I live in a state where I was able to get my RN license without SSN, so now I have it but I'm not able to do anything with it, and it seems that d/t retrogression, no hospital will be able to sponsor me. I was thinking, why not be a volunteer? I love helping others, so do you think that could be a possibility for me? can I use my RN license to volunteer since I'm not going to be paid. I'm also concerned with the hours that I'm suposse to fulfill every 5 years to be able to keep my RN, but how can I have work hours without being able to work? Also, can I maybe work independently as a contractor, could I lose my license if I do that? I don't want to do anything wrong but I want to use my skills, I'm also going to get my BSN to keep learning, is that a good idea for me, do you think that I would ever be able to work in this country with or without that? Please help me, I love being a nurse and when I started studying for RN I didn't know about retrogression, and I feel so sad that after all that I've been through to get the license now I won't be able to do anything at all.
Given that you've overstayed for several years, you would be subject to a 10 year ban if you leave the US now. The only thing I can see that would permit you to stay is if you married a USC.
Thanks again everybody! living here for how long I've been living has taught me the problems that that involves, but I was mainly wondering about volunteering because I don't want to loose the skills that I've learned, an RN license I do have and it's totally legal, I also have my ID and my ITIN number, issued by the IRS, to pay taxes, which by the way I pay every year from my personal bussines, and I'm not going to be getting any back from social security, not that I'm asking for it either. I know that no matter how good I try to be in this country, I will always be considered an illegal and be compared with a "thief," or "drug abuser." I know that I have to pay one way or the other, anyways, I've been living here for a while and if I have to leave soon or later I will be more than ok, thankful to God, to this country and to the people that have helped me and my family. Thanks again for your advice, I really appreciate your time and the information, thanks to that I've decided to give that up for now, I will keep studying though, and I've found somebody that is giving me legal advice, believe it or not, my future is not to gray after all :)
If you have a personal business here but do not have permission to work here, then you are subject to being deported immediately. It is one thing to have a business out of the US and come thru selling something to another company, etc., but when you have your own business that you are using to make money in the US; then you are considered working here and can find yourself in more trouble even.
And be careful with the legal advice that you get if it is very different from what we have been telling you here, it could cause you additional grief, best of luck to you.
:) it's obvious that people still don't know much about immigrants, there's more than 11 million living like me here, and we all live one way or the other, hopefully paying taxes and following to our best the stablished order, and we have to make money with own business or as employees, many hispanics restaurants have illegal owners, did you know that? also cleaners, caregivers including CNA's, housekeepers, farmers, chefs, waitress and list goes on and on.... Of course now, it's more difficult, but all of us know that we can be deported at any time, in my case I have tried to avoid long term debts as well as children, since in case that I have to leave I wouldn't like taking them away from their country. And I'm already happily married, have been for almost ten years. And just for knowledge about this subject, what's a fiancee visa, people don't need that, I have never heard that before, unless, I guess, somebody that has a girlfriend in another country, requests to bring her here to get married, otherwise that's not necessary, I have family that came here and years later got married, recently, and now are legal without any need to get out or pay the banned years, none of that, interesting subject though, probably never ending. But thanks again for your advice and also about me asking for legal advice, I'll be very careful, thank you guys! I'll keep you inform! :)
:) it's obvious that people still don't know much about immigrants, there's more than 11 million living like me here, and we all live one way or the other, hopefully paying taxes and following to our best the stablished order, and we have to make money with own business or as employees, many hispanics restaurants have illegal owners, did you know that? also cleaners, caregivers including CNA's, housekeepers, farmers, chefs, waitress and list goes on and on.... Of course now, it's more difficult, but all of us know that we can be deported at any time, in my case I have tried to avoid long term debts as well as children, since in case that I have to leave I wouldn't like taking them away from their country. And I'm already happily married, have been for almost ten years. And just for knowledge about this subject, what's a fiancee visa, people don't need that, I have never heard that before, unless, I guess, somebody that has a girlfriend in another country, requests to bring her here to get married, otherwise that's not necessary, I have family that came here and years later got married, recently, and now are legal without any need to get out or pay the banned years, none of that, interesting subject though, probably never ending. But thanks again for your advice and also about me asking for legal advice, I'll be very careful, thank you guys! I'll keep you inform! :)
Sorry, but we are all very aware of what goes on and well aware of what happens if you get picked up for any reason and this is becoming more of a possibility on a daily basis since ICE has increased their booking rate.
