rsmit02

Hi guys, Thanks for the info, I didnt apply during July as I havent sat nclex yet was not ready, I am planning to take it in a month or so. I do understnad the downside to the H1C but having to go home now is a bigger downside. I did check about the F1 visa and you can apply for it here in the usa and go to the us consulate in NY for your visa interview I spoke to my international student advisor and she said they would happily accept me back as a student as my GPA is 4.0 and issue the I-20 within the 30 days as long as I had the paper work required as I do. Does anyone think there will be a fix to retrogression in the next 12 months at all??? Whats your best guess? Ruthx

Hi all, I was wondering how people were handling the retrogression and decisions on how to remain in the usa? I am on a student F1 visa and was really hoping that when the senate came back into session after summer they would do something to release some visa numbers specifically for nurses but so far nothing and no hope in sight. I am born in the UK but just cannot find any real information on if I find a hospital to file my I-140 how long it will be till I can adjust my status. I read the visa bulliten and it states Feb 2002 does that really mean if my I-140 was filed now it would be 4 years till I can adjust my status? If this is the case I am seriously considering applying to a local hospital here in NJ who sponser the H1C visa. I truly would rather be working in a rough neighbourhood with the worry of my contract being terminated than sat here as a student unable to earn money. I figure if they terminate my contract I could also apply to be a student again. Is there a number I can ring maybe the usa embassy in the uk who can tell me what the visa status is specifically for the uk not just "worldwide"? What are peoples thoughts? Ruth

Hi all, I am wondering if anyone knows or anyone can give me me a link to information on how to tell what your exact countries EB dates are. I am born in the UK and know the visa date for EB3 in the worldwide category is Jan 01 is this the exact date for the uk? Also to understand this right if the date is Aug 02 it means the people who applied for their EB3 visa up to Aug 02 are currently being processed for and issued visas? Meaning as a uk born citizen in theory for a hospital to hire me right now it would be 5 years till my visa came through? I take it you cannot file for a temp work visa via adjustment of status in the mean time if you have applied for EB3? How can I know what the uks exact dates are for EB3? Boy I hope that Schedule A comes back in the fall or I will have to go the HC-1 route!!! Ruthx

I said to a friend I was a member here and they asked me to ask a question for them. They are a qualified Nurse in the UK and have had the cgfns report done and sent to the BON in NJ and have permission to sit nclex but not sat it yet. There husband has just been offered a job in Canada and she is wondering if it is possible to be a RN in Canada and what the process is? Any help would be much appreciated. Ruthx

I love this post it is a great question. I have recently left the uk nursing to come to the usa as I am fed up of the nhs and agenda for change was the straw that broke the camels back I was worse off a month financially!! I really really wish nurses would stand up for themselves. I truly believe if every nurse worked to rule for a week the country and the prime minister would be on their knees. Nursing is a predominantly female profession which is a down side as woman are less likely to strike or take what is seen as aggressive action. All to often female nurses have family and feel the risk to their jobs that is putting food on the table is not worth the fight. But we train for 3 YEARS the police do 6 WEEKS training and they earn more than we do so so the fire service. At my local Tescos the junior manager was earning more than me. Nurses are the back bone of a country they save lives. Lots of nurses objected to agenda for change but we as a profession as a whole did nothing we sat back and took it. It was a perfect oppertunity to stand together and demand our worth, dedication, training and knowledge was worth more than you get working in Tescos!!!! I got £1300 a month in my pocket at home as a D grade with 10 years experience, I couldnt get a promotion to E grade as everytime an E grade left the job was frozen and a D grade does it for a D grades pay. When I started nursisng a D grade couldnt do this or that only E grades now its fine for us to do it its cheaper. My friend drives a lorry with frozen food monday to friday 9-5 he comes home with £1350 a month he thinks it is hilarious I worked so hard to get my degree in nursing when he did nothing and he is earning more than me. I work all the awful hours, I work christmas, my birthday, my kids birthdays he doesnt. Its not fair and until nurses as a profession get together and at the least work to rule then nothing will change. So I say well done the irish nurses!! As for the publics perception I really think most the uk public has no idea how badly we are paid for what we do, everyone knows a nurse who they respect who took care of a loved one and I think they would be outrages if they truly knew what the goverment really did with agenda for change. I think the public would understand and back a work to rule 100% Ruthx

Thanks guys, Thats just the information I was looking for I thought it was broken down by country but it seems from what you all said uk is at 2003 aswell. Heres hoping the fix for retrogression is coming soon but as everyone im not holding my breath its just sit tight and wait and see! Ruthx

