New US graduated Nurse with F-1 student status is seeking sponsership

Newusgradforeignnurs · Apr 21, 2010

I am trying to apply for some nurse aid job out side of school so i can get some experience before I graduate. However, my school told me that they do not offer any internship class so I can not apply for CPT. Does anyone has similar problem and solution? Thank you.

Buran09 · Apr 21, 2010

I'm trying to find out some of these things myself. I'm also worried that employers might take advantage of someone on OPT, however I would never take a position that would pay less than what a new grad nurse should be making. I'm not too sure where you are from, but if you did the OPT for a year and got 1 year experience under your belt, it would be much easier to find an employer to sponsor you. That said, things can change in a year and maybe there will be more openings next year.

You fear about the employer offering you less money is irrational. I should say that with only one year of OPT and a current job market situation you should be worried about not getting hired at all. Although being from Canada gives you an advantage over other international students (TN status).

Aquarius85 · Apr 22, 2010

I'm trying to find out some of these things myself. I'm also worried that employers might take advantage of someone on OPT, however I would never take a position that would pay less than what a new grad nurse should be making. I'm not too sure where you are from, but if you did the OPT for a year and got 1 year experience under your belt, it would be much easier to find an employer to sponsor you. That said, things can change in a year and maybe there will be more openings next year.

I would actually consider to work for free, if an employer is hesitating hire me or not. The money doesnt care either, I would even work for 15 dollars an hour because the most crucial time after you graduating is not how much money you can make but to gain experience. Every employer is looking for an experienced nurse with a least a year under their belt so even if it is bad paid the first year, you wont die. But most importantly, you get experience and that will take you to the next step to find another employer with a better salary.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Apr 22, 2010

The US president is against unpaid internships, Obama: Interns for me but not for thee - Water Cooler - Washington Times

allnurses Guide · Apr 23, 2010

I would actually consider to work for free, if an employer is hesitating hire me or not. The money doesnt care either, I would even work for 15 dollars an hour because the most crucial time after you graduating is not how much money you can make but to gain experience. Every employer is looking for an experienced nurse with a least a year under their belt so even if it is bad paid the first year, you wont die. But most importantly, you get experience and that will take you to the next step to find another employer with a better salary.

Not a good idea for many reasons. If you're not paid, you're not covered by the employer liability etc... bad precedent to set - why would hospitals pay proper salaries if they get people to work for free?

aee010 · May 4, 2010

You get OPT for a year, then you have to see if the company you work for will sponsor you to continue to work there! Like with a H1B visa and so on

I'm in the same situation and trying to figure out what to do...

elkpark · May 4, 2010

Welcome to reality! What can you do after your OPT is over? You can go back to school to maintain your F-1 status, you may try to get H-1B (unlikely), or you can marry a U.S. citizen.

Or you can go home to your own country -- which was the expectation when the US issued you a student visa ...

Music in My Heart · May 4, 2010

Not a good idea for many reasons. If you're not paid, you're not covered by the employer liability etc... bad precedent to set - why would hospitals pay proper salaries if they get people to work for free?

Probably not an option for this person from China but generally, it's a very good idea.

I know three people from my graduating class who were ultimately hired by the facilities in which they interned for 3-6 months. They are not covered by the hospital's insurance but they are covered by the insurance from the school who's providing the internship. For everything, that is, except SDI and Worker's Comp - since they're students and not workers. However, doing an internship is much preferred over sitting at home month after month or flipping burgers.

dreidelRN · May 5, 2010

I graduated last year and applied for the OPT. Finding a job took MONTHS. I started job searching a couple of months before graduating. I was actually cutting into my OPT time searching for a job. I finally found a hospital job about.. 80 days into my OPT. You are only allowed 90 days of unemployment while on your OPT, although I had already applied for Mollen Immunization Clinics and gotten that job as well.

I have two friends who are also on OPT. One was also able to find a job at a hospital and another found a job in a clinic.

Both of them spoke to immigration lawyers and pretty much found that there was nothing they could do to be sponsored. If you were a charge nurse, it would be a different story, but we are all new grads.

One of my friends is going to go to grad school to buy her more time in the US, I guess while she figures out what to do... The other may get married. As for me? Well, I applied for the green card lottery and in the mean time I'll be moving to Europe with my boyfriend. We both have EU passports. He also has an American passport but we aren't going to get married just so that we can stay here. We'd like to see the world while we are young...also the idea of marriage is a little scary. At least for me it is.

Many places I interviewed for would straight up ask me what my status is. Once they found out about the OPT, they pretty much told me I wasn't going to be hired. The one place that hired me did not ask me. You just gotta apply ALL over the place. I even applied to Alaska (I was living in Florida).

So, Good luck to you! Let us know how it works out for you.

allnurses Guide · May 5, 2010

Probably not an option for this person from China but generally, it's a very good idea.
I know three people from my graduating class who were ultimately hired by the facilities in which they interned for 3-6 months. They are not covered by the hospital's insurance but they are covered by the insurance from the school who's providing the internship. For everything, that is, except SDI and Worker's Comp - since they're students and not workers. However, doing an internship is much preferred over sitting at home month after month or flipping burgers.

This is the "international nurse" forum. It is NOT a good idea for foreign nurses to offer to work for free or cheap with the hopes of being hired/sponsored. That is precisely why locals get peeved with hospitals bringing in cheap labor from overseas. Not to mention, it's illegal to work at a lower pay rate (or no pay!) when labor certification is required.

This has nothing to do with an "internship" as completed by a local worker.

Music in My Heart · May 5, 2010

This is the "international nurse" forum. It is NOT a good idea for foreign nurses to offer to work for free or cheap with the hopes of being hired/sponsored. That is precisely why locals get peeved with hospitals bringing in cheap labor from overseas. Not to mention, it's illegal to work at a lower pay rate (or no pay!) when labor certification is required.
This has nothing to do with an "internship" as completed by a local worker.

So it's not an option at all, then.

RomSL · May 11, 2010

One of my friends is going to go to grad school to buy her more time in the US, I guess while she figures out what to do...

Wouldn't a master degree in nursing give her an opportunity to be qualified for EB2 category? As far as I know, it's way easier to get a green card via EB2. Please correct me I'm wrong.

That's what I actually want to do - to gradate from the MSN program and obtain the green card through EB2.