Hoss

The "accreditation process" that I am familiar with is CGFNS Credentials and full Course by Course accreditation for graduates of the BSN programs in the Philippines to be "equivalent" to the Bachelors Degree Nursing in the USA. My step son had to provide "course by course" evaluation by CGFNS for Wash. State BON. It was about $400.00 US to purchase and a very detailed report was generated and the Univ. of the Cordilleras BSN Program (Baguio City).. was indeed certified as "Equivalent to the Bachelor of Science Degree" in the USA. Does CGFNS (Commission on Graduate Foreign Nursing Schools) evaluate the MAN/MSN programs as well? I'm curious as to anyone that has this certification. Hoss

...a whole new meaning to "janitorial services"..... Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 04, 2011. A PATIENT of a hospital in Bantayan Island is having difficulty relieving himself after the hospital reportedly ordered the facility's janitor to be the one to insert his catheter. Astero Rivera, 68, from Barangay Ticad, Bantay-an, has been urinating blood since the catheter was inserted improperly last Tuesday. Bantayan Mayor Ian Chris Escario wants the incident investigated. Rivera reportedly works for him. Last Tuesday, Rivera reportedly went to the Bantayan District Hospital after failing to urinate for three days. The hospital decided to insert a catheter to solve his problem. But instead of the medical personnel, hospital janitor Arturo Abello performed the procedure. Dr. James Najaro, a member of the hospital staff, confirmed it was Abello who inserted the catheter because there were too many patients to be handled by the hospital staff alone. Najaro said the hospital trained Abello how to insert catheter. He said Abello used to work as the hospital's security guard. He started working as utility man after Capitol sent another security guard. Najaro said he was having difficulty inserting the catheter himself, and advised Rivera to transfer to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City. Doctors at the VSMMC said the reason Rivero is urinating blood is that the catheter was not properly inserted. Najaro said they are now making some changes in the way the district hospital is run. Najaro said Escario has ordered him to investigate the incident. Another doctor in the hospital, Dr. Tomasita Santillan, was on leave at the time of the incident and will report back to work today. THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS CRIME COMMITTED ON A HUMAN BEING EXPECTING PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL CARE!!!!!

From Sun Star Network: Sunday, January 16, 2011 MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) called on both public and private hospitals to stop the alleged practice of asking payments from registered nurses who volunteered to work for hospitals. In an interview, DOH Secretary Enrique Ona admitted that there is a surplus in the supply nurses in the country, but this should not prompt hospitals to take advantage of the situation. "The hospitals should not take advantage of this surplus of nurses," reiterated Ona. This after reports came that there are hospitals who hired nurses as OJTs without pays, some nurses even go to the extent of being the ones paying for their job. Ona also encouraged concerned individuals and sectors to submit a formal complaint against the hospital so they could take action in preventing it. "I've been hearing a few of these complaints. No office have had received specifics. Name the hospitals para matingnan namin," he said. (AMN/Sunnex)

The regulations are quite clear as posted above; A REGISTERED nurse (must have completed and passed the NLE and have an active license) may sit for the Midwifery exam provided the required 20 deliveries (AFTER YOU ARE REGISTERED!) as supervised and certified according to the guidelines are completed prior to taking the exam. No other education requirement is mentioned for a BSN, RN candidate to challenge the midwifery exam. All you need is your professional license and BSN degree to challenge the exam and meet the 20 deliveries requirement. It does not state anywhere in the Midwifery act that an additional 4 years of college be required. You can also attend a certified Midwifery school (even without the BSN) and meet the educational requirements. It appears that some schools are trying to squeeze extra tuition out of graduate BSN's to futher "qualify" as a midwife in the Philippines.....translate that as M O N E Y....... Read the act in its entirety as posted from the PRC website!