Hi all, A quick question on the EB3 visa the only visa currently available for nurses in the usa at the moment I am born in the uk and heard talk at the start of retrogression that EB3 visas are issued quarterly for each country and the visa bulletin lumped a lot of countries in together in the category "worldwide" and you should check your individual contries visas. Someone here said that the uk issued their visas quarterly. How do I check what the current date is for EB 3 visas for uk citizens? Is there a website that breaks it down from "worldwide" to country specifics or is there a numbe call? Or am I wrong and clutching at straws and the worldwide date is the only date fo uk nurses!! Ruthx

Hi all, Just wanted to post this link Im new to usa and also miss the soaps left UK this christmas with all the big christmas story lines going on and dont know how they ended!!! BUT Then found this web site they have chanel 1 2 3 and 4 streamed right to your PC!!! Ok it costs like $45 a month but it works great and it has both live TV and an 8 Hour delay so we can watch their evening TV at our evening time!! I have it and there is no problems with it at all love it!!! http://www.liveuktv.com/ Ruthx

I was in the uk and had cgfns for NJ done and it too well over 9 months and 5 of those were AFTER all my documents had been submitted, they said when I rang they were busy kept telling case was ready for review and it would be assigned to someone, never was. The only way I got it done was to call EVERY week, take 1 persons name and speak to them, I asked for a supervisor/manager in the end and also asked to be out throught the their Quality Assurance team that was what got things moving in the end as soon as they got involved I had the report inmy hand within 2 weeks!!!!! My best advice get on the phone often, and as soon as your documents are submitted keep on at them to assign your case to a reviewer. Their service is expensive and shocking there should be an alternative company that can also do this so cgfns get their act together because people start going to the competition. Good luck!!! Ruth x

Hi all, I have a question, im currently in the usa on an F1 visa and studying for my nclex which the NJ BON has given me permission to sit. I am like many others am waiting out the retrogression. But Im wondering while an F1 visa holder can I seek an employer after passing nclex and file my I-140 then remain here legally as an F1 student doing classes till retrogression is over and I file for AOS? Or once the I-140 is submitted does that cancel my F1 visa? Also does anyone know where I can find out the specifics for UKs allocated visas I know schedule A is gone but how do you know if your coutry has working visas that a nurse can use? There was talk in January here on the boards that for uk there would be issuing of visas quarterly and nurses can use those does anyone know anything about this? Many thanks, Ruthx

Hi all, Thought I would chip in here as I am in the USA with a student F1 visa doing exactly as you talk about. BUT it is not to be reccomended unless you have a lot of cash to live on while here. I applied for my F1 visa for Nursing school here in NJ and the interview was very very tough!! They asked me why as a nurse would I be coming to usa as a student. I was able to say I was doing extra courses for nursing that would give me promotion here in uk when I returned and my employer gave me a letter testifying to this. I was able to take an unpaid year out of my job and prove I was not giving up employment here but had a full time job on hold for me. I was able to prove I had a pension here in uk I was keeping paying in to while I was away. The consular officer still gave us a hard time he questioned us for ages both me and my husband. The only thing that finally swung it for us was $30,000 of savings we had to prove we would not work while we were here. The consular officer made very sure he explained the rules of working here while a student, you can work for 20 hours ON CAMPUS like the bookshop or library but these jobs ive discovered are like gold dust and impossible to get. The law says you can apply for financial hardship as an F1 student and get permission from the goverment to work outside the campus for 20 hours but you have to prove through bank records you had the money to come to usa and where it went. It is mainly for cases where say you got massive unexpected medical bills and needed money. It is also TOTALLY illegal under ANY circumstances for my husband to work. And for those that think its easy to find off the books work for cash its impossible no social security card means no work. So we are here in the usa and our living expenses are $1100 a month and we live with my sister rent free an apartment would cost and extra $800 on top. It is working fine for us because we live with my sister and have plenty savings from selling our house in UK but we are still keeping our fingers crossed retrogression ends soon. I am doing full time school of classes like Medical terminology and anatomy and physiology that will help me pass nclex but there is a lot of homework and its hard tests are every week with 2 major exams in he 19 weeks and if you fail a class you risk being sent home. If you plan to try this route just be aware it is difficult and you have to show major ties to your country to prove your coming home as they know your a nurse in your country and you will likey be doing this to get to usa to work as a nurse. You need your own money and you need to be sure your english and study skills are up to full time college courses to keep your visa. Ruth x

Hi all, Any advice on when I should apply to cgfns for my visa screen. I am planning sitting nclex round about end of August hoping the retrogression situation has begun to resove by then is it to early to apply for visa screen yet? Ruthx

