how to be a registered nurse in california (having a fiance visa)

steppybay · Sep 17, 2013

Kabayan, when did you graduate with your BSN? If 2004 and prior, there's a good chance you may not have to take up any possible deficiency classes, after 2004, it seems like very few PH grads and nurses are able to meet the strict CA BRN concurrency rules.

How soon will you get your SS# with the fiancé visa? That's a CA BRN requirement AND do you now hold a current PH nursing license, also a document requirement, before they will even look at the application and without them, they will automatically denied it.

You should know (glance over the CA nursing forums) and see the competition of just the CA new grads (a few experienced ones too) are having a tough time finding their first nursing job. It's been posted in the CA BRN recent surveys that almost 50% of CA new grads are unemployed after a year of searching. You have 100's and 1000's applying to what seems to be 1% available job openings (from 1 to 10 spots), that's almost the hospitals. If you're not after the hospital jobs, but can be a nursing home worker, private care giver, LTC or SNF or clinics or doctor's office etc are okay for you, then there's possible more of a chance, but many now require some experience.

There's plenty of good reading threads on the frustrations affecting literally thousands of PH students and nurses, there's no more CA hospital sponsors (or if there are in other states, the working conditions are usually not the best places to be in and can be in the more rural areas with little to no social life).

As far as taking up the deficient classes in CA, there's only been one so far and that needs to be further confirmed in the Bay Area, otherwise, some have 2-3-4 years on a waiting list and still no guarantees once your number comes up.

Forget trying to get a license in another state then try to endorse over into CA, it will not work at all, since everyone must still meet the minimum standards of the CA BRN requirements.

novicious · Sep 18, 2013

hi everyone..
i dont wanna be a burden to my fiance so i wanna take all the requirements needed here in the philippines so i could find work immediately when i come there . but it seems its not easy this time and this really is giving me a hard time..

The process for IENs and IENs with fiancee visas don't differ much. So you can just follow the RN application process for Cali BON.

The benefit of having a fiancee visa is that you can get a SSN 10 days to 2 weeks after arriving in the US. However, you can't work immediately. You'd have to first get married, then apply for a work permit. Approval could take 3 months. Only then can you work.

As for the actual application process and issues surrounding it, I suggest you read steppybay's response. :)

Good luck!

bevialbe29 · Sep 21, 2013

i graduated 2008 and passed the nle few months after. i was really saddened about this coz my fiance is really planning to relocate and work in califrnia.. i guess we dont have a choice but find another state that could benifit the both of us and make us productive..

NV is one of our options..but my friend told me that NY is the second best next to cali when it comes to reciprocity issues. so what state do you suggest for my nclex application? since cali is out of the picture im choosing between NV and NY.. which state do you think would be easier for me to get eligibility?

bevialbe29 · Sep 21, 2013

Thanks for that info dear! I think 3 months is quite acceptable. Now i just have to first work on my nclex application. I think California wouldn't be a best choice for now. So do you have any idea which state is best (fastest on eligibilty process) to choose if i plan to work in NV?

loriangel14, RN · Sep 21, 2013

If you plan to work in NV then that is where you should apply.

Fiona59 · Sep 22, 2013

There have been posters saying they had problems with Nevada.

The application should be made in whatever state they are planning on living in.

bevialbe29 · Sep 22, 2013

Yeah but i guess NV is only reciprocal to 13 states if I'm not mistaken.. I hope my fiance would change his plan..

Thanks for the reply..

bevialbe29 · Sep 22, 2013

There have been posters saying they had problems with Nevada.
The application should be made in whatever state they are planning on living in.

What kind of problem are you referring to? Is it about the application of eligibilty or application of license?

loriangel14, RN · Sep 22, 2013

What kind of problem are you referring to? Is it about the application of eligibilty or application of license?

Concurrency issues the same as CA.