Quickest Way for Getting Things Done and Licensed in US

World Immigration

Published

As most of you know, I have been recommending initial licensure in NY for quite some time. And for those of you that did not heed the warning, you now know why.

New York is three easy applications only, next you take the NCLEX exam, then you get a hard license and can endorse to almost any state afterwards. Because of the requirements of the Special Credentials Verification for New York, you do not have to do any of the running around to obtain your documents. CGFNS will obtain them for you....after you sign the release and send them the money.

NY also requires two short classes that can be done on-line, one on Child Abuse, and the other on Infection. Both are available for about $15 each and take only one hour or so.

NY BON application can be found at http://www.op.nyed.gov. You only need to submit "Form 1."

The Special Credentials Verification can be found at http://www.CGFNS.org, as well as the Visa Screen Application.

Once you have received documentation from NY that your credentials have been received and approved, submit payment to Pearson-Vue for the NCLEX exam. http://www.perasonvue.com. They are the ones that will actually send you the ATT letter, upon approval of the Board of Nursing. Be aware that this ATT (authorization to test) is only good for ninety (90) days. You will have onlt that amount of time to get the exam done in, otherwise you will lose your payment and have to start again.

Hope that this helps................ :balloons:

Most importantly, NY will issue you the license without a Social Security Number.

thanks suzanne!

you've really helped me a lot!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It takes four to six months to get approval from CA to sit for the exam, as they do their own credentials review. The do not need the CES, and the VSC is only needed for immigration. But with the I-130, that is a spousal petition, meaning that you will not have to go thru the process of getting your own green card, so you will only need the NCLEX exam.

Hi Suzanne,

Many thanks for your reply. I've since read some of the previous posts & realized that you've already given answers to some of my questions. I'm sorry to have made you repeat :imbar. I'm sure I echo the sentiments of many when I say that you're doing such an impressive job :balloons:. You are appreciated, Suzanne. This is a much needed forum and I'm so grateful to have found it!:)

I've checked out both the NY & Vermont BON websites & would like to apply to Vermont despite having sent my application to CA BON. I don't mind foregoing my fees at CA if it saves me a bunch of time. Will I be penalized for doing that?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks Suzanne, you're a jewel. How do you find time to answer all these questions?! Andrew

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephro, ICU, LTC and counting.
thanks suzanne, you're a jewel. how do you find time to answer all these questions?! andrew

i was also having the same question. i know suzanne is a staff of allnurses.com. but how does she manage to do all this. she knows everything from nclex, cgfns , ielts exams to the rules and requirements of each bon. immigration issues to foreign nursing practices (to name few). i was asking myself..when does she sleep, do shopping and cook? she is always there- night or day,,,,weekend or holiday....

you are great ,,,,,angel,,,,,

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much, Suzanne, for that very informative reply. You're indeed a great help to us who want to work as RNs in the US soon, and to those who are already RNs in the US.

Here's a follow-up question. (if you don't mind)

I took the CGFNS last November (2005) but didn't quite make it, do you think I should re-take the exam or just focus on the NCLEX?

do i still need to process a visa screen even if i'm already in the US (on an h4 visa)? or could i just apply for an adjustment of status once i pass the NCLEX (assuming I do pass the exam). can i apply for AOS by myself even without an employer? what are the requirements?

finally, what do the abbreviations CES and EAD stand for? (pardon my ignorance..hehe)

thanks again, suzanne (like what others have said about you, I really don't know how you're able to answer all these questions, including those in other threads, considering your hectic schedule...you're certainly a great help to us)

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i was also having the same question. i know suzanne is a staff of allnurses.com. but how does she manage to do all this. she knows everything from nclex, cgfns , ielts exams to the rules and requirements of each bon. immigration issues to foreign nursing practices (to name few). i was asking myself..when does she sleep, do shopping and cook? she is always there- night or day,,,,weekend or holiday....

you are great ,,,,,angel,,,,,

i visit my computer first thing every morning and when i get home at night.

you can see how many things that i try to respond to, but it makes it harder when nurses post here, and the same thing to my pm box, as well as my e-mail address. please, please post only in one place and i will get to it. it delays me from responding to others....:) i check each of the three places on a daily basis, but if i am working all day, i am not on the computer then, my patients come first.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you so much, Suzanne, for that very informative reply. You're indeed a great help to us who want to work as RNs in the US soon, and to those who are already RNs in the US.

