aasaludable

Yes, you are right, there's no way I'm getting a SSN to work/volunteer in USA, at least not right now. However, I'm happy because I came here, learned English (of course still learning everyday), got my degree and now I will go back to my country (I think I'm a bit crazy for doing that, but the time has come, and I might come back in ten years with the right permits) there's a great need of bilingual RN's for private clinics over there. I will only need to take a test and start working. I never thought that I would be doing this, but I'm tired of being illegal when I have my own place with my own SSN :) Thanks everybody for your concern and kind advise!

:) it's obvious that people still don't know much about immigrants, there's more than 11 million living like me here, and we all live one way or the other, hopefully paying taxes and following to our best the stablished order, and we have to make money with own business or as employees, many hispanics restaurants have illegal owners, did you know that? also cleaners, caregivers including CNA's, housekeepers, farmers, chefs, waitress and list goes on and on.... Of course now, it's more difficult, but all of us know that we can be deported at any time, in my case I have tried to avoid long term debts as well as children, since in case that I have to leave I wouldn't like taking them away from their country. And I'm already happily married, have been for almost ten years. And just for knowledge about this subject, what's a fiancee visa, people don't need that, I have never heard that before, unless, I guess, somebody that has a girlfriend in another country, requests to bring her here to get married, otherwise that's not necessary, I have family that came here and years later got married, recently, and now are legal without any need to get out or pay the banned years, none of that, interesting subject though, probably never ending. But thanks again for your advice and also about me asking for legal advice, I'll be very careful, thank you guys! I'll keep you inform! :)

Thanks again everybody! living here for how long I've been living has taught me the problems that that involves, but I was mainly wondering about volunteering because I don't want to loose the skills that I've learned, an RN license I do have and it's totally legal, I also have my ID and my ITIN number, issued by the IRS, to pay taxes, which by the way I pay every year from my personal bussines, and I'm not going to be getting any back from social security, not that I'm asking for it either. I know that no matter how good I try to be in this country, I will always be considered an illegal and be compared with a "thief," or "drug abuser." I know that I have to pay one way or the other, anyways, I've been living here for a while and if I have to leave soon or later I will be more than ok, thankful to God, to this country and to the people that have helped me and my family. Thanks again for your advice, I really appreciate your time and the information, thanks to that I've decided to give that up for now, I will keep studying though, and I've found somebody that is giving me legal advice, believe it or not, my future is not to gray after all :)

Thanks everybody for your responses, I'm actually very sad still, because, well the news are not too good, it seems. USA is my home for now and hopefully for many more years. I came here 8 years ago, so yes I know I'm illegal since, even though my visa is for 10 years, my 1-94 was for 6 months only. My whole family lives here. When I got into school again, I applied without lies, and the board of nurses knows and have an affidavid stating that I don't have SSN, so I've been clear about it, hopefully one day I will be able to use it, for now I will get my required hours by finshing BSN, hard thing to do because I don't school loan's d/t the same reason. Anyways, thanks everybody and sorry if I bothered somebody by telling you that I'm here as an illegal immigrant, I know many feel strongly about it, and I wish I wasn't like that, I don't like breaking the rules or living with the fear of loosing everything because I'm not legal.

You should go for it, and like becembrie said, if possible try to get into an RN ADN program, after the first year you can still take the LVN test and become one, get a part-time job while continuing onto the second year to become RN. And I totally understand your concern with "mean" teachers and public presentations, because before entering school I was worried about that as well, I'm shy and also blush easily, not only my face but my ears get super red and hot and also my neck :) embarasing I know. But let me tell you, the teachers are nurses as well, so, at least the ones I had, were very caring and treated me like the adult I am. Remember that even though they are teachers, they don't see you like a kid, you will be in college, different world. And as for presentations, during LVN year, I remember doing one in front of the class next to my assigned group and I survived it. Then we did a teaching project for the public and others like that on second year and survived them as well, at the end it wasn't bad at all. And as for the guy thing, I've notice that people now accept men nurses very well and patients often confuse men nurses with doctors even, so they respect them more. I had 10 classmates that were men and never found nobody bothered by their presence, they were actually very smart and did great during practice at the hospital. Also during my practice some of my mentors were male RN's and I've noticed that patients as well as coworkers appreciated them for being part of the group, actually many nurses wanted them in their shift and unit because they were very helpful. So, go for it, don't waste any time and forget about rumors, don't listen to them, instead be there and you'll see it yourself.

I came here with a tourist Visa and obviously stayed. I've been reading about how to get work permit by filling 1-140 but I don't think RN ASN is enough, is it?

Hello, I live in a state where I was able to get my RN license without SSN, so now I have it but I'm not able to do anything with it, and it seems that d/t retrogression, no hospital will be able to sponsor me. I was thinking, why not be a volunteer? I love helping others, so do you think that could be a possibility for me? can I use my RN license to volunteer since I'm not going to be paid. I'm also concerned with the hours that I'm suposse to fulfill every 5 years to be able to keep my RN, but how can I have work hours without being able to work? Also, can I maybe work independently as a contractor, could I lose my license if I do that? I don't want to do anything wrong but I want to use my skills, I'm also going to get my BSN to keep learning, is that a good idea for me, do you think that I would ever be able to work in this country with or without that? Please help me, I love being a nurse and when I started studying for RN I didn't know about retrogression, and I feel so sad that after all that I've been through to get the license now I won't be able to do anything at all.

Somebody else wrote a while back, on another forum, that he became a Private Medicaid/Medicare Provider, thus he was his own boss. Then he became incorporated. If anybody knows how to do this, I would really appreciate some info. I got my RN license on Jul 29 and I would like to work as a independent private duty nurse, but I dont' know how. Help please!!