usdsu

Hello Nursedenes, I would like to make pass on few comments for you even though your questions were directed to Ms. Suzanne. 1. Please do not use the word "sponsorship" for nurses. That is completely different story. Once your nurse recruiters hear the word "sponsorship", they will assume it as H1B process which is comparatively very hectic and time consuming and requires a lot of paperworks. (please use "search" as your best friend in this forum, you will find a lot of information about it). 2. Currently there is no Schedule A visa available for right now. (its a period of retrogression). Please do search in the forum and you will get a lot of info on it. Green card will be available for nurses only after lifting retrogression. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions. usdsu

Respected Suzanne, I would like to add one more thing on top of what previous poster asked. In most of the hospitals, they have online application form where it clearly asks a questions: " Are you legally eligible for employment in the United States?" and the options are: YES NO Since we are on F1 visa, we do not have legal documents to hold such job. Does that mean we should click on NO? Won't that be a big turn off for hospitals even if we graduate with magna cum laude and have passed NCLEX? You also encouraged us not to ask any questions about petitioning for GC with HR people when we will be seeking a job. Does that mean we need the permanent job offer as an RN to step up our legal procedure and then, let our attorney talk about legal matter to HR people instead us? If that is the case then do we have to mention that we will be working 1-4 months after the job offer (waiting time EAD) or our attorney will all those questions? Honestly, I felt like we are here to grab that one chance of "Permanent Job Offer as an RN" and turn that in to our attorney and rest will be taken care by the attorney. Is that the main reason you dicouraged us not to talk about petition issues with HR people when applying for jobs? I would appreciate your comment. Thank you very much. Sincerely, R.S.

Respected Suzanne, I have few questions. 1. If i opt to go for consular process once the visa are available then do i have to go back to my native land to take interview or it can be scheduled here? 2. My understanding is that, with consular process, it will take few years to get green card and i will not get EAD to work. The problem with AOS in my case is that i will have to hold a full time employment after i get EAD which seems difficult while being in pharmacy school as a full time student. If everything falls as planned and i will get GC (through consular process) before i graduate from pharmacy school, in that case, do i have to hold a full time nursing job or i will be allowed to work part time? I do not want to mess with gray areas of laws and become the first nurse to be charged with visa fraud. Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, R.S.

Respected Suzanne! Thank you very much for reply. Now i will concentrate on the last semester of nursing and remain focused on school and reviewing NCLEX books. At the same time i will try to keep eyes on new opening in the hospitals in Birmingham and Las Vegas. In the application form, i also noticed that there was a question "Are you legally eligible for employement in the United States?" yes or no Since i am in F1 visa and do not hold work permit now. Does that mean i should mention "NO" to that question. Doesn't it make them back off from such job applicant? Ms Suzanne! my another option is Las Vegas. I am trying to find hospitals that offer baylor plan. I would also apprciate if you recommend few names of the hospital that do petition for GC to international student like me in Las Vegas. Please do not hesitate to PM me if you have any names. I also looked at EB2 visa as you mentioned in one of the previous thread. One of the criteria mentioned for this type of visa is a work experience of 5 years. And , i certainly do not have that. EB2 visa will be completely different story to me. And with Baylor plan, nursing job will be ideal placement for me. I am hoping retrogression will end soon and every thing will fall on the right places. One more question about visa screen. Am i responsible to apply for visa screen or i should be doing it with the help of my attorney? How long does it take normally to get work permit once we file for it? I am sure whichever hospitals want to offer me the job would definately want to know the time frame they would be expecting to see me working on the floor. Once again, thank you very much for your guidance. Sincerely, R.S.

Respected Suzanne, Thank you very much for the reply. Now, i will wait until i will pass NCLEX exam. I talked to nurse recruiter she told me that they do not sponsor. I believe she assumed it a case of H1B.. i am not sure about it. Ms. Suzanne! what does a hospital have to do while filing the petition for GC for an employee? I wonder why hospital are so hesitant to sponsor their employee? What is the difference between sponsoring someone for work visa and filing the petition for GC? Is it just because of the cost associated with it? Sincerely, R.S.

Respected Suzanne, Thank you very much for your reply. I did a quick search in both Birmingham (AL) and Las Vegas (NV) because i have to choose one school from either of those states. I did find the Baylor plan in one of the hospital (St. Vincent Hospital) in Birmingham. Human Resource runs through the normal business hours. So, i will be calling them tomorrow. Ms. Suzanne! how would i approach the hospital or Human Resource? How should i bring the issue of green card and EAD or AOS to them? I am ready to have my own attorney and willing to pay any cost for the procedure. Please give me some tips on how to approach them about it? What kinds of things i should be asking or making clear while i talk to them tomorrow regarding the green card processing? Also, good thing about their baylor shift was that i will be working two 12 hours shifts (Sat and Sun) and will be considered full time employee. Thats all i was looking for. I wanted to work on weekend and it seems like a dream job to me. Very ideal one. I will definately need a good attorney for sure. I would appreciate if you kindly send me a private message and recommend me few names of the attorneys who are good on handling these types of cases. Thank you very much. Sincerely, R.S.

