Looking for an agency that can give a US working visa

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 16, 2008

There are no agencies that grant visas, that is up to the US government and currently everyone is under retrogression. I would also reconsider signing with an agency as the wait will be long and a lot of large cancellation fees

pampangakid · Jan 3, 2009

Try to apply directly to hospitals that offers H1C visas or H1B, there are a lot of them.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 3, 2009

Sorry, but not entirely correct. There are only 14 facilities out of the entire US to can offer the H1-C visa. There is also only a total of 500 that are current at any one time, this means that even if the facility is on the list to be able to use this type of visa for sponsorship, it does not mean that they are currently able to use it. Next is the major fact that the H1-C visas are due to expire in 2010 and we do not expect them to be renewed. This visa is also not issued by the company or employer, but by the US government.

H1-B visas are being evaluated now, each and every one of them. They were designed to go to specialists, not to new grads or those without considerable work experience. And since they are temporary visas, they can be cancelled by either the employer or the federal government at any time. The employer also must provide documentation to the US government that they were unable to hire an American for the job as well, and with the economy the way that it is right now, this is going to be increasingly hard to do.

Suggest that one takes the time to do some reading here and not look for a quick fix. Other issue is that for either of this type of visa, one must already possess a license for that specific state, as well as pass the English exams and hold a Visa Screen Certificate that needs to be submitted with the application. If the person is just asking about having these exams paid for, then it means that they do not have any of this done as of yet. And do expect things to be getting even tighter, not easier over the next year. The US also now has quite a few new grads that are American that are having problems getting hired as well at this time and they are always going to get priority over a foreign nurse. Any hospital that is under a union normally does not permit temporary work visas either, so something else to consider as well.

penguinPool · Jan 5, 2009

Sorry, but not entirely correct. There are only 14 facilities out of the entire US to can offer the H1-C visa. There is also only a total of 500 that are current at any one time, this means that even if the facility is on the list to be able to use this type of visa for sponsorship, it does not mean that they are currently able to use it. Next is the major fact that the H1-C visas are due to expire in 2010 and we do not expect them to be renewed. This visa is also not issued by the company or employer, but by the US government.
H1-B visas are being evaluated now, each and every one of them. They were designed to go to specialists, not to new grads or those without considerable work experience. And since they are temporary visas, they can be cancelled by either the employer or the federal government at any time. The employer also must provide documentation to the US government that they were unable to hire an American for the job as well, and with the economy the way that it is right now, this is going to be increasingly hard to do.
Suggest that one takes the time to do some reading here and not look for a quick fix. Other issue is that for either of this type of visa, one must already possess a license for that specific state, as well as pass the English exams and hold a Visa Screen Certificate that needs to be submitted with the application. If the person is just asking about having these exams paid for, then it means that they do not have any of this done as of yet. And do expect things to be getting even tighter, not easier over the next year. The US also now has quite a few new grads that are American that are having problems getting hired as well at this time and they are always going to get priority over a foreign nurse. Any hospital that is under a union normally does not permit temporary work visas either, so something else to consider as well.

Hi Suzanne4, thank you for your insight. I was wondering if you actually can tell me where I can find the list of those 14 hospitals in US that does offer H1-c visa. Thank you in advance! :bow:

pampangakid · Jan 5, 2009

try to google search hospitals that offers H1C and apply online. You can still apply until 2010. This working visa is good for 3years, the hospital will also file for your greecard but that depends on their policy. Mine they filed it after 1month of working with them. :yeah:

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 5, 2009

h-1c nurses in disadvantaged areas

the qualifying rn must:

have obtained a full and unrestricted license to practice in the country where the nursing education was obtained, or
have received a nursing education in the u.s.;
(a) have passed the examination given by the commission on graduates for foreign nursing schools (cgfns); (b) have a full and unrestricted license to practice as an rn in the state where the rn will work; or © have a full and unrestricted rn's license in any state and have received temporary authorization to practice as an rn in the state where the rn will work; and
be fully qualified and eligible under the laws governing the place where the rn is to work to practice as an rn immediately upon admission to the u.s., and be authorized under such laws to be employed by the hospital

what special obligations must a hospital employing foreign rns meet under the h-1c program?

provide every rn who works at the hospital with a copy of its application (form eta 9081) which specifies certain terms and conditions of employment;
notify u.s. workers of the intent to petition for h-1c rns;
pay at least the prevailing wage for the local area in which all rns are employed by the hospital (including u.s. rns);
pay at least the same wage paid to similarly employed u.s. rns;
take timely and significant steps to recruit and retain u.s. rns to reduce its dependence on temporary foreign nurses;
not hire h-1c rns during a strike/lockout involving rns at the hospital;
not lay off any u.s. rns during the period from 90 days before until 90 days after filing any h-1c petition with the uscis;
limit the total number of h-1c rns employed to no more than one-third of the total number of rns employed at the facility;
not allow any h-1c rn to perform nursing services at any location (worksite) other than a worksite controlled by the facility;
not transfer the h-1c rns from one work place to another.
keep certain documents available for public viewing, including the application, prevailing wage determination, and petitions.

http://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/h-1c.cfm

list facilites posted here: https://allnurses.com/international-nursing/h1c-visa-st-299771.html

suzanne4, RN · Jan 7, 2009

Again, there are only 500 total H1-C visas that are active any one time and just because a facility has their name on the list of the 14 does not mean that they are actively hiring now. The majority are not when I checked a few weeks ago.

And an employer can only submit the I-140, that does not do anything to keep one in the US if their H1-C expires or is not renewed. Unless the I-485 can be submitted as well, then it does not matter what the employer wishes to do, they have nothing to do with green card issuance and that is the point that we are trying to make here. As well as the fact that the H1-C can be cancelled at anytime by either the employer or the US government.

pampangakid · Jan 11, 2009

Working visa or H1C/H1B are for those who are willing to take the consequence, but I tell you, hospitals who petition workers under H1C follows the rule that the DOL impose, they will never treated you differently compare with other USRN's, of course they don't want the DOL to catch them doing some irregularities with their foreign nurses or else they will be blacklisted. As an H1C nurses, I enjoyed being here in the US earning as much as I do back home and learning a lot of nursing skills than before. Why wait for immigrant visa when you can come here in 2months time.:wink2: