new grad want to work in uk

allnurses Guide · Aug 22, 2008

Hi there Muna, welcome to the site.

There are quite a few threads detailing the problems that overseas nurses have getting work in the UK so it is worth having a little look around, I will give you a brief outline here.

Firstly, because you are not from the European Union you are going to find it very difficult if not impossible to get work, employers legally have to recruit from these countries and nursing is no longer on the shortage occupations list so you will not be able to get a work Visa to allow you to work here. Employers are not allowed to sponser you for a Visa unless ou fit into the occupations on the shortage list and as a new grad you are definately not going to be one of these occupations.

If your boyfriend is a UK citizen, when you get married you may be able to get a spouse Visa (Suzanne or Silverdragon will be able to go into more detail about this)

You would also need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery council, this is the governing body for all nurses within the UK, they would need to look at your education and assess if it fits the criteria to register within the UK as a nurse there is more information on the website about this.

Jobs within the UK healthcare field and especially for nurses are in short supply, there are many of our nursing students who qualify and are unable to find work and even if you fit the requirements of registration and were able to get a Visa priority would still go to these nurses, as a new grad you would have less to offer than our own students as they have already trained and worked in the NHS and will know the system.

I hope this is helpful although I know it is probably now what you want to hear.

Zana2 · Aug 23, 2008

you might be able to get a 'de facto' spouse visa

http://www.britainusa.com/visas/articles_show_nt1.asp?i=65035&L1=41000&a=41030

It recognizes your partnership without being married.

Not sure if you don't need 2 years on this visa before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.

The spouse visa allows you to get a job like any other citizen of the country, but does not allow you recourse to public funding.

But, as Sharrie said,in the UK I don't think you can get a job as band 5 and 6 if you haven't been trained here, it is meant to protect our own new grads.

you need to have had a valid visa and reside in UK for 3 years before you can have access to public funds for education.

Good luck.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 24, 2008

you might be able to get a 'de facto' spouse visa
http://www.britainusa.com/visas/articles_show_nt1.asp?i=65035&L1=41000&a=41030
It recognizes your partnership without being married.
Not sure if you don't need 2 years on this visa before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.
The spouse visa allows you to get a job like any other citizen of the country, but does not allow you recourse to public funding.
But, as Sharrie said,in the UK I don't think you can get a job as band 5 and 6 if you haven't been trained here, it is meant to protect our own new grads.
you need to have had a valid visa and reside in UK for 3 years before you can have access to public funds for education.
Good luck.

Unless they have lived together then I doubt she can go this route. This is part of the spouse requirements as mentioned in that link you posted

The parties have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage which has subsisted for two years or more;

MandaAnda · Aug 25, 2008

Perhaps look into BUNAC? I know of a few Americans who have come to the UK that way, although they weren't nurses. It's a programme for new graduates and lets you stay and work in the UK for a while.

cuppa_tea · Aug 27, 2008

Well, I guess that answers my questions about immigrating to UK after nursing school! I suppose I'll just have to be happy with long vacations instead. Sighs. So much for coming back permanently. Thanks for the information. It helped me make some decisions about where to land after graduation.

cuppa_tea · Aug 27, 2008

What about a visiting nurses programme? You know, nothing permanent, but more of a learning experience. We have a traveling nurses programme here and I have always wanted to do that too. I suppose someone would have to sponsor you for a work Visa? I wonder if sister hospitals would have such a programme? (if only the Queen would let me come back home. you would think She had forgiven that nasty tea incident in Boston. maybe not. :chuckle)

MandaAnda · Aug 27, 2008

I've never heard of such a thing, but perhaps try ringing the NMC. Definitely look into BUNAC and see if newly graduated nurses can qualify. Other than that, I think you need to gain some experience post-qualification until you meet the work permit criteria. Still, you never know - they could change that criteria at any time. It's worth bookmarking the shortage occupation list http://www.workpermit.com/uk/work_permit/occupations.htm to see if/when it changes. Governments change things on a whim, so it seems, all the time. Best of luck!

seamusglas · Aug 29, 2008

Dear Muna, you know when one is communicating with someone from either Ireland or the uk;their doom and gloon take on life would drive anyone to suicide;They have a tendency to over analize life, I feel your dissapointment;thank the lord I found Americans were more upbeat even though they would be just as candid with me regarding my immigration hopes when I wanted to work and live in the USA.