Registered Nurses in the Philippines may indeed challenge the Midwifery Exam; provided they meet the proper criteria in deliveries by the deadlines. The next exam will be November 13 and 14 (Sat Sun) with application deadline of October 26th, 2010. From the PRC Board of Midwifery Website: http://www.prc.gov.ph/documents/MIDWIFERY-LAW.PDF Section 19. Registration of Nurse-Midwife.- Certification of registration may be issued to registered nurses who pass the examination for midwives: Provided, That the nurse, before being allowed to take examination show evidence to the Board of having actually handled twenty (20) delivery cases as certified to by the director or chief of a duly registered or recognized hospital, or by the proper municipal, city, or provincial health officer. Section 20. Fees of Examination and Registration.- Applicants for examination for the practice of midwifery shall pay an examination fee as prescribed by the Professional Regulation Commission. Section 21. Inhibition Against Practice of Midwifery.- No person shall practice or offer to practice midwifery in the Philippines, as defined in this Act, without holding a valid certificate of registration & a professional license as midwife. Section 23. Practice of Midwifery Defined.- The practice of midwifery consist in performing or rendering, or offering to perform or render, for a fee, salary, or other reward or compensation, services requiring an understanding of the principles and application of procedures and techniques in the supervision and care of women during pregnancy, labor and puerperium management of normal deliveries, including the performance of internal examination during labor except when patient is with antenatal bleeding; health education of the patient, family and community; primary health care services in the community, including nutrition and family planning, in carrying out the written order of physicians with regard to antenatal, intra-natal and post-natal care of the normal pregnant mother, in giving immunization, including oral and parenteral dispensing of oxytoxic drug after delivery of placenta, suturing perineal lacerations to control bleeding, to give intravenous fluid during obstetrical emergencies provided they have been trained for that purpose; and may inject Vitamin K to the newborn: Provided, however, That this provisions shall not apply to students in midwifery schools who perform midwifery services under the supervision of their instructors, nor to emergency cases. There are no other statutes listed that cover Midwifery...Nor any directives on the PRC website that change any of the requirements as outlined in the Midwifery Act. Hope this clarifies things for nurses wishing to take the midwifery exam! Hoss

source: More nurses urged to join class suit vs Sentosa | ABS-CBN News Online Beta More nurses urged to join class suit vs Sentosa abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 05/28/2010 4:56 PM | Updated as of 05/28/2010 4:56 PM The former workers of Sentosa healthcare who won a civil case on Monday are asking more nurses to come forward. A judge ruled that it was illegal for the former workers to pay Sentosa to terminate their contract. Officials of the National Alliance of Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) are looking for health workers who paid Sentosa $25,000 to be released from their contracts. Other Headlines Filipino nurses win round vs Sentosa in NY court - Yahoo! Philippines News Filipino nurses win round vs Sentosa in NY court [ CHICAGO - A group of Filipino health workers, accused of violating provisions of their contract, won a round against their employers in a New York City court. In his ruling, New York Supreme Court Judge Stephen A. Bucaria did not let the 27 Filipino nurses and a physical therapist pay their employers the $25,000 "liquidated damages" for not complying with the provisions of the contract. The judge denied the plaintiffs' ― Sentosa Care LLC and others ― motion for summary judgment. The nurses allegedly violated the contract with their employers when they left their jobs without completing the three-year employment provision. The nurses claimed they did so after their employers, led by Sentosa Care, committed "multiple breaches of contract" against them. However, the New York Supreme Court is a trial court while the Court of Appeals is the state's highest tribunal. The employers allegedly failed to pay the nurses the proper night shift differentials, all hours worked, dental insurance, and malpractice insurance. The nurses also claimed that their employers failed to provide for their sick days, vacation days, and personal days, as well as adequate training. Reduced work hours also deprived them the benefits of higher hourly wages, the nurses claimed. Bucaria noted that "neither the employers, nor the nurses, have met their respective burdens." In this case of "'battle of the breaches, the parties have submitted conflicting affidavits and arguments to cast their adversary in the role of the primary contract offender."

CHED is pretty well tied up by the courts from forcing closure. However, at least they are exposing the really bad schools to the light of day by publishing their record of failure. The other bad news is that these are schools who have been existing for the past 5 years. There are a few hundred MORE schools that are less than 5 years old but did not make the list as of yet. Some of the new schools have a ZERO percent passing rate 2 years in a row!! I only hope CHED posts ALL schools, regardless of how long they have been in business, who fail to make the national average of at least 46%. A good start, at least!! Hoss

It appears they are a recruiter (head hunter) that cater to Pharmacists and Physical Therapists. In the 10 pages of jobs located on the web, not ONE nursing job was posted. They seem to focus on H 1B visas which do NOT apply to graduate nurses. Jobs Salary at Global Healthcare Group, Llc, Real Starting, Average Salary, ranked by Salary, page 10 It also appears from articles on the web that the founder Dnyanoba Kendra is an Indian immigrant who started out recruiting Indian computer programmers under H 1B type visas. As you know, to qualify for these visas a prospective employer must certify there are no qualified Americans to fill the job. That is hardly the case for nurses!! In summary, to take advantage you will have to get a BS in Phys. Therapy or Pharm D degree to even remotely have a chance at getting a visa. If you are seriously contemplating this recruiter, then simply ask them to provide you with references of Filipino nurses that have been placed in RN jobs in the USA. NEVER send money or sign any contracts until you have done your research!! Ask to get at least three names of Filipino nurses so you can contact them for reference purposes that hired the firm and received working visas as Registered Nurses (Not caregivers or LPN or any less qualified work permits). As President Regan practiced: "Trust, but VERIFY" Hoss

A simple but effective cover is the "tried and true" garrison cap (or "p**s cutter as we used to call them) used by the US Military for decades. Berets are a little bulky to carry when not used, but the garrison cap is flat and easily stored or even draped under trouser belts when you are uncovered. Colors could range from a basic white cover with dark blue or other contrast piping, or any combination of dark colors and contrast piping. You could put an embroidered medical symbol (caduceus logo or similar) or even a pin on logo. Here is an example using the US Navy new uniform website: New Navy Uniform Picture Hope this helps! Hoss

This is indeed a BIG problem... My step son received his Visa as IR-2 (immediate relative-child) non immigrant "green card" candidate and must leave the Philippines by Sept and enter the USA. In applying for his ATT from the Oregon BON, they require an explaination in detail if no SSN is provided. Social Security in the Philippines US Embassy refuses to give SSN numbers UNTIL YOU PHYSICALLY ENTER THE USA. We will send copies of his visa to the Oregon BON and explain his joining the US Navy and his intention to take the NCLEX within the next 90 days. Fortunately, he is joining the US Navy and upon arrival in Guam he will be escorted to Soc. Security and obtain his Soc. Security Number immediately. The problem now is, there is no way to get ATT for NCLEX from California while outside of the USA. At least Oregon will accept a reasonable explaination as to why you don't have your SS number. You must physically enter the US (legally of course) before you will be issued your SSN. Its a terrible "catch 22" not to be able to even get an ITIN or SSN prior to travel to the USA. This will close the door completely on many hopeful nurses wishing to immigrate. Hoss

Oregon is quite specific in its requirement for foreign educated nurses: "Nurses Coming to Oregon Who Have Never Been Licensed in the U.S. If your basic nursing education was obtained in a school of nursing outside of the United States and you have never held a nursing license in a U.S. state or jurisdiction, you must (in addition to completing the Application for RN Licensure by Examination and criminal background check): Submit a CGFNS Certificate or VISA-Screen®. If you do not have a CGFNS Certificate or VISA-Screen®, continue to step 2. A. Have your nursing school transcripts evaluated by an OSBN-approved independent credentials evaluation firm. If your education is determined to be equivalent to a nursing education in the United States, you will meet the OSBN education requirement for licensure, and B. Document your English language proficiency by one of the following methods: Submit evidence that your nursing education, text books and the preponderance of your clinical experience were in English; or Submit an original report showing a score of at least 560 for the written exam or 220 for the computer exam on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or Submit an original report showing a score of at least 780 on the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) exam; or Submit an original report showing an overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 on all modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic Module); or Submit an original certificate from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Schools of Nursing (CGFNS); or Provide a VISA-Screen® certificate." At the minimum, they require a C.E.S. (Professional course by course evaluation of transcript) from CGFNS along with IELTS or TOEFL English language test scores. Hoss

