RPN in Canada wanting to work in the usa

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I would like to talk to a RPN from Canada who works in the USA and is the RPN equivilent to LPN in the USA:uhoh21:

Thought I'd go back and edit my posts to avoid any more confusion for anyone else, but instead decided I'd just respond.

Yep - when I said eligible to write the NCLEX-pn, that means that I will be writing it. ..as in Im going to write it to get a NY license.Thought I mentioned that one a couple of times.

If you did read back in my posts, I did agree that it depends on the absence of an LPN shortage to get a visa/ finding an employer who will apply...I also said Im not an expert, that Im not sure of the immigration stuff, and when I mentioned it, it was in the form of a QUESTION. Sorry if that was confusing for everyone - Im just figuring this stuff out too.

I DO understand that writing exam wont get me through the immigration process, and it ISN'T an issue for me - you're right, I do have a green card, and I know why I got it. Nope, haven't talked to an employer yet, and never said I did.

I don't think I ever came across that my ONT license will reciprocate with one in NY. I just said that its possible to obtain one and I think I explained how I am doing it - lucky for me I have a green card, trust me I KNOW what kind of a confusing pile of crap US immigration is to get through.


I realize the immigration aspect will be difficult for most people, but the only point I wanted to make, was that it is possible for Canadian LPN's to work in the US (that's why I said I already had a green card, and mentioned EC as an option to get into the US with an RN license instead).
And, 'reciprocity' was the term that I heard (local hosp here said I could work with a NY license...guess that's not legal?) - I did understand that eventually I would be holding licenses in two different states after writing the NCLEX-pn - I am aware my application says 'endorsement' instead. Sorry if I confused anyone else.

I really don't think I ever came across as not understanding that getting a license and visa are two completely different projects!! I don't think LPN's can be eligible to even write the NCLEX-pn without having the immigration stuff worked out first, right!? I hope I didn't come off that way. Even if I confused anyone..wouldn't they read their BON application and realize that there's a spot to fill in your A#? That there's a paragraph in the same area that says something about federal law stating that licenses are only granted to people legal to be in the US..therefore thats a problem you've got to take care of first?


I DO read the boards on here and had the patience to read through posts you wrote before you read the rest of my information on this thread, and explained to me my own information.. 



Thanks for your helpful Moderation.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I really don't think I ever came across as not understanding that getting a license and visa are two completely different projects!! I don't think LPN's can be eligible to even write the NCLEX-pn without having the immigration stuff worked out first, right!? I hope I didn't come off that way. Even if I confused anyone..wouldn't they read their BON application and realize that there's a spot to fill in your A#? That there's a paragraph in the same area that says something about federal law stating that licenses are only granted to people legal to be in the US..therefore thats a problem you've got to take care of first?


I DO read the boards on here and had the patience to read through posts you wrote before you read the rest of my information on this thread, and explained to me my own information.. 



Thanks for your helpful Moderation.

You do not have to have immigration sorted before sitting NCLEX RN or PN many foreign nurses do so and there have been issues of nurses from the Philippines who have done LPN in their own country and took and passed NCLEX PN expecting to change their status and stay in the US and find out the hard way that it isn't possible and had to return home

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that definetly sucks - didnt know that.

I couldnt file my app unless I had an A#.

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It is not your Canadian license that has reciprocity, that no longer exists in any state. And actually, a license in a home foreign country is not required for licensure in the US, but the fact that your curriculum meets the requirements of the US requirements.

And the fact that you will be writing the exam for NY does not mean that you automatically qualify to endorse to all of the other states in the US. Your NCLEX-PN results transfer, but your training will be evaluated by each state. And each state has different requirements, this is the point that we are trying to make to you.

Licensure and immigration are two very different things, and one actually has nothing to do with the other. If the LPN/RPN does not already have a green card, then taking the NCLEX-PN exam and passing it and getting a license will not permit them to work in the US.

And you get the license before any immigration procedures can even be started, it does not work the other way around. Again, licensure has nothing to do with immigration, they are actually two different things entirely, and this is what you are not understanding and we are trying to explain to you.

The LPN license from any state in the US does not meet the requirements for immigraiton purposes in the US or for most other foreign countries, you must have the RN after your name to be able to go to most other countries.

You are able to work in the US for only one reason, that you have a spousal greencard. It has nothing to do with you being an LPN/RPN at all. You could be working in any job or field that you qualified for, your green card will let you do that; but others cannot get it unless they marry an American or a green card holder.

This is what we have been trying to explain to you.

Thanks for your understanding.

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wow this information keeps being repeated.

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my only original point was that it is possible for an RPN to get an american license, ie that your education may qualify, after all the above said.

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That has never been an issue from day one, but the fact that you cannot get a visa to work in the US as an LPN/RPN.

This is what we have been trying to point out to you. We could have given you a list of states that would give you a license, most would have, but the issue has always been a visa.

Same as with a nurse from any other country that has earned the equivalent of the RPN/LPN/EN. They just do not work for visas in other countries. This is per immigration.

Even not all RN training is acceptable by all fifty states for licensure, even if completed in the US. The nurse must meet the requirements of the new state, that is the other point that we were trying to make.

And nothing more. There are others that read here and probably got excited thinking that they could work in the US right away and that is not the case, only with the RN.

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Can we close this thread please???

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:yeahthat:

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