But somehow we Brits and Irish can be so hung up and too serious.

I am a recruiter for european nurses to work in the usa.

Firstly,there is always hope

Let me inform you that current trends are well informed by Sharrie,but there are Phillipinos working and still coming into this country;people who could not put a decent sentence together in english,we have australians/new zealanders/south africans and generally nurses from the commonwealth countries fenagling the system and who speak queen's english and it will always be that way.

Where there is a will Muna,there is a way.

You have one big asset,you have a boyfriend,you can do wonders,were others would be so envious of your position.

There are also legal loop holes,just find them,and don't give up.

If you are serious,you might want to bring that marriage date forward.

Then find a immigration lawyer,and start working the sytem,heck if the asian nurses can do it,then why can't you.

Remember prayer,it helps.best of luck to you,chin up and go forward Muna. :banghead:

MandaAnda · Aug 29, 2008

If you get married and get the resulting spousal visa, you won't need an immigration lawyer. The spousal (and fiance visa, if you come to the UK before getting married, on which you wouldn't be able to work) visa is very expensive. No need to add to the expense of it by using an immigration lawyer. I've done it myself - you either fill out the form, get the essential documents and do it by post or pay a few hundred £ more and do it all in person. And if it's a genuine marriage, there's no need to "work the system."

cuppa_tea · Aug 29, 2008

My working Visa was going to cost me nearly $300!! No, not cheap at all! Especially when one is trying to save for a wedding! (get married at town hall-or whatever-over there and throw a big party!!! LOL). The passport was ridiculous too, but that's nothing to all the hoops you will have to jump through for your Visa. Sadly, my plans fell through and I ended up not getting to stay in UK. Darn the luck. Oh well, like I said, long vacations it must be then. Good luck to you, I DO envy that you get to migrate to UK AND have a British hubby! Lucky girl!

suzanne4, RN · Aug 31, 2008

Dear Muna, you know when one is communicating with someone from either Ireland or the uk;their doom and gloon take on life would drive anyone to suicide;They have a tendency to over analize life, I feel your dissapointment;thank the lord I found Americans were more upbeat even though they would be just as candid with me regarding my immigration hopes when I wanted to work and live in the USA.
But somehow we Brits and Irish can be so hung up and too serious.
I am a recruiter for european nurses to work in the usa.
Firstly,there is always hope
Let me inform you that current trends are well informed by Sharrie,but there are Phillipinos working and still coming into this country;people who could not put a decent sentence together in english,we have australians/new zealanders/south africans and generally nurses from the commonwealth countries fenagling the system and who speak queen's english and it will always be that way.
Where there is a will Muna,there is a way.
You have one big asset,you have a boyfriend,you can do wonders,were others would be so envious of your position.
There are also legal loop holes,just find them,and don't give up.
If you are serious,you might want to bring that marriage date forward.
Then find a immigration lawyer,and start working the sytem,heck if the asian nurses can do it,then why can't you.
Remember prayer,it helps.best of luck to you,chin up and go forward Muna.

Sorry, but the UK has a hiring freeze in place and unless the nurse has significant work experience in an area where there is a need such as PICU or NICU, they are not going to get a visa to work there.

And those from the Philippines are going there as care-givers, not as nurses. And they cannot change that visa over later on to be able to remain in the UK and work as an RN.

Telling someone to try and get around the system is never what should be advised to anyone. Just way to get denied from doing anything.

A new grad is not going to get licensed there in any way, shape or form. There are many requirements that are in place and new grads to not meet the requirements even if there were visas available.

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Thread moved to the International Forum since it is specific to licensing and immigration related issues.