Here's a follow-up question. (if you don't mind)

I took the CGFNS last November (2005) but didn't quite make it, do you think I should re-take the exam or just focus on the NCLEX?

do i still need to process a visa screen even if i'm already in the US (on an h4 visa)? or could i just apply for an adjustment of status once i pass the NCLEX (assuming I do pass the exam). can i apply for AOS by myself even without an employer? what are the requirements?

finally, what do the abbreviations CES and EAD stand for? (pardon my ignorance..hehe)

thanks again, suzanne (like what others have said about you, I really don't know how you're able to answer all these questions, including those in other threads, considering your hectic schedule...you're certainly a great help to us)

:)

First, the AOS, or Adjustment of Status, must be filed by an employer, since it is for an employer based visa. I woudl forget about the CGFNS exam, and just concentrate on the NCLEX, unless you plan to work in a state that doesn't permit you to work or endorse there without it. And there are very few of those.

CES is the Credentials Evaluation done by CGFNS. It has replaced the exam for most states.

EAD stands for Employee Authorization Document, it is what permits you to work as well as get the SSN#, while everything else is being processed. It is only available to those that are already in the US. It is actually a card that you will receive in the mail, just like a driver's license, etc.

Even though you are in the US currently, you are still going to be applying for the green card, and the Visa Screen Certificate is required for that. Even if you did your training in the US. The only thing that must be completed to be petitioned is passing the NCLEX exam.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks again, Suzanne. Everything's starting to get clearer now.

With regard to the Visa Screen, my wife had already completed her application for it before leaving the Philippines, do I still need to complete one for myself? (She's planning to apply for a green card after one year of service with her hospital employer.)

What are needed for the EAD so that I may apply?

by the way, what type of visas are normally given to nurses sponsored by hospitals? Is it also the H1b (working visa) like the one granted to my wife?

I truly appreciate your insightful answers, pardon me for being so inquisitive. I just want to know the right path to take and not make the same mistake of not knowing the better way.

If I had come across this amazing site earlier and read your previous posts, I would have been able to apply for NCLEx exam in NY (sigh!) instead of CA, which takes a lot longer.

I'll be reading your other posts in other threads so I may pick up valuable information. More power to you and the other moderators of this site!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi Suzanne,

I would like to apply to Vermont despite having sent my application to CA BON & my check's been cashed. I don't mind canceling my application & foregoing my fees at CA if it saves me a bunch of time. Will I be penalized for doing that?

Hi Suzanne

I think my above question got missed coz it was accidentally typed in tiny font. My application to Vermont will be sent tomorrow so if this is going to turn around & bite me, pleeeeeeease stop me.

Thank you :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The issue usually comes up if you have gotten approval from one state, then register with Pearson-Vue, then decide on another state, and when Pearson-Vue has two accounts for you, then havoc can erupt.

You should be just fine.:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The issue usually comes up if you have gotten approval from one state, then register with Pearson-Vue, then decide on another state, and when Pearson-Vue has two accounts for you, then havoc can erupt.

You should be just fine.:)

WhooooooHooooooo!!

Thank you so much Suzanne. :balloons: for you.

:)whoopee:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Suzanne,

I just got a response from the CT Department of Public Health. They basically say the same thing: CGFNS is required. In my intitial inquiry I did tell her that in NY CGFNS Certification is not required and that the NYS Board of Education has approved the educational credentials before allowing her to pass the NCLEX and that we were willing to go through CGFNS credential verification (in the hope of avoiding the exam). But her response was pretty much quoting the instructions to the application by endorsement:

This is in response to your e-mail regarding nurse licensure in

Connecticut. The documentation requirements for a foreign trained nurse are indicated on page 5 of the application under number 2. You would need an application, verification of your CGFNS certification and license verifications submitted from any state in which you have ever held a license as a nurse. I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Deborah M. Brown

Health Program Assistant I

Office of Practitioner Licensing and Certification

We are pretty much desperate now. Another lengthy, costly exam - after already going through this once in NY and getting the license - and they complain about the shortage of nurses..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment