Visa Screen Certificate / CGFNS

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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.)

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Basically the demand for visas far outweigh the amount of visas allocated and since Oct 06 nurses have no longer been fast tracked

This whole visa screen is a nightmare and I am still waiting for it to be processed, as I am relocating to the area of central florida, Tampa, lakeland area and the only road block I have is I work in public health and I did have an interview there is August this year and the nursing manager could not hire me but wanted to but their HR department says they couldn't hire me, cause I did not have florida licence althougth I've completed all the requirments for FBN however they cannot issue me a licence because I need to fax a copy of a Social security number and then they will issue me an license, just this one thing I need.

The question is does any one know if this visa screen certificate will be sent to homeland security and then inform the social security office for the reason that I need the number or do I need visa screen certificate and a offer of employment like (letter of employment) and take this to the border to process a TN visa?

Would appreciate if someone knew exactly the order of all this, as I am not going through an agency

I get passed the buck from FBN to social security offices to CGFNS.

CGFNS peolple on the phone can't even answer these immigration questions which I find odd cause this is a federal requirement and yet they still give you this homeland security number which I can't even get through the line here from Canada, and it is a 1 800 number.

jeepers can anyone make this any simpler,

any suggestions anyone?:no:

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You need VSC in hand when you go to the border and get TN visa, vsc is sent to you. Once you get TN visa you can apply for SSN and be able to submit that to Florida BON who will then issue license

Just to add my 2 cents to this thread.........my experience is still on going

I applied to CGFNS last March 08.......applied to FBN in April 08....recieved the okay to sit for the Nclex exam by Aug.....wrote th Nclex Nov. 08.....waiting and waiting for CGFNS to send all my completed application, including Visa Screen...and they said that FBN has not released my Nclex pass or fail to them.

I called FBN, they said,,,well you have not sent the required fee of $25.00 for us to forward your marks to CGFNS..well....where does it say that....in the requiremnets...so now 1 month has passed....I then sent them the money..just before Christmas 08, and by Feb 1st ..09 I received all documents including Visa Screen from CGFNS.

Now I have my letter from Dunedin Florida for employment, etc....and will be going to the border the end of October to apply for the TN Visa, and I-94.

BUT ,,,I am not sure of what they mean at the border that you have 30 days....after applying for the TN Visa..

Maybe someone who reads this can expand on the 30 day issue....

Thanks so much

Add to the previous post about the order of applications for CGFNS, FBON,Visa Screen,

once you have your Visa Screen I was informed by Homeland Security to come to the border with your

FBON license...(but I cannot acheive this as FBON will not give you a License till you give them a Social Security number, but....Social security will not issue a #, until they see a Work Visa.

I forwarded this info to FBON, and they said that Homeland Security does not need the FBON license, that my Ontario license is enough.

I have a Nafta brochure, and on the back under professionals it says......Registered Nurse....State/provincial license or licenciatura degree.

So, I think that this is enough.....I hope....also your letter of employment from your employer and it must state certain things...such as

position, description of duties, hr. rate. lenght of employment....can only be 1 yr...on company letter head

All your original copies of diplomas, degrees, etc.:banghead: can be frustrating.....and stressful

Also if you get your Work Visa (TN Visa), next you go to S.S. office and apply for your #, can take 6-8 weeks I am told...not sure...then forward that on to FBON and then they will issue your Florida license.

So you may not start work tillthen,,,,depends on your employers policy.

Be prepared at the border to be treated like garbage, as I was there to check it out...and was made to feel like an intruder..!!!! not welcome.

Go to the site called..........canucksabroad.com

lots of info there

Hope this helps

Good luck........I know we will need it

C

i have a quick question, if the status of my VS says "ready for review" how long will it take for them to finally decide if i am eligible or not for the VS Cert.? Thank you in advance... :)

my status said the same thing yesterday and now today it said certified and the VS was shipped out today via UPS mail and should get here in 2 days and I am in Canada.

hey djos, its been a week since i have the status "ready for review" they already received all the documents needed...how long did you have the status "ready for review" before it changed to "certified"?

'ready for review' showed only for one day and then the next day it said certified on their website,

should be hopefully getting it in the mail today or Monday.

hope this helps,

wow...that was fast..ur so lucky. hope u get ur VSC soon. thank you so much. :)

Can anyone help me?

I sent my VISA SCREEN APPLICATION FORM along with my PHOTO IDENTIFICATION FORM,

but only the visa application form has been received and the status of my photo id form is still

"waiting to be received".what could have caused this?

do i need to send another photo id form?btw, i used the form that be downloaded prior paying

$498?

hey djos...my VSC status changed from "ready for review" to "service completed successfully". Im hoping to receive my VSC very soon...

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