ones that can be used for employment? What agency/institution can I approach with this problem?
Your advice is very much appreciated. Thank you and God bless you!

Sorry, but you cannot apply for a SSN# until you have a visa that permits you to work and you are in the US. You will not be able to get any type of SSN#...................there is no one to approach as you do not need to pay taxes until you are in the US.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 15, 2006

I heard that the US BON members will have a meeting regarding the VSC issue....I hope a resolution will be met as soon as possible....and hope for the best.

Sorry, but the BONs from all of the states have nothing to do with CGFNS. CGFNS is under contract with the US Government to provide services that they have requested them to do. For CGFNS to make any changes to anything, it has to go thru international meetings, it is not even just the US.

Boards of Nursing are state, CGFNS is under contract with the federal government. That alone will mean months, if not longer.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 15, 2006

And in reponse to your other post above, CA has been known to take close to six months to give approval for a foreign nurse. If you get it earlier consider yourself fortunate, but that is definitely not the norm. And it is also extremely dependent on where you attended nursing school, there are many new ones opening all of the time in the Philippines and they are now being gone over with a fine tooth comb for the hours, etc. CA said back in August that they were not sure what they were going to do, and would treat each application on an individual basis. You are just starting to see approvals come out, there are still quite a few that are waiting.

So for me to tell anyone that it is three months is crazy, that is not the norm. Same way that I can;t tell someone that CA will issue a license in three days, if they have a SSN#, that is the earliest, but is definitely not the average.

Same thing with NY, it is at least four months to get the CVS completed and approval to sit for the NCLEX exam there, but lately due to other issues it has been closer to eight months to get approval. I base my postings not on one country, but from nurses all over the world.

And again, each application is reviewed on its own merit, and passing the NCLEX exam, still does not get you automatically thru immigration or even get you a job. Remember that. You seem to forget that.

renzlao, MSN, APRN · Nov 15, 2006

Hi, i passed NCLEX last June, got my visa screen as well.I am already petitioned and waiting for my approval. My lawyer told me to apply for endoresemnt in California. I am a license nurse in saipan.

Is it okey to apply now? or ill just wait till I arrive in CA since my license will not be released ( i have no SSN in US). i am from the Philippines.

Thanks

nurse_plush · Nov 15, 2006

First, there is no license to renew as one will not be given a license until they get to the US. You have three years to provide CA with a SSN#, or then you will need to reapply to them and pay the fees again. You will not need to take the NCLEX again.
But remember, you will not be a licensed US nurse until CA gets the SSN# first.

I see...so in case the time period is over, then I finally obtained my vsc then my ssn#, then I get my license after completing the renewal form right?

>Are the requirments and fees for re-application posted on the CA BON website?

>As for continuing education in case there is a lapse of 2 years, may that be obtained in your local country with in those years before the validity is gone?

Oki tnx suzanne, ppl have bombarded me with different views and news nowadays...it's really confusing me...

I heared from a source that someone who was a june passer obtained a VSC certificate-is that possible???

suzanne4, RN · Nov 16, 2006

Hi, i passed NCLEX last June, got my visa screen as well.I am already petitioned and waiting for my approval. My lawyer told me to apply for endoresemnt in California. I am a license nurse in saipan.
Is it okey to apply now? or ill just wait till I arrive in CA since my license will not be released ( i have no SSN in US). i am from the Philippines.
Thanks

CA will issue you a temporary license if you are endorsing to there. Go ahead and start the process now, if you want.