New grad RN (on F-1 visa) looking for jobs

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 27, 2010

we used to have an expert on international students, gosh i wish she were here.

i do know an f-1 is only valid as long as you are a full time student.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html

imo i don't think you can work without a green card-and that is not an f-1. you need an immigration lawyer.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 27, 2010

The member who used to help us out has left some very good archived messages. However she will NOT accept any requests for help. She has gone back to being a regular member not a member of the staff here.

Nursing community of 422,638 members; Where nurses and nursing students talk everything about nursing. - Google Search Results for suzanne4 f-1

himilayaneyes · Sep 27, 2010

I don't live in California..so I can't give you any advice as far as that. As far as the resume...send one..make it concise..no more than 1 page. Only list the clinicals relevant to the position you're applying for. Don't list your SNF rotation for an OB job. Include your GPA on the resume if it's a decent one. Include a cover letter with every application. Tailor every cover letter for the position you're applying for...use the words the employer uses to describe the position. Try to not talk about what you want vs. how you would benefit the company if they hired you. Try not to say seeking RN position vs. Seeking to benefit company through improving patient outcomes as a staff nurse...get it. Always follow up after applying....give the recruiter at least a week before you call them to give them a chance to read your resume...but follow up. Send thank you letters after every interview within 2 days of the interview...and follow up. Persistence is the key to getting a job in this economy. I also suggest you get some wicked references...write the letters yourself and get them to sign it...your professors, clinical instructors...especially masters or doctorate prepared ones. As far as the immigration status, you may need an immigration lawyer. Good luck.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2010

Several problems:

First, California is a difficult state to get employment in, for anyone, but especially for new grads.

Second, the new grad status as mentioned is an issue.

Third, most facilities that hire, want their staff to be with them for several years. It is very expensive to orient any nurse to a facility, and doubly so to orient a new grad. They want to have some good idea that a nurse will be with them for several years, to recover their investment. And because of your Visa status, it is not easily forseeable that you will be able to do so.

You are a new grad, thus does not generally qualify for H1B. Retrogression is in effect and highly unlikely to be reversed soon. And OPT time is quite limited. Thus getting a green card is highly unlikely. And without a legal working status, few facilities will hire you.

Have you spoken to an immigration lawyer or counselor?

VNRN · Sep 27, 2010

Thanks everyone for your kindness and helpfulness.

As for the resume, I know I'm in a little trouble. Since I was an international student, I wasn't able to work off-campus while in school, so the only clinical experiences I had were pretty much from the clinical portion of the curriculum. I didn't work as CNA or nurse tech. So is it OK that I add other experiences such as my abundant community services (some of them are related to healthcare) and leadership experiences? They probably say something about my personality and ability, right?

As for the immigration status, I do understand that it's hard to get a job with a F-1 visa and OPT. However, I'm at a transitional stage where I'll be able to apply for a green card next year (by marriage; that's also why I moved to Calif), so hopefully job will be a bit easier to find then. But right now I still have OPT and F-1, and I'm afraid that the OPT will finish before I can get the green card. So I'm just thinking about ways to keep my status active and legal until I obtain the green card. But I'm not sure what to do yet... since the job market is not so good in Calif.

So when applying and interviewing, should I let the employers know my immigration status?

Again, thanks so much :)

MEKAYLA · Sep 27, 2010

I hope that you can get your green card before OPT is over. I also understand your frustration in the process of applying for job without any experience. It is already hard for legal RN to get one. Even if you let your employers know about your status, I think the chance of being hired is pretty dim. Keep praying for us both that we'll get hired.!! good luck to you.