Hi all, When I first started posting here I ran a thousand searches looking for information on UK trained Psychiatric / Mental Health trained nurses being able to nurse in the usa. I looked endlessly both on the boards here and on the internet in general. Everything I read depressed me, it all said at worst I couldnt work there at all without totally re-training here in uk a general nurse or at best I would have to make up lots of hours. Well I am pleased to say it was not correct!! I was told here by Suzanne that it was a totally individual thing based on what hours of theory and practice you had done NOT what training you had done Pschiatric or General. She was totally correct, I submitted my application to CGFNS for Credential Review and got my report last week. Today I got confirmation from the NJ BON that I WAS eligable to sit NCLEX and never had any hours to make up!!!!! I am so so happy, totally delighted. It is a really complicated process the info out there on what to do and what order to do it in is so confusing and cgfns service is slow and frustrating but I am glad I have got through it! My next steps are to continue reviewing for nclex and register with Pearson Vue to sit nclex when Im nearly ready to test. So anyone from UK out there especially psychiatric nurses I did my training 1997-2000 I did the last year of Project 2000 nurse training and had NO hours to make up so go for it apply to cgfns DO NOT BELIEVE all you read that Psychiatric nurses cannot sit nclex or nurse in usa. Ruthx

Dont get me started about cgfns CES report!!! Long story short it took 11 months from submission of application to issue of report. I cannot stress highly enought to keep on at people. Call your nursing school check they got your requests for transcript then call to check they sent it. Call cgfns EVERY week I mean EVERY week keep asking how your case is going why it is sitting still. They sat on my case for weeks at a time and I would call and they would say yeah were just waiting for this or that and they hadnt even requested it or told me I needed it!!!! I waited with my file pending as complete for 4 MONTHS called every week they said it was complete and awaiting a reviewer. Well I finally siad enough was enough called to make a formal complaint spoke to a supervisor who eventually told me they had changed rules in NJ and cgfns fees and now I had to pay another $85 for cgfns to tell NJ BON I spoke english in UK (shocker) and that was what was holding it up. Of course I told her why could they have not told me tha t 4 MONTHS AGO!!! Anyhoo finally got report last week and am none the wiser it states my hours completed but doesnt say if I need to make up classes or if I am eligible for nclex in NJ based on my training. i guess I just need to sit tight and wait to hear from NJ BON. In my opinion cgfns need goverment investigation they hold a nasty monopoly on foreign nurses and it is disgusting!!! Keep on the phone to them and good luck. Ruth x

Hi there, I started the process to apply in NJ last April 2006. I applied to cgfns for full education report CES and also applied to NJ BON for liceincesure for foreign trained nurse. I got my cgfns report back a few days ago and yesterday I went for fingerprinting that NJ BON sent me for. I am just waiting to hear from NJ BON on wether I will get permission to test not sure how long that is going to take but I think at least a good few weeks. I dont think I have hours to make up my cgfns report never said I did and I take it thats where It would say it if I did. Good luck I think patience and constant checking up on cgfns is the best advice I can give you!!! Ruth x

Suzanne do you think I didnt know this? I am born in the UK there will be visas soon, even if I have to wait for congress to fix the immigration problem at least I am here with my family, seeing my neice born and revising for nclex. I have said before I have plenty money to sit doing classes for 2-3 years waiting for visas to become available. My priority was ALWAYS to be here for my sister who needs me right now and this was the fastest way to do it so it was my best way. Thats is part of your problem you do not know or appreciate everyones different and unique situation or prioritys but you judge whats is best for everyone. We are all different here and have different reasons for coming to usa mi ne was soley to be here for my sister ASAP so I went the way I needed to do that, my nursing was only a way for me to get here. I will stay an F1 student till I CAN file for AOS which will not be that long as by your own advice the uk will be issued visas next quarter. Ruth

And this is the very reason that I have told you for months and months to wait until you got the breakdown instread of making all of these other plans. But you did not want to listen to what I was telling you. With all due respect Suzanne my "other Plans" worked far better than the sit in scotland and wait I was advised! I am in usa if I have to make up hours im here and signed up with nursing school already, if I have no hours to make up then im here to sit nclex and do AOS far easier and quicker than doing it all from Scotland. I appreciate your advice and time but not your superior tone and rudeness to those who chose a path you would not chose to go. All I ask for is answers to my questions not judgement, I listened to what you told me I used the info I needed and chose my own path I didnt "not listen to what you said" im not some naughty 1st grader who needs a told you so. Ruth

I posted a question on the international forum can you pop there to answer it I received my report from cgfns and cant be quite sure what it means!! Ruthx

Hi all, I cant believe it I finally got my cgfns CES Full education course by course report. Of course now a question, it says under Comparable to : Comparable to completion of a first-level general (Registered) nurse diploma program in the United States. It then goes on to detail my theoretical and clinical hours.... Nursing Courses: Community Based Care 120 Development of Skills 120 Disturbed Coping Patterns 120 Health Studies 120 Management and Professional Development 120 The Nurse as Care Gived and Planning and Effective Care 120 Other Courses: N & M Studies 120 Science Courses: Human and Life Sciences 120 Areas of Nursing Theory Clinical Care of the Adult Medical 45 60 Care of the Adult Surgical 45 60 Maternal/Infant 60 120 Care of Children 60 270 Psychiatric/Mental Health 480 240 Thats the end of the report it is signed. There is no where that says I need to make up hours or that I am short of hours for the NJ BON to issue ATT. Does this mean I do not have to make up hours? That I just need to sit tight and wait for the NJ BON to get the report and wait for approval to sit NCLEX? Please anyone I dare not get excited about this!!! Ruthx

