NZ nurse with PA RN license

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Hi, I have read several posts now of foreign nurses trying to gain their US RN licenses and look for visa sponsors in the US. I have been through the CGFNS and then NCLEX process and have gained my license as a RN in the state of PA. I am originally from New Zealand and so require visa sponsorship. Pretty much every single hospital, residential home, medical centre has told my flat out they don't hire overseas nurses as it is too difficult to obtain a visa for them. Has anyone had any luck with jobs as an overseas RN in the state of PA or near Philadelphia? Thanks!

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Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

I'm totally not familiar with visas but the company I work for, in PA does them extensively. What kind would you need to come over as a skilled worker? We generally hire unskilled ones from all English speaking countries. With a little more info I would be able to ask them if they are able to help.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Most nurses fall under EB-3 which can lead to permanent resident status. If a highly skilled nurse with years of specialty experience the nurse may qualify for an H1B but few employers qualify and it's expensive.

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Thanks for the reply- like below I can come in on a EB3 (greencard) visa or the H1B(temporary). However my experience is in urgent and primary care- I have over 3.5 years experience as a RN and 8 months as a care coordinator. What sort of positions does your company recruit for?

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Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

Summer camp actually. It is temporary 10-12 week contract. I'm pretty sure we Get our cabin staff over on H1B visas. If nothing else it would get you over here and in person where you could focus on applying in the less desirable but more needy areas of PA where there is a real nursing shortage. (Hint not philly)

i sent an email to our office guy, I'll get in touch and tell you what he says.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Summer camp actually. It is temporary 10-12 week contract. I'm pretty sure we Get our cabin staff over on H1B visas. If nothing else it would get you over here and in person where you could focus on applying in the less desirable but more needy areas of PA where there is a real nursing shortage. (Hint not philly)

i sent an email to our office guy, I'll get in touch and tell you what he says.

I can pretty much guarantee your camp does not qualify for H1B specialty visas that require a minimum of a bachelor's or 15 years specialized experience. H1B is predominantly approved for software and technological professionals. The costs are high and the camp would be responsible for the staff member travel to and from their country and all legal expenses. These are not short term visas.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

International students can work US summer camps via J1 visa. Special permission would be needed to work in any other job and even to change the status

Programs | Summer Work Travel | Programs | J-1 Visa

This would not apply to the OP

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Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

As I said I don't know much about visas. Thanks for the information.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
As I said I don't know much about visas. Thanks for the information.

Most don't. From what I know and from family most typical camps would not have the financial and legal resources to sponsor a licensed international nurse for a visa. J1 is used to sponsor students for summer work. Licensed nurses don't qualify

To the original poster you need to look in less desirable areas away from the major cities already saturated with nurses like Philly, Pittsburgh and likely Harrisburg. You don't have sufficient specialty experience that sets you apart from US applicants or qualifies you for a specialty visa.

You'd likely qualify for an EB3 and if you were not born in India, Philippines or other country with a large number of citizens desiring to enter the US you wouldn't be affected by retrogression.

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Great- thanks! Would love to hear back. FYI I am 29 so may not qualify as my previous research has indicated there is an age cut off- but if you have anything for me would love to hear about it.

Thanks

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Thanks for the info- I know it's difficult with my work background- really need to be in an acute specialty. Things are looking dire í ½í¸œ......

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

It's going to be near impossible not being an specialty experienced (5+ years) nurse. Specialized care is generally OR/theater (any area but definitely the highly specialized OR--cardio thoracic, vascular, trauma, transplant) any of the ICU (MICU, NSICU, SICU, TICU, PICU, CTICU, NICU) emergency department, obstetrics/delivery, oncology

Philadelphia has dozens if not hundreds of local nurses applying for a single posting so even if interested an employer would have a difficult time (especially in a hospital as your experience is generally outpatient setting in the US) proving to USCIS that they don't have a locally qualified candidate.

I've never heard of an outpatient center even considering sponsoring for a visa as insurance reimbursement is not high and the cost would likely outweigh the benefit.

At 29 and not a current university student you are likely too old for a summer J1 visa (some physicians qualify under J1 but not usually nurses).

Without recent acute hospital experience or even recent subacute experience you would have difficulty securing a job in the metro Philadelphia area even as a US citizen.

Try looking at long term acute care hospitals (LTACH) or acute rehab (like Health South) it might be a hidden opportunity.

Why Philadelphia? Pennsylvania is a pretty big state. You could always try one of the central PA systems like Milton S. Hershey

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