NewMac

thanks for your thoughts... but let's not forget that this thread is not about me or my situation. i can see where this is going. i just shared information relevant to to the original post.

i was and will be back in the us (boston) legally, and no my visa does not entitle me to have an ssn. ma does give rn license without one. i completely understand the employment atmosphere in the us, especially in boston. i am also aware of the status of visa (h1b and eb3, eb2 etc..) and other immigration issues. i graduated in april 2007 and september of that year i flew to the us. in 2010 alone, i went to the us four times. i'm really willing to start my nursing career... going to cities/state where i do not know anyone. i've heard a lot of success stories. a number of my friends/batchmates were able to do it amidst having limited experience. that is why i am hopeful. what i mentioned above is what i experienced last november (i'm currently outside the us). jobs are there. but yes, hospitals even nursing homes are being selective because of the sea of choices they have. i know it’s currently difficult for usc and pr nurses to find jobs, especially in boston. and i know it will be a lot tougher for me. that's why i’m willing to explore other states/cities. most of what you said is correct. but i wanna give it a try. don't worry i have a clean foreign travel record and i have no plans of doing anything illegal. should i not succeed, at least i know i didn't give up and gave a shot. should i be apologetic if by doing this i may take the opportunity that should be given first to citizen or a pr? i'd rather not comment. thanks for not bashing me and thinking i'm naive (or i so i believe so[?]). :) if i'm wrong, at least, thanks for being modest. happy holidays too! :)

what facilities have u applied for? or do u prefer? hospitals or nursing facilities? i had limited time last November to find jobs in Boston (and its surrounding towns and cities). But was able to find some openings, most on big nursing facilities. I was able to speak to one DON and one HRdirector of two nursing facilities, one is Boston, one is in Cambridge. The one in Cambridge is even affiliated to a teaching hospital of H. It's a lot harder to get quick response from hospitals, and yes most if not all require a number of years of experience. Some hospitals have internship/training/specialty program for new grads. I'm not a new grad but I'm newly licensed too. Scenario's the same anyway. I plan to take a (reentry) program offered by a teaching hospital outside Boston. After which I will apply for their nursing specialty program, while searching jobs. At least through this, I will be able to gain work experience or even get hired by waiting for the DON and HRmanager to notice me. :)

A lot of hospitals in Boston prefer their RN to be BSN. :)

"if you don't have experience then the h1b visa isn't an option" uscis doesn't say this. experience requirements are imposed by the facility. so yes, nursecubanitarn2b , i am hopeful because even with a short time of job hunting -less than 15 days, last november. i found open positions, even with almost no experience i was considered in a number of facilities -hospitals and nursing facilities in ma. one is even trying to figure out how to find a way to help me asap. i just want to discover other options. but i won't resort to anything illegal. :) my plans: attend a reentry program at a teaching hospital in greater boston, i feel this program will serve as my orientation and this will help me gain recommendations, then participate in their nursing specialty programs which the hospital also offers, then volunteer in the same hospital in order to gain more experience. so, bachelor's degree: check! license: check! experience: check, check, check! (soon!) :)yes, i am hopeful.

visa category h-1b specialty occupations general requirements the job must meet one of the following criteria to qualify as a specialty occupation: bachelor’s or higher degree or its equivalent is normally the minimum entry requirement for the position the degree requirement for the job is common to the industry or the job is so complex or unique that it can be performed only by an individual with a degree the employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position the nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that the knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree.* for you to qualify to accept a job offer in a specialty occupation you must meet one of the following criteria: have completed a u.s. bachelor’s or higher degree required by the specific specialty occupation from an accredited college or university hold a foreign degree that is the equivalent to a u.s. bachelor’s or higher degree in the specialty occupation hold an unrestricted state license, registration, or certification which authorizes you to fully practice the specialty occupation and be engaged in that specialty in the state of intended employment have education, training, or progressively responsible experience in the specialty that is equivalent to the completion of such a degree, and have recognition of expertise in the specialty through progressively responsible positions directly related to the specialty.** http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=73566811264a3210vgnvcm100000b92ca60arcrd&vgnextchannel=73566811264a3210vgnvcm100000b92ca60arcrd

willing to relocate specifically meant from MA where I'm licensed and stayed for awhile to another state. :)

Definitely, niot under EB3. I'm completely aware of its current status. The only option is H1B. This visa which most of my friends were able to get. They don't have advance degrees or extensive experiences. But they were able to do it (with the help of some people they know of course). Some did adjustment of status, other did even consular processing. Two of my friends were even hired and had a managerial title on their H1B papers, they were just 22 y/o yet they were approved for h1b by the consular officer.