Im still confused lol I called the NJ BON and they told me that it is cgfns that tells me what hours im short that it will be on the full course by course CES report they hAve mailed. NJ BON said they will get report and if cgfns have said hours are enough they will begin process of liciencsure via examination or if it says I am short certain hours they will put my file on hold till I make them up and they are notified by cgfns that I now have the hours. So I guess its just wait and see! Ruth x

Hi all, My status on the cgfns website is now "Report Issued" so a copy has gone to the NJ BON and one presumably to me. So what happens next? Do the NJ BON contact me to tell me if I need to make up hours and what they are or do I need to contact them? Ruthx

You got the correct details of everything you need to do and it sounds so so easy put like that LOL. I definately have to add plenty of patience is definately required, I sat down with your exact list in April and went for it doing everything I could as quick as possilbe I have a sister in usa helping out to who I will also live with plus a gauranteed offer of employment with sponsership from the director of the hospital my sister works at I was sure it would be a quick and easy process..... Here I am 8 months later and what stage am I at????????? So far Contact my University and ask them to submit my training transcript details to CGFNS for Credential Evaluation Sevice, which is then submitted to NJ BON. Yup you got it that is it thats how far ive got. On paper seems easy but the nursing school does not make your request a priority and they take ages. Once all your transcript is submitted then the report is issued. well CGFNS have had my transcript and stated my file is ready for review 4 months now and after months of phone calls and emails ending in a formal complaint they say they will review my file 20th Dec then its 4-6 weeks till I get my report sent to NJ BON. I have Submitted my Application for Licensure by Examination to NJ BON on they are waiting for my CES. I most likely do have nursing hours to make up I have not met a nurse trained in the uk after 1999 who hasnt had to either adult/maternity or mental health trained. To make up which I discovered is next to impossible in UK you can go to usa but this involves applying for college and F1 student visa, we have done this and it took us about 5 months. (I think you can do it on a toursist visa if you can time classes right) Then starts the next leg of the journey, nclex exam, employer, file for green card. I think in a perfect world 18 months is do able but in reality I wouldnt start counting the 18 months till you have cgfns report in hand and know you have the required hours. From this point I think (retrogression aside) 18 months is realistic. Im not trying to put you off, but just know how hard it all is and dealing with knowing when to finish work, when to sell the house how to plan the next few years its better to be in the picture with the reality of it. We move out to NJ end of december I start college in January to make up hours. Good luck, Ruthx

hi all, first of all thanks to everyone who replied to my post about making a complaint to cgfns. especailly radonc-rn whos wonderful advice has got things moving again!!!! i did exactly what you suggested i called and asked to speak direct to a supervisor. i explained i applied back in april and it had been ready for review for over 4 months and i had been promised several times my case was going to be submitted to a reviewer asap. i took their name and they assured me they would look into it. well i am pleased to say after 4 days of calling them every day and asking for the same person i finally got some joy, i made a complaint to... cgfns, international attn: advocacy and quality assurance 3600 market street suite 400 philadelphia, pa 19104-2651 i then got this email today, my name is monica batchelor and i am an ombudsman with the office of advocacy and quality assurance at cgfns international. our customer service department referred your ces inquiry to my attention. we do apologize for any inconvenience the delay in reviewing your ces file has caused. i have sent a request to the manager of the ces department, robin ickes, asking that your file be reviewed wednesday december 20, 2006. please visit our websitewww.cgfns.org to check the status of your file after that date. if you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact customer service directly at 215-349-8767 ext 476. heres hoping but to be sure i am going to call them every few days to keep on at them it seems the only way!! ruthx

Great cheers nothing like a Free Market Economy no huge Monopolys here in the free world! :angryfire

Does anyone know how to go about making a fromal complaint to cgfns? I applied for the Full Credential Evaluation Service back in April and received notification 4 months ago my file was complete and ready for review I have made several phone calls and e mails to cgfns in that time the last one 4 days ago each time I get the same response "your file will be assigned to a review very soon and your report will be issued in 4-6 weeks" I have had this same response for 16 WEEKS!!!!! I am at the end of my tether and cant believe their website is now declaring they are adding extra fees of $50 to pay for their wonderful service!!! How can they get away with stating their review times are 4-6 weeks when it blatently takes longer than 16 weeks to be even assigned a reviewer for a file!!!!!!!!!! Ruthx