Visa Screen Certificate / CGFNS

[suzanne4]

Visa Screen Certificate is required by all foreign nurses wishing to obtain a green card to work in the US, as well as any type of temporary work permit, such as the Nafta TN Visa for those from Canada and Mexico.

It requires that you pass either the NCLEX-RN or the CGFNS exam, as well as the series of English exams if you are not exempt from them.

The CGFNS exam is only required now in about five states, and rumor is that one or two will be removed from that remaining list as well. Do not bother with that exam if you are not going to work in a state that does not require it, or you have no way to be able to take the NCLEX exam from where you are currently located.

The application for the VSC is now only good for one year.........please do not apply for it until you have passed at least one of the required exams, or you may need to pay an additional fee.

(This thread is replacing the original thread that was from more than 2 and 1/2 years ago, and has updated information.)

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

dear suzanne and sliverdragon

i really need ur help with my visa screen. im from the philippines, im done with my ielts and nclex-rn. i am starting with my application online and i cant seem to finish the application because of the following queries:

1. what will i put on the name of diploma in its original language? hopefully another philippine nurse will be able to indicate what they put but i would say the name of your course

2. does the test date asked for the nclex-rn details mean the date i took the exam or the date written on the letter i received from the brn? date you took the nclex

3. everytime i reach the summary of documents, in the registration validation of licenses, my license number appears but my date of licensure exam show the date of my nclex-rn exam your license is issued from when you passed the nclex

and lastly on the item

16. for nurses only:

a. have you ever taken the cgfns certification examination, the state board test pool examination (sbtpe), or the u.s. licensure examination (nclex-rn or nclex-pn)? x yes no you took nclex rn

if yes, which examination(s) did you take: x cgfns cp qualifying exam x

sbtpe x nclex-rn x nclex-pn

(i only took the nclex-rn exam but didnt take the rest of the test stated) you took nclex rn so need to tick that box

b. have you ever passed any of the above exams? x yes no

if yes, which examination(s) did you pass: cgfns cp qualifying exam sbtpe x nclex-rn nclex-pn you passed nclex so need to indicate that

hope u could answer my inquiries.. thank u!:paw:

hope this helps.

[bud-ice-ser]

hello silver dragon! thank you for the immediate response...

about this part:

if yes, which examination(s) did you take: x cgfns cp qualifying exam x

sbtpe x nclex-rn x nclex-pn

(i only took the nclex-rn exam but didnt take the rest of the test stated) you took nclex rn so need to tick that box

in the application part, i only ticked the nclex-rn but when it comes to the document summary, all of the mentioned exams were automatically ticked.. any idea how to resolve this?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

You may want to consider printing forms of and filing them in yourself and post them. That way less chance of mistakes

[bite_me]

Hi! im a registered nurse here in the philippines, i passed the june 2008 local boards and passed ielts too. right now, i am just waiting for my nclex results.

i want to start on my visascreen application since im doing nothing right now and the hospitals here are all freeze hiring.

my questions:

1. i need to pass my highschool diploma right? is that all i should pass from my highschool? should i pass my elementary diploma as well? i read some posts about the 10 years education thing and it got me confused.

2. also, can i start my visascreen application without my nclex results yet? can i start applying my TOR, ielts exam, etc. first?

more power to this site!:)

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I would wait until you get your NCLEX results before starting the application. There is no rush and you may find that you are still waiting and have to renew as VSC are only valid for 5 years and I suspect you may be waiting longer than that

[firstyearRN]

Hello there! I'm a Canadian who will finish my program at the end of late June. I will then sit for the NCLEX likely in August or as soon as possible. Can I apply for the Visa Screen now if it is good for a year and then send my nclex information once I have it? I'd like to change to a TN visa as soon as possible from an F1 visa.

Thank you very much!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I would probably hang on until you have sat NCLEX. Takes approx 1 month when you train in the US. Don't forget you will still need to leave the US to get your TN visa. Have you applied for OPT? That at least will give you chance to work whilst waiting for sorting TN out?

[firstyearRN]

Thanks so much for such a rapid response silver dragon. I appreciate it. I've used OPT already from a previous degree but thanks for the suggestion. Can I stay in the states for a couple months while sorting everything out or must I return home right away? I know Canadians can visit the states for up to 6 months. Not really sure how to deal with the changing of status exactly. Can I interview in the states for jobs and then return home with the tn letter?

Thank you!

[ziggyldy]

hi! i need help.. in my VSC my second given name is indicated twice such that for examply my name is mary jane, what's written is mary jane jane... how can i make changes? thanks for any help!!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Any changes you have to do by writing

[monty0308]

hello silverdragon!

im using this reply button because i cant find a different way of contacting suzanne or someone just as knowledgable as she is when it comes to foreign educated nurses who want to work in the us...what has happened to the international threads? is suzanne still helping us out? i havent been on here for quite a while...

im still a nursing student in the eu and i plan on coming to the us after i have gotten more experience here. now, my question is: i want to work in mental health after i have gotten my degree. is this a good idea when it comes to immigration to the u.s. later on in my life? lets say in 2 years...i think to remember that it is not advisable as one should have worked on a general ward such as a surgical ward for some time. this would be better for immigration...is that true? or would i have the same chances if i worked at a psychiatric ward?

and: can i start the green card process once i have received my degree here? i can start and plan everything despite retrogression, right? the whole immigration process would take quite a long time anyway...and retrogression will stop at some point, i hope...thank you for your time, everyone! keep on smiling!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I doubt retrogression will stop it will just move forwards (hopefully) The demand for visas far outweigh the visas allocated. You can start the process once you have completed your training and look for a employer but be aware currently looking at a lot longer than 2 years, many have been waiting 3-4 years and still waiting. Acute experience will certainly help you but will depend on your employer and the area you will be working in.