loveunltd i am completely aware of the visa retrogression (eb3). none of my friends were np's yet they were able to get the h1b visa some via change of status, others are even visa consular processing. haven't checked out tn. :) thanks for the advice backatit2

a number of friends/batchmates were able to secure jobs even with little or no experience. They also required visa sponsorship (thru H1b). They had success stories amidst the economic downturn. This is why I'm still hopeful. Chances maybe slim but it's still there and worth trying. haven't done any research about San Antonio, TX.

thanks for the advice yesterday, i emailed children's and UT southwestern -dallas. Both hospitals' new grad internship/training for new grads in specialty areas are already full. A recuiter from children's told me to communicate with her on Feb 2011 for the June 2011 program. I guess I need to concentrate with the facilities on the lower tier.

I know it's already tough nowadays for American (and American-educated) nurses to find jobs in the us. And I know it will be a lot tougher for me (foreign nurse) but I'm still hopeful. I am licensed in MA and will be going back there on the 31st of Dec. I had short period last Nov to job hunt. Jobs were there, I was enthusiastically entertained and even considered for an immediate start at a nursing facility (even if I didn't have any work experience) but it's the work sponsorship I having trouble with. I have even considered states like Vermont, NH, Maine and, now, even Texas (due to the recommendations of other members here). So, if anybody can recommend any state/county/city/agency (Alabama-Wyoming) please do let me know. :)thanks Note: willing to relocate simply meant from MA to another state, not from a third world country to US.

i know it's already tough nowadays for american (and american-educated) nurses to find jobs in the us. and i know it will be a lot tougher for me (foreign nurse) but i'm still hopeful. i am licensed in ma and will be going back there on the 31st of dec. i had short period last nov to job hunt. jobs were there, i was enthusiastically entertained and even considered for an immediate start at a nursing facility (even if i didn't have any work experience) but it's the work sponsorship i having trouble with. i have even considered states like vermont, nh, maine and, now, even texas (due to the recommendations of other members here). so, if anybody can recommend any state/county/city/agency (alabama-wyoming) please do let me know. thanks :)

thanks for the advice. i've started inquiring in hospitals in texas -dallas, houston areas. i'll also look in other areas of MA. :)

I hope what I'm about to do isn't a suicide mission. I earned my BSN in 2007, was in greater Los Angeles Area from late '07 to early '08. Back then, there were still plenty of opportunities, at least that's what I was led to believe in. Then, the economy got worse and because I am not a us citizen, I had to leave the country before my visa expires. Originally from SEAsia, had an opportunity to work in the Middle East, almost good paying non-nursing job, at least enough for to save money to finance my return to the us and work in a nursing field. April 2010: took a vacation and went to New York. Same employment atmosphere, if not worse. Septemeber 2010: 14-day holiday in the Middle East. I flew to Boston. Why? Research: Lots of Hospitals. Also, Lots of Nursing Schools. Nursing Shortage? All the DON and Recruitment Managers I spoke to said the shortage isn't there anymore. Well, at least I'm being entertained in ways I didn't expect. Most of whom were very accommodating. October-November 2010: Eager to try my luck, took my official annual leave and extended one month more (November). went back to Boston. Fix documents for licensure in MA which consumed most of my time. Had only short period to go from one hospital/nursing home door to another and make phone calls daily. Even considering, moving to Vermont, Maine and NH or any nearby state. One HR director even advised me to check out Texas and Florida. But I haven't really done an in-depth research. Of course, I'd focus first in MA where I'm actually licensed and familiar with the places. December 2010: back to the middle east and quit my job, dec 31st flying back to MA. talk about being uneconomical, i go to places where i don't know anyone, rent rooms from people I don not know. but I'm desperate to put my acts altogether. It's been 3 years since I graduated and still no real nursing experience. So is my move a good and sound decision with limited savings? maybe not. I have almost zero nursing experience and I will still need an employer willing to sponsor me for a work visa. If it's tough for american nurses, it will be alot tougher for me. But I will take the risk. It was morning of November 30 when I tried to meet an HR director without an appoinment. I was desperate. That same day I'm flying back to the Middle East. Yet, I was still accommodated enthusiastically. I was honest and so was she. Conclusion: No promises but she will try to do something. Plans upon return? Lahey Clinic, a teaching hospital just outside Boston, has this reentry program and specialty training programs for new rns and rns who have been away from the work force. I have been communicating with the Program Director and HR manager via email. I plan to attend these programs while continuing my search. Hope is always there.