danisweetcheeks

how are you liking LA? i literally had the exact same experience as you! went to houston for my first assignment too! Ive worked in california for one assignment last year but I'm going back, starting may 4!

california is notoriously long and take their time for everything. that is exactly what i did... went to texas and got my SSN there. My license took at least 6 months to get once i applied in person to the CA BON. Their educational requirements are also VERY strcict and they often will refuse your license based on insufficient hours. they will not tell you if you have enough hours until you go through the whole process and pay all the fee's. california is very difficulty... but EVERYONE wants to work there, so why wouldnt they be? its the mecca of travel nursing!! lol

i am from british columbia and had the same issue. you have to go to a state that does not require a SSN first. there are about 12-15 states that dont. I went to texas. new york is close by you and they dont require one. once you apply to that state and take a job there, you will get a job offer letter and can then take that to the social security office. other than that, if you can find someone in california to offer you a job without a SSN and license, give you a job offer letter, then you can apply for a SSN. california is very strict and can actually fine you for applying without a ssn. they are also extremely strict on their educational requirements to be accepted for your license. they also take their sweet time with everything and obtaining a license from them will take months.

i just finished 2 contracts in NY with american mobile at NYU. amazing hospital. LOVED living in new york although, its just not for me forever, so i came home. i will definitely miss the hospital and the staff. i work in emergency though, no L&D experience.

i worked in indio and lived in palm desert. the hospital in indio was... interesting! :) i will be travelling to southern california as well in april!

hey! I will be travelling to california at the end of april as well, to souther california. where will you be going? ive also been working for 4 years, in emergency!

hey! did either of you take assignments in NYC? im working here now at NYU!

I did my first travel assignment at Ben taub. A little of my background- I had 2 years ER experience in a level II ER. Ben taub was another world! VERY busy. VERY fast paced. Most times, understaffed. You wear every hat - nurse, tech, housekeeping, porter.... Everything. I hated my first 2 months... By the end, it wasn't quite so bad. I considered extending but couldn't due to commitments at home. Expect 12.5 hour work days with 30 mins break, no break coverage. Great staff, very nice and helpful when they aren't swamped too. Houston was a fun city, so many fun bars/ restaurants/ lounges/ places to go.

Also... how do you feel about these pay rates I am talking to a few different companies about a couple jobs in the bay area.. oakland kaiser er $34 an hour, blended rate, EV shift cal pacific $33 an hour blended rate, 12 hr D/N cal pacific $23 an hour, blended, days all 36 hour work week

Thanks for your response Ned. I actually declined the position at Kaiser and accepted at Cal Pacific main campus, although the pay is ridiculously low. Just a better option for me as you said "live where you work" and i always wanted to live in SF. Do you have any experience with Cal Pacific? you are very well travelled! thanks again!!

there are 14 states that dont require a SSN but VA and TX are the fastest and easiest states. i am also canadian, originally licensed in MN and got my TX license in

Hey! I am starting an assignment on Dec 9th as well in San Francisco. Where are you guys travelling?

Hey! I know this is a year old but just wondering how you found your assignment at Kaiser Oakland. I am looking into taking one myself in the ER, and would also love to live in SF. How did you find the hospital? the commute? any opinions would be great!

To be honest, changing companies would probably much easier than the hassel of finding your own apartment, within the stipdend range and arranging your own furniture. If I were you, I would consider switching to a company who offers stipend as well as company housing. It is very easy getting a new TN visa. I am also Canadian and have dealt with this before.

why do you need to have an immigration consultant?