Please Read: F1 nursing students on OPT

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hello all,

this message is for all nurses who are in f1 and are in opt or will be in opt. we all know that we worked hard to get this far but with current retrogression in place, 1 year of opt does not sound like a good bargain for us right now. if only we could buy more time with retrogression, maybe things will change. i know that it is uncertain when the retrogression will be lifted but having more time is always good.

unfortunately, the recent change in opt for stem students did not include nursing major for 17 month extension. however, i think that we can still make a difference. if you go to http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm, you will see that they have said: "to suggest a change to the list of stem designated degrees, write to [email protected], with stem code change request in the subject line. please include your name, phone number, organizational affiliation, the code(s) you would like to see added and the rationale for the addition. change requests will be reviewed by ice in conjunction with the department of education and other advisors."

so, if everyone of us will send an e-mail to dhs, they will probably think about it. what does it hurt to do so? i have already e-mailed them and have asked my friends to so too.

please include nursing major code as 51.1601 to be added to the stem list. there seems to be few kinks with the e-mail address but please make sure that you type the address as it is, my first e-mail came back but the second one went through.

thank you all for reading and making this effort!

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They are not going to be adding the nurses to the STEM list. Just is not going to happen. There are many American nurses that are not being able to get hired with a glut of nurses in certain areas at this time. Even those that can get the OPT are having issues with getting hired.

What happens at the end of that period if they were to add it? With things the way that they are, and 800,000 petitions that were submitted last summer, that takes things to more than five years for things to open up and that still does not include those under CP in the gist of things.

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Doesn't hurt to try now does it?

I think we all know the REALITY of retrogression that keeps on being pounded at us, and we're well aware of it and doing the best we can to deal with it. What will it hurt to try something proactive for a change? We don't need naysayers, we need ideas, and here is one.

I applaud floridanurse2008 for taking the initiative to suggest this. So what if it doesn't work? And what if at the end of the extension nothing has changed? So what? It can't get any worse than it is now!

So yeah, I will be sending an email too. I am a realist, I know what the reality is, I know the numbers, I know the odds, but I am also an optimist, and even if nothing works out I'll know I tried. Like I said, it won't hurt, I have nothing to lose as the situation stands. My OPT expires in February and I'm ready for what follows, but I am also willing to go through whichever open doors are there and be proactive, instead of hanging my head and letting the naysayers pound me down.

I'm with you floridanurse2008, my email is on the way to sevis!

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Doesn't hurt to try now does it?

I think we all know the REALITY of retrogression that keeps on being pounded at us, and we're well aware of it and doing the best we can to deal with it. What will it hurt to try something proactive for a change? We don't need naysayers, we need ideas, and here is one.

I applaud floridanurse2008 for taking the initiative to suggest this. So what if it doesn't work? And what if at the end of the extension nothing has changed? So what? It can't get any worse than it is now!

So yeah, I will be sending an email too. I am a realist, I know what the reality is, I know the numbers, I know the odds, but I am also an optimist, and even if nothing works out I'll know I tried. Like I said, it won't hurt, I have nothing to lose as the situation stands. My OPT expires in February and I'm ready for what follows, but I am also willing to go through whichever open doors are there and be proactive, instead of hanging my head and letting the naysayers pound me down.

I'm with you floridanurse2008, my email is on the way to sevis!

Thank you helloword for your understanding and support!!! We all know what the odds are and what situation we all are in. There is nothing to lose. Besides, they said they are open to suggestions. If it works, thats great! If it doesn't, at least we TRIED! Thank you all for trying this!

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For every email sent in support, how many negative emails do you think your post will generate? Also do you think that US citizen's email will carry more weight then a non US Citizen. The agency to change this policy lies with Congressional member and Senators. Do you think they care more about a voter or non voter? Every congressional member is up for re-election and a third of the Senate.

As Suzanne has mentioned before, be careful of what you post, since it may generate consequences you didn't think about.