Respected Suzanne, I want to go into Academia as my career choice. I want to teach in the Nursing school and conduct researches in nursing fields. I picked pharmacy school as my back up plan and I think I could relate the knowledge of drugs in my future research. PharmD degree will also add up the credibility of my knowledge. PharmD will by my fourth degree. The diverse cultural and academic experiences will help me to set myself as a distinct role model of male professional dedicated to nursing research. I am very sure no university will petition for Schedule A for nurses and with the license of R.N. if I have benefits of applying for schedule A visa, I would not want to miss that either. At the same time, I am not familiar with Consular process. Is that what foreign nurses do when they apply for GC from their native country? You also mentioned it take longer time. How long does it take? I really wanted to work part time as a nurse while being on pharmacy school. But, as you mentioned earlier, after the change of status and getting EAD, I have to hold a full time job to remain in status. So, I cannot work part time which means the only option I will have to gain clinical experience is to work as a volunteer. I am willing to do that as it will benefit me in the long run towards my ultimate goal. I was trying to find out some options that will either let me work part time as an R.N. while I will be in pharmacy school and GC processing goes along the time (this will be the ideal option for me). Or the other way, I will petition for GC and volunteer in that hospital two days per week until I graduate from pharm school. I am not sure If I am asking a lot. Sincerely, R.S.

Respected Suzanne, I am into a new dilemma now. I thought, i would work full time (three 12-hour shifts) and will continue PharmD program too. Both of the schools that i have been accepted do not offer part time classes. Working full and taking graduate level classes fulltime does not sound very practical. Ms Suzanne! can i petition for green card and do not apply for Adjustment of Status? That way i will be taking full time load during the green card processing period. Is it possible to do so? Or being in the USA, i am required to do AOS once the petition for Green Card is filed? I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. Thanking you very much. R.S.

Thank you very much Suzanne.

As far as SD, you are going to need to check into that one. More than likely you are not going to find many. If you look at it the other way, you can still start grad school and when the visas are available, you can still go to school and work part-time initially, or the other way around. Even if there are visas created, it is still going to be three months from when things finally do get approved. Best of luck to you. Dear Suzanne, I wonder.. can i find a hospital willing to sponsor Green Card even if i wish to work part-time? I never thought about it before. Seems like a great relief to me if it really works. What about getting license from NV or AL? I will be going to one of these two states for grad school. I am very sure both states have better opportunities for me as an international nurse compared to SD. I am more tilted to NV because i can get done with pharmD in 2 years plus 10 months of residency. Now i am relying on your expertise again to assess job opportunities in both states NV or AL. I will appreciate your input. Thank you very much in advance. Sincerely, R.S.

Thank you very much for the reply Suzanne. As a back-up plan i applied to few grad schools and i have already been accepted to few pharmacy schools and one public health school. But, the sad thing is that those schools start by the end of August. I was anticipating some positives moves towards Schedule A visa before August so that i can drop off the plan to go to grad school for few years and work as an RN. I do not want to drop off from the grad school once i start it. Sometimes i feel like i am yet to find the direction to move on. For now i think i should remain focused on NCLEX and pray that retrogression will end soon. I wanted to write the exam in SD but i am not aware of hospitals that hire international nurses in SD. It is another dilemma for me. Your suggestions will be appreciated. Sincerely, R.S.

Respected Suzanne4, I am writing you after a very long time. I am very gretful to you for you valuable advice in the forum. Let me put my case in brief for you again. I am an international student and pursuing accelerated BSN .i have already used up my OPT from my previous degree. I will be graduating on Aug 22. Since this will be my second degree and there is no way i can get another OPT. I am planning to take NCLEX in coming October which means i will have the hard copy mailed by the end of November. After i receive it, i can apply for Visa screen that is what i have understood. Suzanne! Do i really have to wait until i get the hard copy of License in my hand to apply for Visa Screen or i can apply for visa screen once i know i passed NCLEX test checking the result online? How long does it take on average to get Visa Screen done? I am very much aware of the fact that there is retrogression on Schedule A visa and like many other international students who are pursuing nursing degree here in usa, i am also praying and hoping that retrogression will be lifted soon. Is there anything else that i can do now besides getting license and visa screen done so that once the retrogression will be lifted i will proceed forward for Green Card. One more question. I am not from India or China or Phil., does retrogression still affect me? I am from Bhutan and there are very few nurses from Bhutan in USA. Will that be advantage by any means? Also, can i apply for H1B visa if retrogression seem to last longer? Sincerely R. S.