The fact that US Immigration requires a minimum CES (CGFNS) to be approved for your visa may be increased at the State level. As an example, Oregon requires CES (just as the US Immigration requires), but the state of Washington requires CGFNS Certificate, which includes passing the CGFNS exam as well. Since California does its own credentials evaluation, that alone may serve to meet the US Govt requirement "CGFNS or from an equivalent approved independent credentialing organization." As suggested, it is best to review the individual state requirements while keeping in mind that to apply for immigration visa, you are required to have at least CES. Hoss

SOURCE for my above post: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/81807.pdf Sorry I forgot to add that at the end of the post! Hoss

Actually, when applying for "green card" and you CAREFULLY READ the instructions for "Application for immigrant visa and Alien registration" (FORMS DS 230 part i and part ii), please be very careful with part ii, "sworn statement" which states specifically: (Section 40 (e).. ) Aliens within the following classifications are INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A VISA. Do any of the following classes apply to you? (e)..who is a healthcare worker seeking to perform such work without a certificate from the CGFNS or from an equivalent approved independent credentialing organization. (empahsis is mine) seemsquite clear that you are signing an oath to the extent that you are presenting yourself as someone who will seek work as a nurse and will have a CGFNS C.E.S. validating your course curriculum as equivalent to US requirements. I suggest you download (PDF FILE) this application form and read that section carefully as you are signing an oath! Regardless of state requirements, it appears that at a MINIMUM you must have CGFNS Course Evaluation (CES) as part of your application for green card status/visa prior to working as a nurse in the USA. Cheers!! Hoss

INQUIRER.net First Posted 09:24:00 10/13/2009 Filed Under: Migration, Overseas Employment, Nursing matters MANILA, Philippines-The National Labor Relations Committee has overturned the decision of the executive labor arbiter and ordered Sentosa enterprises to pay the nurses actual damages of $186,372 (about P8.7 million) after finding that the employer "constructively discharged" the nurses, it was learned Tuesday. The decision, dated September 25 this year, was received by the so-called Sentosa 27++ October 8. The NLRC decision found that the nurses' complaints of their "working conditions, difficult working relationship with administration, delayed/underpayment payment of salaries and other benefits" went unheeded, "even when complainants wrote respondents that they intend to quit their jobs." "The delayed salaries and diminution in pay, coupled with the uncaring and indifferent attitude on the part of the respondents, brought about feelings of oppression and created an adverse working environment, making it unacceptable for the employees to continue working for respondents." Continue: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20091013-229833/Sentosa-ordered-to-pay-nurses-186372

All the branches of the military have essentially the same requirements for their Nurse Officer Corps. You must have a bachelors degree from an ACCREDITED US University/College. You must also be a registered nurse, or be eligible for NCLEX and pass the license exam. Upon acceptance and entrance to the Corps of Nursing, you will be sworn in as an officer, usually 2nd Lt (Army, AirForce, or Ensign, Navy). However, if you are a practicing nurse with experience, you may enter at a higher rank than 2ndLT or Ensign, that will be determined by your years of experience. If you are CURRENTLY in college working toward a bachelors degree, then you may qualify for ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) and upon graduation become a commissioned officer. If you are not a college degreed graduate, and/or you have green card immigration status, then you can ENLIST and be assigned in a medical TECHNICAL specialty, from Corpsman (Navy) to Medic (Army/Airforce), or any of many technical medical slots such as dental, operating room, technicians. As an enlisted person, you will attend basic training (boot camp) and then be trained in your specialty (MOS=Military Ocupation Specialty). In summary: OFFICER CORPS must have bachelors degree or higher. It also quite common that a Nurse officer may out rank their doctors! ENLISTED must be high school graduate and / or some college, but not neccessary to have a 4 year degree. In ALL instances, you are eligible to receive additional university training while on the job! You can pursue your BSN while enlisted, or pursue MSN degree's if you are a BSN in the Officer Corps. http://www.nursingscholarship.us/AirForceNavyNursingScholarship.html http://www.navy.com/careers/healthcare/nursing/ http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/index.jsp http://afrotc.com/admissions/professional-programs/nursing/ Be advised that as nurses or corpsmen in the Navy, you may be able to serve with the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) and as any combat vet will tell you, no braver person exists than a corpsman serving in combat with their Marines. I am sure there are equally as many Medics in the Army/Airforce who will be lauded by their fellow soldiers/airmen. You may be deployed anywhere in the world where your country needs you to serve. Keep that in mind, please, but no greater reward can be found than to serve with your fellow warriors. Semper Fi!! Hoss