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I have to agree with Alex on this one, I was just going to comment on the very subject. My aunt has a good friend who works with the CA BON and they receive negative (email, fax, snail mail) responses regarding foreign trained nurses. They want to make it harder for the foreign trained nurses to get their license here. I have to also agree, I don't see how the voters will agree with this.

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I am sure nurses are not the only target for this discrimination. If you look at the STEM list carefully, the list goes on and on. They had the same problem with ITs, Computer Engineers, and much more on the STEM list few years ago. And now they are on the list. I sincerely apologize if this came across as a threat, but it was not meant that way. Also, every employer wants to hire US nurses before we (foreign nurses) are considered for employment and they are required to do so, and we all know that and I am living through it. All I am bargaining for is extra time for the OPT that they already offer us foreign students. Besides, I am not a "foreign trained nurse". This was meant for F1 students on OPT, meaning those who received their nursing education in the US NOT abroad.

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I have to agree with Alex on this one, I was just going to comment on the very subject. My aunt has a good friend who works with the CA BON and they receive negative (email, fax, snail mail) responses regarding foreign trained nurses. They want to make it harder for the foreign trained nurses to get their license here. I have to also agree, I don't see how the voters will agree with this.

Once again, all factors considered, there is really nothing to lose. As floridanurse2008 has mentioned, this is about extending OPT for nurses trained here, not about hiring more foreign trained nurses.

There is no call for negative emails to ICE, they do not invite people to send emails stating what should NOT be added to the STEM list, in which case, based on your arguments, all professions would suffer, instead they are inviting suggestions about what COULD be added.

Let's not get things mixed up. No one is asking for foreigners to be hired before citizens, this is about OPT.

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Exactly, this is about OPT.

I see what suzanne is saying about:

"...There are many American nurses that are not being able to get hired with a glut of nurses in certain areas at this time. Even those that can get the OPT are having issues with getting hired..."

Nurses on OPT are limited to work only for a certain number of months and with certain restrictions, and considering risks and benefits, employers will rather hire US nurses because of committment issues.

And,

"...and 800,000 petitions that were submitted last summer, that takes things to more than five years for things to open up..."

The petitions you mentioned are for GC. I do not think OPT has anything to do with GC. Those that have filed for GC are much ahead of those in OPT. I do understand that 29 months of OPT might not suffice by the time retrogression will end. But no one knows that.

If one is to read about the purpose of OPT, one should not mistake its purpose to other visas. There are many issues in regards to OPT. OPT is created solely because US wants to stay competitive in the global market. And thus, STEM came into existence. Well, I value your opinion but please do elaborate/rationalize on your points, so that we may be able to learn what we don't know.

I thank you all for the comments.

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I have rationalized so many times on these points that are being brought up here. The whole premise of the OPT was to give the student a year of training before they went back to their own country to work and not remain in the US.

All of those other professions that are listed are for jobs that would be under the H1-B visa as well and they are considered specialists by the time that they graduate. It is not the same as with nurses. A BSN does not make one a specialist; experience does.

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But again, as the others here have brought up; be careful for what you wish for, this could really backfire for you. This site is Googled all over and it could bring many more negative e-mails sent to congressmen at this time from Americans.

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One final comment on my part, for those nurses who come from countries where you nurses are unemployed, what are the chances of a US Nurse getting a job over a citizen in your own country?

Would you consider it discrimination if a US nurse trained in your country with one year's experience was denied a position?

How would you feel if day after day, US citizens who are nurses, and met all your educational requirements and looked for loop holes legal and not legal to work in your country? Especially if the nurses from your countries gave first hand experience how bad things are?

Would you give me hope? Or would you tell me like it is? Would you tell me to think positive and be upset if I questioned your front line experiences?

Just think How you would feel if the shoe was on your foot. The situation here in the US is depressing and we are in a depression, I haven't seen one person post how they feel sorry for the American Nurses who are loosing their jobs and homes.

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