Need help on what to do... So dazed and confused!

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Hi, iv searched threads that could be related to my inquiry but ended up still confused. I hope u could help me things out. Im expressing my thanks ahead! :)

I am here in US with the H4 visa, just flew in last yr actually. Although i have passed NCLEX, CGFNS and visascreen, i haven't worked as a nurse, say for more than a year, or even tried to apply as a nurse considering that i cant legally work with my type of visa. Things were ok at first, me as a fulltime housewife. But in the long run, times are getting tough considering all the debts that we have since i had a premature birth with my son, which made me consider in going back to work. We currently live in MO but my license is in IL, since IL does not require a SSN to sit for the exam. I'm thinking of applying for the endorsement, but it says that they still require for the SSN. I have checked career opportunities sites of the hospitals here, but they would require a license on this state. I know this is going in circles, so now i dont know where to start! Help! :confused:

Some said i should be looking for an employer to help with my SSN, they should sponsor me for a visA (green card i suppose for i only have 1-2 yrs experience in OR/PACU/L&D/NICU and worked as a cinical instructor for 3 yrs). I was thinking, how can i find one when i cant get a lic. In this state where we live. Im hoping against hope that i wont need to live and work in IL so to start.. We live in midwest rural area by the way. I cant live away from my husband and son since my husband is also working on nights as a MT, fulltime with the H1B visa. Although his employer has already applied for green card sponsorship, we are sti on the advertising step. Im afraid waiting for the EAD would be too far yet.

I hope somebody could give me an advice on what should i do.

Thanks again for all who can help... More power to allnurses!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You are aware even if you find a employer to work and get sponsored for a Green Card you can't start working yet due to retrogression so still may have a few years wait ahead of you

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Also to add many US nurses moving state don't always have a license in that state when they get a job

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Also to add many US nurses moving state don't always have a license in that state when they get a job

With the license part, that means i could possibly look for a job here in MO with my IL license then?

ABout the GC, your right. I thought of that too. I might as well wait for my EAD then...

thanks so much Silverdragon102 :)

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You could. EAD could take a long time, if you are applying for GC then you have to wait for your PD to be current to file for EAD. If your spouse files for GC then you have to wait for their PD to be current as well as make sure you are included on their application

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Hi, Micah25 I feel your pain because I'm in almost the same situation as you. I'm sorry that I have no advice for you right now to improve your chance to get employment. I hope you'll get you EAD soon. You said you have RN license in IL. Do you konw whether you need a SSN to renew your IL license?

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If you don't have a ss# there's no way you can work even if you have a RN license.

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Hi, Micah25 I feel your pain because I'm in almost the same situation as you. I'm sorry that I have no advice for you right now to improve your chance to get employment. I hope you'll get you EAD soon. You said you have RN license in IL. Do you konw whether you need a SSN to renew your IL license?

Hi breeze0728,

Yeah, we need to have ssn by the time our lic. needs to be renewed.. Thank you so much breeze0728. Makes me wonder whats ur situation, if u dont mind me asking, y u say we are almost in the same situation? I might as well focus on my son and on household budgets as well. Id like to know how long does do we wait for the EAD? We just got the leeter from the lawyer stating that they have ready filed for the GC and the emloyer has paid for the initial payment (which i forgot what that was...) im sorry, im just not famliar with these immigration stuffs...

Thanks again for everyone who replied! All nurses more power!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi breeze0728,

Yeah, we need to have ssn by the time our lic. needs to be renewed.. Thank you so much breeze0728. Makes me wonder whats ur situation, if u dont mind me asking, y u say we are almost in the same situation? I might as well focus on my son and on household budgets as well. Id like to know how long does do we wait for the EAD? We just got the leeter from the lawyer stating that they have ready filed for the GC and the emloyer has paid for the initial payment (which i forgot what that was...) im sorry, im just not famliar with these immigration stuffs...

Thanks again for everyone who replied! All nurses more power!

Getting EAD will depend on which category green card has been applied in, ie EB3 EAD will be several years as PD needs to be current for you to file EAD. EB1 and EB2 will also depend on where the main applicant was born and whether that country is affected by retrogression in those other categories

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Getting EAD will depend on which category green card has been applied in, ie EB3 EAD will be several years as PD needs to be current for you to file EAD. EB1 and EB2 will also depend on where the main applicant was born and whether that country is affected by retrogression in those other categories

I dont know on what category does my husband belongs, but he is a medical technologist from the philippines. Do you happen to know which category hes in? Does the ead takes longer then?:confused:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I dont know on what category does my husband belongs, but he is a medical technologist from the philippines. Do you happen to know which category hes in? Does the ead takes longer then?:confused:

You need to find out which category he has applied for GC in. For you to get EAD as far as I am aware it has to be current and for EB3 that at the moment isn't as current processing times for someone from the Philippines is 2005 that means their I140 was approved in 2005

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