This is good info, I was surprised about El Paso!! Yes, I understand there is an abundance of nurses in desirable locations like Florida and California, so we are interested only in those places that are suffering true nursing shortages. Please keep this information comming..it may help other new grads to "go where they ain't" .. Hoss

Dermatologist, Hands down!! Think about it, you very rarely have any emergencies, and you have oodles of patients who NEVER GET WELL....$$$$$ eh? Hoss

With 2 new graduate BSN's in my family next spring, we are now looking at opportunities to both "serve" where needed and gain experience as well. That being said, I am retired and willing to relocate with them in the US where nurses are needed. I am sure this will be in very poor regions of the country, and we are indeed prepared for such a location. Can we get a list of areas that are genuine in their need for nurses? If you know of a region, city, town or hopefully even the name of the hospital that would welcome two new grads and that can make good use of their training and care giving enthusiasm, I would greatly appreciate your input. I am retired and can move anywhere with them, so let us know where they can best serve the community. Many thanks Hoss

I am petitioning my wife and step son for 1-130 green card status. They are both 4th year BSN students and will graduate in March. They will take the NLE and NCLEX upon graduation, and most likely the California or Oregon BON. My question, since I am petitioning as spousal/son non quota visa, are they required to have CGFNS /Visa Screen as well as NCLEX ?? I have "googled" and found only the following on "Shusterman": I am a foreign-educated health care professional who is seeking to obtain my permanent residence status based on my relationship (e.g., spouse or minor) to a U.S. citizen. Do I need to obtain a VisaScreen® Certificate? No. Foreign-educated health care professionals who seek permanent residence status based on their relationship to an American citizen are not subject to Section 343 and do not need to obtain a VisaScreen® Certificate. In an abundance of caution, I would like at least one more opinion with citation please. Thanks for your kind attention!! Hoss (In Baguio City)

My favorite story of my life is really about my 45 year old wife! Having decided to marry her and "the package" of 2 step children and a grandchild ....my conditions were that I will pay for the childrens nursing program (5 year BSN) if they show character and academic progress. Now, as a man of 61, my then 41 year old wife expressed sadness that her age had prevented her from attending a formal program of nursing, and that her 10 years as a certified care giver and reflexology therapist was pretty much all there was for her. Until her kids (now MY kids!!) would come home that first semester and chat endlessly about the adventure that college presented them!! They bugged her so much about her experiences in care giving that her mumblings about "mabey I should go to college and TEACH them!" .....I jumped at the chance and told her that pursuing the "science" of nursing after practicing the "art" for 10 years would give her a great leg up towards a formal BSN degree. Night after night the chattering went on...and the next thing I know she took the plunge and joined the ranks of bright, young eager students. She is now starting her 4th year and is just as enthusiastic about being on the final leg of this adventure as she was as a new student. I have watched with great pride and joy as she tackled everything from algebra to chemistry and grumbled mightily about both LOL......But she has persisted, she has grown in skill, professionalism and most importantly, in her desire to be the best damned nurse EVER.... The joint study sessions with her and the children (all are beginning the 4th year together) are the perfect blend of age, enthusiasm, experience, and youthful determination!! The age difference is NOT A FACTOR....I can assure you that being surrounded by 20 somethings can do wonders to a 45 year old ego...they look up to her, they follow her lead and they stand properly chastised when they fail to listen to good advice. I encourage any man or woman who desires to serve their fellow men that age is not a barrier to furthering your education as a nurse...but rather an advantage to bring with you while you pursue your studies. Your experience, wisdom, and leadership are assets that will garner well for the older student. Cheers!! Hoss

Now is the time for nurses to immediately contact their representatives in both the House and Senate and create a loud voice of support. ESPECIALLY THE PNA SHOULD ACTIVELY LOBBY FOR PASSAGE OF THIS BILL. Nurses can act now because you are in AN ELECTION YEAR. You are a powerful vote to be courted....hundreds of thousands of nurses can be an awesome ally to recruit for those up for election this year. Get your PNA to act quickly and forcefully. It is no secret that hospitals, both govt. and private, have made millions of pesos off of new grad nurses and continue to refuse to hire nurses as long as they can get free labor from new grads. Hoss