Thank you for the advice suzanne4. I did email ICHP and hope to hear from them in couple of days. Also, even if you find any facility around the neighboring states (ND,Wyoming,MN,WI,Montana,Michigan,Iowa,)that patitions, it will work perfect for me. Please need help to find a legal expert who knows how to handle our case. I have heard of some bad lawyers so just want to be in a safe side. Since you have been in this field for a long time and have vast knowledge of legal procedure, your advice would be a "peace of mind". Thank you very much in advance. Sorry but I do not know of one facility in that area that petitions

Respected Suzzane4, I am an international student and already have a bachelor's degree (non-nursing) from India. Here, i am getting an BSN degree at South dakota state university. For visa screen do i have to request only sdsu to fill the form and send transcript or my indian university also has to do it. Infact, i have their transcript (from indian university) already been evaluted by WES (World Education Services) and some of the classes have been transferred to SDSU for my nursing program. I dont know if they are only cocerned about the transcript from the university that will be awarding me BSN degree. If they also want the transcript from the indian university, can i send them an evaluated copy by WES. Also, i talked to one attorney today and i was not convinced at all to see the way she was talking. Ms Suzzane, can you PM me couple of names of attorney who are reliable to work with for the case of international nurses. and Couple of hospitals around south dakota who are willing to sponsor international nurses. Thank you very much in advance. Regards, USDSU

Hi akira, the interview went fine but the final decision will be made on or before 23 of june by hospital. i am hoping i should get it. i will be taking nutrition and statistics this summer so it will be a busy summer. whats ur summer plans??

Great information!!

does anyone know the salary for new grad RNs in sioux falls (south dakota)?

hey akira its been a while. i had been so busy. and tomorrow i have interview for loan forgiveness program. i am kinda nervous and dont know what types of questions should i expect in the interview.. keep in touch.

Thank you very much Suzanne4, You are making our life much more easier with those valuable advices. Suzanne, can you recommend any experienced immigration attorney in south dakota or minnesota? sometimes, i wish you had a degree in law too.

Hey suzanne4, What about international students with associate degree in nursing? are they eligible to apply for GC? if yes then will they follow the same procedure that a bsn graduate will follow?

Thank you very much for the reply Suzanne4. I was looking at the CGFNS' website and i am bit comfused and hope you can help me to get the clear picture out of it. when is the earliest i can apply for visa screen. Will that be right after grauduation and before taking NCLEX? Normally how long will it take to get approval of visa screen? Also, as i have already used up my OPT after my last degree. What should i have to do to remain in the status after graduation. All i know is, i would have another 60 days after graduation either to leave the country or to get enrolled in the school again and maintain the status of my F1 visa. and i believe, there is no question about the adjustment in status until i would have License as well as Visa screen certificate. Is there any other way to get work permit and work under the supervision of RN with ATT? or maintain my visa status to live in usa until i get work permit. I look forward to hearing from you Suzanne4.

HI Suzanne4, i have been reading your thead all now and then. I admit it, all of your thread is very interesting and full of information. If it is possible could you give me steps that an international nursing student should follow in similar case like mine. I am an international student in usa in F1 visa. I have a bachelor's degree from one of the us institution. I already used my opt that i got after the first bachelor's degree. Now i am in the accelerated BSN that i will complete in 12 months. Obviously, as you have mentioned in your thread too, i would not be eligible to get another opt after completion of BSN. I already talked to my international advisor too about it just to be assured. I will graduate in Aug 25, 2007. I will definately take NCLEX right after it. Now, i think timing is very important that why i request you to break down my to do steps in sequential order. Please tell me in steps what should i do right after graduation Aug 25, 2007. I am confused do i have to wait for NCLEX test and forget about rest of the things or if there are things i should do after aug 25, 2007 until i get the license. Please also mention a tentative time line i should expect in each step until i get green card. Also, my visa expires on May 2008. From what day i should expect to start working if i follow the steps you will mention.Thank you very much Suzanne4, i have already been grateful to you after swimming in the pool of valuable information that you have in your thread.

Hi nice to hear from you. the accelerated bsn is a 12-month program at sioux falls. i was kinda tired working in the lab with rabbits and rats. and was looking for a job with public interaction. i found my job much more isolated. but that was not the only reason to jump into nursing. i was very much interested in the health related profession too. nursing has alot of work opportunities.. and being a male will be an extra advantage in this field. i am very positive that i will find my way to move upwards in this field. are you from sioux falls too?? do you practice in hospital? which one??

hi, i am on my way to launch myself for accelerated bsn at usdsu thie fall 2006 after a gap of few years. i am very sure you should be fine and you will see alot of ppl of same age too. there is no point to feel down. cheers!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all!! i just had an interview for south dakota state university's accelerated BSN. It went fine so i am keeping high hope for it. Did anyone apply for the same program???