candabeth

Hi Joyousmum! I am also going through the same process of moving to the US as a theatre nurse and would love to hear how your journey is going so far? I passed the NCLEX back in 2013 and have received a conditional license since, but my biggest challenge has been finding an employer to sponsor for the visa.. Keep in touch!!

Which agency did you work for?! I am currently job hunting in Colorado, i've applied to hospitals, clinics, aged care, agencies, alternative health, all kinds of facilities and haven't heard any good news yet. Most of them tell me that they want me to have at least one year nursing experience in the US (too many new grads here), and me needing a visa just makes everything harder... I am sooo frustrated!

Hey guys! I am currently in Colorado job hunting, I have probably applied to at least 50 hospitals/clinics now- given out resumes, called them, wrote to everyone and told them that I am willing to cover the cost of hiring/training me. 95% of them want me to have at least one year US nursing experience/ they are not currently sponsoring foreign nurses. I am soooo depressed and frustrated. If anyone has something more positive to share, please do- I need hope!! This lawyer I met in California also told me that nurses on H1B/ E3 visas aren't allowed to provide any patient care?!

Hi NO50FRANNY! Have you got all your license/immigration stuff sorted? I just got my license this year and would like to move to CO as well. I am currently here job hunting actually! Would love to hear about your experience!

Hi BennyBear! How long did it take you to get your VisaScreen certificate? Did you use the expedited service? Thanks x

Wow, thank you soo so much for sharing all that Booha! This company that I'd signed up with is partnered up with another company, I have just googled them and found this terrifying lawsuit video on them back in Jan this year. I really regret signing up so early I hope it isn't too late to get out of it. Thank goodness that we're having this conversation!! I will be having an interview with MedPro this evening, will have a good chat with them and explore my options. Keep in touch and thank you thank you thank you! xo

Thanks so much for sharing your advice guys!! Originally I was only looking at applying for the E3 as well, but this company told me that it is impossible to find any nursing jobs nowadays that are bachelor-level required and so they suggested that I should apply for the GC first and THEN look into possibilities with E3 while waiting. It sounds like I have nothing to lose (except the ridiculous $$$$ they want)? I know that the GC comes with a lot of benefits but it would be amazing if I can go on an E3 and beging working in the US already. I've been hearing stories about nurses having difficulties entering the US with E3/ H1B visas because they're not actually eligible for general staff nurses (please correct me if I am wrong!). I worked in the OR for 3 years when I was in Australia, from my understanding it is considered a specialized area. But am not sure if I would need to sit for the CNOR exam and get a certificate to prove at the consulate interview; or simply that the US nursing job that I'll be working at needs to be in the specialized area?

Thanks so much booha and globetrotter for sharing your stories! A bit of update from me: It took more than a week for MedPro to get back to me that I thought they weren't interested at all. I had an interview with another recruitment company during this time and they quickly offered to sponsor me- however, they also recommended me to apply for a greencard. The company would take care of all the paperwork for me BUT it would cost about $7000 (ouch). They wanted me sign the job offer letter and the employment agreement within a few days- not wanting to lose this precious sponsorship offer, I signed the papers and emailed everything back. And of course MedPro offered me an interview the next day....... I have also just met a nurse who got the hospital to sponsor her for the greencard and the hospital paid for all the fees involved. It was 10 years ago when she moved over though, most of the hospitals probably don't do that anymore? I have an interview with MedPro next week but just thought I would check with you anyway (so I can withdraw from the other company ASAP if I need to!): Would you by any chance know if MedPro pays for the cost of the greencard? I am sooo exhausted with this whole process atm! Hope you're doing fab!

Hello Nurses! I am an RN from Australia. Am planning on moving over to the US either on a work visa or a greencard. Have recently been suggested by a recruitment company to go with the greencard option, but it would cost about $7000 for all the visa paperwork. It sounds pretty ridiculous to me! Have also heard some stories from other international nurses that they have found US hospitals willing to sponsor them and the hospitals took care of all the fees involved. How much does a greencard (EB3) normally cost? Please share your stories and experience!

Hi BennyBear, Thanks sooo much for sharing your experience!!! Well, sounds like I definitely gotta get myself one of those certificates as well! I had a quick look on their website, I am probably not eligible to sit for the test right now... I quit my OR job in Australia a year ago and went over to the states on a J1 work/travel visa so I'm not currently employed in the field. They really did check all that info with you, didn't they? Btw, have you got your CGFNS visa screen done as well? How long did that take you?

Hi Benny Bear, Congrats on passing the CNOR! I am also an OR nurse and am looking at applying for an E3 visa (very similar to the H1B but issued only for Australians). Would you by any chance know if passing the CNOR exam is absolutely required to be considered a 'specialized nurse' for the H1B visa?

Thanks for the info booha! I actually decided to give MedPro a call as well just to keep my options open, they sound pretty decent? I'm waiting to get more info from the company. If they could really help with the visa then I think I'll most probably sign up with them, travel nursing just sounds so amazing. Btw, have you got your CGFNS visa screen sorted already? If so, how long did it take you to receive the certificate?

Hi everyone, Have been an RN in Australia for 3 years and have passed the NCLEX recently. Have always thought that E3 is the visa that RNs apply for in order to work in the US, but have recently also heard that general staff nurses don't actually qualify for this. I am very confused! Aussie RNs who are currently on the E3 visa working in America- would love to hear about your experience!

Hi Booha, I have not heard of MedPro Nursing before but I'm kind of on the same boat as you. I am also an Australian nurse, just passed the NCLEX and am getting my registration with HI BON. I have recently contacted Cirrus Medical and they have said that they're able to help with the E3 visa. When I spoke with the company's lawyer she said she'd worked with E3 visas for Aussie RNs before and that it wouldn't be a problem. I've also just heard that general RNs don't actually qualify for this visa though- I am very confused! Have you heard anything like it?

Hi Grantsally1 & Ghilbert, I am an RN from Brisbane who worked in the Operating Room. Have recently passed the NCLEX and am currently in the process of finalizing the paperwork to be registered with Hawaii BON (although I will only be issued a conditional license until I have a work visa). I am planning on getting the E3 but have never realized that general nurses don't actually qualify for the visa until I read some of your posts on the forum! I am pretty worried and confused. I have a Diploma in Nursing (EEN) with credits transferred onto Bachelor of Nursing (2 years degree). As I've only ever worked in the OR, this is the area where I would apply for jobs. Would you guys know if the OR would be considered specialized enough for the E3? Grantsally- how was your experience with getting all the paperwork together as an L&D nurse?