The worm is beginning to turn in Nursing Education here in the P.I., in that I believe intelligent recruiters are looking at WHAT school you graduated along with NLE exam rankings in assesing the training a new Nurse has received. The consistently top ranked 30 or 40 schools will be where the the recruiters will seek new hires. CHED has made an attempt to shut down poor performing schools and were stopped cold by the courts. Injunctions and restraining orders were issued and the efforts to close these money grubbers failed at the start due to the "economic" considerations the courts seem to feel override the "quality education" aspect of training nurses. PITIFUL INDEED! However, the past 5 or so years CHED has been ranking the schools themselves, along with the NLE passers, so that it is possible to see the numbers of failing schools. New Hires may very well be judged on the schools overall performance as well as the individuals academic and clinical gradings. The newspapers are printing these school rankings, forums like ALLNURSES are posting the results as well, and I believe that it will be a challenge to students to carefully choose where you attend nursing school in the Philippines. "From what school did you graduate?" will be a very heavily weighted question by competent recruiters. IMHO Hoss

Another approach would be to consider teaching or getting your Masters in a related field (Biology/Chem/or Education) but not necessarily practice nursing in the Philippines. Expats here in Baguio City (central Luzon Mountain Region) have completed Masters and PhD levels at Saint Luis University (SLU) which also ranks in the top 1% of graduate nursing licensure exams. http://www.slu.edu.ph/index.jsp Baguio City is located at 5,000ft elevation with "relatively" clean air compared to the lowland cities in the Philippines and has the mildest temperature in the Philippines. With 5 Universities here in Baguio, your chance of meeting an educated Filipina are substantial!! Now for the shocker, you will NOT believe the population density here in the Philippines...Manila makes Mexico City look positively spacious, while smaller communities have managed to build structures within millimeters of each other to squeeze as many human beings as possible in limited spaces. The country has 200,000,000 residents crammed into a space the size of Arizona...... That said, my 43 year old Filipina wife is in her 4th year BSN, along with my daughter, son and son in law, all graduating next year then off to Seattle and Vancouver to begin their careers. Having moved here from Montana, I get tickled at the complaint that Baguio City is too "cold"...lol... Check out the SLU website, consider a teaching position or a pursuit of your Masters while here in the Philippines. Also, remember a Nurse makes 200.00 / month salary, teachers mabey a little more. However, the life experience and the love quotient is way off the scale compared to anywhere else in the world!! You will go positively mad with joy at the attitude that Filipinas have toward marriage, family, and the care giving mentality that makes them the most demanded nurses throughout the world. Good luck my "young" friend... Hoss 64 and driving towards 100....

Veronica Uy INQUIRER.net First Posted 12:01:00 02/27/2009 Filed Under: Nursing matters, Education, Overseas Employment Most Read Other Most Read Stories x MANILA, Philippines - Overwhelmed by the 47,000 student visa applications it received in 2008 mostly from Filipino nurses, the United Kingdom has decided to restrict their number under the National Vocation Qualification (NVQ) from its Manila office. "At the moment, we are processing 10 NVQ applications a day, subject to review," Oya Arriola, spokesperson of the British embassy in Manila, said Friday. In an announcement, the embassy said the UK Border Agency International Group noted the 22 percent increase in these applications. Most Filipino nurses choose to take health-care courses in the UK and apply for NVQ visas to get jobs as professionals in the field in the UK. "In accordance with this decision, instructions have been given to our commercial partner, VFS, who operate the Manila Visa Application Center, to put these restrictions into immediate effect," the advisory said. "Our reason for doing so is the overwhelming increase in the number of applications that we have received over the past year," it said, noting a 22-percent increase over 2007 applications. The British embassy said increasing Manila's staffing for 2009 was decided. In a related development, Philip Leonard, chairman of the International Student Advisors Corp., a recruitment consultancy firm, said that starting April, the British embassy would implement a point-based system for Filipino nurses and other health-care professionals wanting to work in the UK. CONTINUE: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20090227-191384/UK-limits-nursing-student-visa-requests