RNGrad2006 · Sep 27, 2010

Unfortunately with the timing and current difficulty to finding work a challenge for Americans it may be more difficult for you given your status. However, in 2006 when I graduated it was easy. As long as you can prove eligibility to work in the US legally you should have no difficulty getting a job with OPT in theory since the EAD card provides your eligibility to work in the US. However, since you are attempting to work in an area that is difficult to find in work in and no guarantee of getting your green card before your EAD expires it may be difficult since employers really only benefit from new grads about 1 year into their employment. My experience is that many managers have no idea on the immigration process. My manager hired a nurse a few years ago that had OPT and had no idea she only had work auth for 1 year and she had to leave when it ended. She opted to go back to school in order to stay in the US. But just be warned that the marriage green card option is taking much longer than it used to. I have heard it takes about a year now. When I graduated nurses would get green cards in a short amount of time also...but we applied over 3 years ago and are still waiting. The immigration thing has really changed and with fewer jobs can't really blame the US government. But I find now that I have 4+ years of nursing experience and a BSN I have become much more marketable. Unfortunately it takes a few years to achieve that kind of desirability. Good luck as you move forward.

Thanks everyone for your kindness and helpfulness.
As for the resume, I know I'm in a little trouble. Since I was an international student, I wasn't able to work off-campus while in school, so the only clinical experiences I had were pretty much from the clinical portion of the curriculum. I didn't work as CNA or nurse tech. So is it OK that I add other experiences such as my abundant community services (some of them are related to healthcare) and leadership experiences? They probably say something about my personality and ability, right?
As for the immigration status, I do understand that it's hard to get a job with a F-1 visa and OPT. However, I'm at a transitional stage where I'll be able to apply for a green card next year (by marriage; that's also why I moved to Calif), so hopefully job will be a bit easier to find then. But right now I still have OPT and F-1, and I'm afraid that the OPT will finish before I can get the green card. So I'm just thinking about ways to keep my status active and legal until I obtain the green card. But I'm not sure what to do yet... since the job market is not so good in Calif.
So when applying and interviewing, should I let the employers know my immigration status?
Again, thanks so much :)

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 27, 2010

About your visa status:

sorry to say it, but you should get a good immigration lawyer on board IMMEDIATELY. There's nothing illegal in your situation as you describe it right now, but if you're not a full-time student anymore, currently searching for job and have F1 and OPT and, as it seems to me, in process or prepare to process of applying for green card by reason of marriage, that makes things a bit complicated. Managers in hospital HR departments may have no idea about immigration issues, so you have to know and be ready to explain them what must be done. Also keep in mind that processing times in California INS are much longer than elsewhere, and "marriage cases" always were (and are) among the last ones to get attention.

If you happen to live not far away from a university which have law school, you may try locate a "students' law clinic" there. It is much cheaper than regular consult, and they can recommend you someone with good experience in cases like yours.

VNRN · Sep 28, 2010

As expected, I know my status would hinder my job search. But I guess the best I can do is being perseverant, right? I'm also applying for grad school for next year... so hopefully it'll be OK, but it'd be better to get some real hospital experience first. Thanks KatieMI for the students' law clinic info. I'll definitely have to check it out, since hiring an immigration attorney is quite expensive. I also thank the other posts for giving my realistic insights and advice. Back to the resume... Like I mentioned, I don't have much experience besides clinical rotations while in school. Should I elaborated on those experiences? Should I even bother mentioning my community service (most of which are related to healthcare, leadership and education)? Right now, I think my 2-page resume might resemble an academic CV, since I just graduated. I'm not sure how to make it shorter and look more like a career resume... I appreciate any suggestions. On previous post, I'm advised not to write a too general and cliché objective (such as: To secure a responsible and challenging position as Graduate Nurse,...), which means I have to tailor my objective and cover letter. But of all of the hospitals I'm applying so far, they have online application, and I can only upload 1 file (including basic info, resume, cover letter, transcripts, references...) to apply to various positions. Then how can I customized each resume+ cover letter to each position? Should I just find out a nurse recruiter from each hospital to call that person or send my files to him/her directly? There are so many nursing job search sites out there. Which one is reliable and effective, do you know?