question about internship

[saraltx]

I'm in my last semester of nursing school as an international student in the US in a few days and I'm trying to figure out ways to extend my stay here beyond the 6 months of OTP that I'll have left after graduation. I know about the retrogression thing and I'm not sure if I will be able to afford to continue my studies and go for my BSN. I found out about the J1 visa for internships, but I can't quite figure out if this would be an option for nursing. In my understanding the J1 visa is given for 12 months and then can be extended for another 12 months. In that time I could easily save some money for my BSN then. However, is it possible to adjust from F1 to J1, and then switch back to F1? I'm pretty sure that once I would have to leave the country it would be almost be impossible to get another another nonimmigrant visa, since it would be very hard to proof that I don't intend to stay here after going to nursing school here and doing OPT and all.

Any suggestions and info are highly appreciated. Thanks.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

J1 Student Visa

J1 student visas are for people who want to participate in an exchange visitor program, (commonly known as an internship program) in the US. The J1 visa is intended for students needing practical training that is not available in their home country to complete their academic program. The training must be directly related to the academic program. The J1 visa obligates the student to return to their home country for a minimum of two years after the end of their studies in the US before being eligible to apply for an immigrant (permanent residence) visa.

http://www.workpermit.com/us/exchange_student.htm

From what I have read I don't think you can get J1.

[suzanne4, RN]

If you get the J-1, you will not be able to remain in the US when it is over. There are specific requirements that go along with it, and most that qualify for the J-1 are those that are sent to the US for additional training by their country and expected to return home when the training is done.

As a new grad from a US program, you usually do not qualify for this type of visa in the first place.

I can tell you for a fact that you will not be able to adjust your J-1 back to the student visa for the BSN. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to remaining in the US. You are also going to find it quite difficult to even find a facility that would consider this for you without having any prior experience as an RN.