phwl

The answer would be: The number of times a repeat taker has taken the test. My wife was educated in Russia. She moved to Israel where she learned to speak, read and write Hebrew and passed their registered nurse exam. Then she immigrated here to the US, where she learned to read, write and speak English, and just passed the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt. The ony thing I can say is that she dedicated about 4-5 hours per day with her head in the books. I can also tell you that she used only ONE book, with two different year versions. She finished the test in one and one half hours.

If you wait 90 days, you can go in person to the local CIS office and have the EAD issued to you that same day.

Haven't been here in a while. Just wanted to let everyone know that we pushed CGFNS and finally got them to time us out of their verifications service and just got the approval from New York State Office of Professions for my wife to take the NYCLEX-RN. It really pays to do research and legwork. I now have a contact within the NYS Office who does the comparative education evaluations. Avoid CGFNS if you possibly can, and if you can't, be sure to send every piece of mail to them with priorty mail (tracking ability) and document everything. Keep calling them, but just know that they actually LIE to people and don't do what they say they do or did over the phone. Good luck to everyone!! Suzanne, thank you for your help and support. My wife has been studying and is ready for the test. She already has a hospital earmarked for her work!

Thank you very much. I will peruse the site and see what I can come up with. Thanks again!

Does anyone know of a company, organization or lawyer that specializes in helping foreign nurses obtain licensing in the U.S. specifically in New York? or to give legal counseling? There are so many questions and no answers. Thanks, and Happy Holidays!

We should consider a class action lawsuit. CGFNS is undoubtely a very slow-moving machine. I am in New York and in a similar situation with many people in this forum. I have made numerous phone calls to both CGFNS and to our home country where our education and diplomas were issued, Russia. CGFNS states that they mailed several requests for documents, but our school tells us that they have not received anything. There are no receipts or documents at the post office proving any mailwas sent from CGFNS as well. They are playing a huge game of cat and mouse. I found out through the NYS Office of Professions that once they receive the packet from CGFNS (even if it is missing any documents) they will contact US to make an attempt to get those documents (which we have, original and certified translations) we will then send our copies to them, then they will send it off to the college for stamping. We have waited over the 180 supposed days that CGFNS allots, and at this point am hoping they just release our application to the state. Unfortunately, they make foreign nurses have to deal with CGFNS as a form of punishment. Maybe a test of will and desire even.

Whatever you do that deals with CGFNS, be sure to make copies for youself, and always, always as a minimum, mail it certified with return receipt. They have a nasty habit of not getting anything people send to them, unless they have to sign for it, which means you then have tangible proof that the documents were sent and delivered to them.

As far as I know, an ITN number is used only for tax purposes. It stands for "Individual Taxpayer Number" which anyone can apply for through any IRS field office. Once they stamp it received, it usually takes aprox 3 weeks or so to get the number. (after a couple of weeks, you can call the support number, and they can give you the number over the phone if it has been assigned - a formal letter will be sent in the mail) But it is only for someone who needs to file taxes (or for someone who is filing their taxes and wants to add this other person onto his/her taxes)and does not have a SS number. In order to get a SS number, you can go to the INS and apply for your work authorization card. This EAD (employment authorization document) will authorize the IRS to issue a social security card to you. Good luck.