Fiance visas are when someone is a US citizen and wishes to bring their fiance to the US; they have 90 days to get married in or they do not get the proper documents to remain in the US, and the green card that is associated with that is only valid for two years, not the five years that they are routinely issued for so that the US government can make sure that everything is on the up and up with the marriage.
Just because someone came here not legal in the past and remained and then got married, does not mean that it is the correct way to do.
You came here asking for out advice and all of us have given you the same advice and that is to be very careful. And whether or not you are aware of it, US immigration also comes here to read. Please be very careful and best of luck to you.
It doesn't matter if your kids are born here or not, if the parent wasn't born here and the Immigration office finds out about it, they will come after the parent and deport them.
I've known of people who were here legally, but their children weren't and guess what? They came after the children and had orders to deport them with or with out the parent. I know that sounds cruel, but guess what? They don't care.
If you have to leave the country then you must either leave them here with family members, or take them with you. I know of a person who had to send her children back to the Philippines until things were straightened out for them. It was a sacrafice, but she had to do it, and now they're all here together. Good Luck
I live in a state where I was able to get my RN license without SSN, so now I have it but I'm not able to do anything with it, and it seems that d/t retrogression, no hospital will be able to sponsor me. I was thinking, why not be a volunteer? I love helping others, so do you think that could be a possibility for me? can I use my RN license to volunteer since I'm not going to be paid. I'm also concerned with the hours that I'm suposse to fulfill every 5 years to be able to keep my RN, but how can I have work hours without being able to work? Also, can I maybe work independently as a contractor, could I lose my license if I do that? I don't want to do anything wrong but I want to use my skills, I'm also going to get my BSN to keep learning, is that a good idea for me, do you think that I would ever be able to work in this country with or without that? Please help me, I love being a nurse and when I started studying for RN I didn't know about retrogression, and I feel so sad that after all that I've been through to get the license now I won't be able to do anything at all.
Would u please let me know if u have the information about the states where we don't need SSN to get RN license. I will appreciate your cooperation.
Volunteering for more than two weeks or so in a facility actually requires that you have a specific visa for that. Tourist visas are not actually accepted for that and should not be used.
Not having legal documentation will preclude you from working as a volunteer, you need to be able to prove that you are here legally.
As mentioned above, this site is frequented by US immigration officials, and the web is not as anonymous as one might think. Please be very careful with the information that you are putting out for the world to read about you. This site is also Googled around the world and is not limited to those that are members of Allnurses.com.
Question for the OP, did you get a student visa when you went to school? if you had a student visa you coulda had a SSN by having your international advisor write a letter and meeting another requirement. i don't think you can go to school on a tourist visa. I think you've put yourself in trouble for overstaying your visa. Even if you wanted to get an f-1 visa to get your BSN, your chances are narrow because f-1 is not a dual-intent visa which means you must prove you'll return to your country when you're done. Considering the fact that you overstayed your visa, i think you've proven that you DO intend to stay here which might make it hard for you.
It's hard to get a SSN these days. in the past, student coiuld get it easily but since 9/11, that has changed. I'm no expert when it comes to cases like this but maybe you should talk to a lawyer who knows a lot about immigration cuz one thing i tell people not to do is overstay their visa.
I understand you may be going through a hard time and i wish you all the best.
One can go to school here with the tourist visa, but remember that the visa only permits one to stay here for up to 180 days. Many come here and take English courses, etc. with the tourist visa.
And then return home.
If they have overstayed any type of visa for this amount of time, then there is no way at all that they are going to be able to remain here and begin to work. Even if there were visas available, without having a current visa, one is not able to adjust status. Chances are that they no longer have a current passport either since those all have expiration dates. And to renew it even at the consulate for their country would require that they present their active passport to be able to do so. And without a current visa, they are putting themselves in more jeapordy of being deported.
One could not get a SSN# as a student if they did not have the proper documentation to be here already.
Yes, you are right, there's no way I'm getting a SSN to work/volunteer in USA, at least not right now. However, I'm happy because I came here, learned English (of course still learning everyday), got my degree and now I will go back to my country (I think I'm a bit crazy for doing that, but the time has come, and I might come back in ten years with the right permits) there's a great need of bilingual RN's for private clinics over there. I will only need to take a test and start working. I never thought that I would be doing this, but I'm tired of being illegal when I have my own place with my own SSN :) Thanks everybody for your concern and kind advise!
ghillbert, MSN, NP
3,796 Posts
Given that you've overstayed for several years, you would be subject to a 10 year ban if you leave the US now. The only thing I can see that would permit you to stay is if you married a USC.