searching for hospitals which offer H1B nurse sponsorship

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

I could be wrong, but I believe that H1B visas for immigrant nurses are supposed to be for "specialists". And my understanding is that there have many problems with facilities hiring nurses as H1Bs and ICE busting them as they were not "specialists".

If you are just graduating as from an RN program, I would not think that you would qualify as a "specialist" - something that requires more advanced training or higher educational qualifications. Are you getting your Masters or Doctorate?

In any case, Silverdragon and Suzanne4 may be able to help you. But your post probably should be in the International forum.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

Have moved this thread to the international forum where you may get more answers

I do think your changes of being employed as a RN on a H1B visa are almost nil sorry. I am sure you were told this before undertaking the course and knew you were on a student visa which means you have to return to your own country after you have completed your training.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 13, 2009

If you qualify for the OPT, you will be able to get that year of work in.

But as a new grad, you are not considered a specialist and therefore do not qualify legally for the H1-B visa.

Next is the issue that there is high unemployment all over the US right now, and a facility must prove that they are unable to hire an American for the job. Since there are so many new grads all over the country that are Americans and they are having problems, then it is going to be that much more difficult for you.

Add into it that almost any hospital that is covered by a union will not permit a nurse to be hired under a temporary work visa, per their contact with the union.

Your other problem is that you must have taken and passed the NCLEX exam as well as hold a Visa Screen Certificate before a facility could submit you for the H1-B visa as well. And you only have 60 days after the last day of your training if you are not under the OPT to remain in the US. Impossible to get this done within the 60 days.

And if you do qualify for the OPT, then you will need to continue on with your studies to remain in the US when the OPT as a full-time student.

Be aware that the retrogression has been in place for more than two years as well as the fact that there are more than 800,000 that already have pending petitions in immigration for the AOS processing so this is expected to be more than 5 years before things will open up again.

cymalice · Feb 13, 2009

Hi Suzanne,

Thanks for your answer. I already applied for the OPT and it will start in June 2009. However, my F1 visa will be expired in December 2009. If so, will I have to go back to my own country after December even I still in my OPT? Also, I still need to take the VSC even I graduate from the US nursing school with BSN? Do you have any information about hospitals sponsorship for nurses H1b? If I continue my master as nurse practioner, then I will be a specialist and eligible to apply for H1b later, right? Thanks for your help.

cymalice

suzanne4, RN · Feb 14, 2009

Your F-1 visa will not expire in December, as long as you maintain your student status. It will go by what is stamped in your passport on the I-94; and suspect that it states D/S. This means last day of studies. Your OPT will be good for the full year. However, if you leave the US, then you will have to reapply for the F-1 again, and you may have issues with that. As long as you do not leave the country, your F-1 will remain valid as long as you remain under the student status, and the OPT is under the F-1 status.

Yes, you do need the VSC since this is for immigration and has nothing to do with licensure. The only thing that is waived for you are the English exams. Everything else you must complete.

There are many Americans that graduated last summer that are still without work, it is going to be very hard to even get hired under the OPT. I would not focus at all on anything else. Green card petitioning is not going to permit you to remain in the US, since the I-485 is unable to be filed.

H1-B required a specialist, as a new grad you will not meet these requirements as a start. As well as the fact that a facility must prove that they are unable to hire an American.

Things are not looking good at this time.

snvplayer · Mar 10, 2009

Suzanne4-

So if OP works for a year while his / her OPT is valid, then purse a Masters degree, then she will be able to apply for H1B visa?

With BSN only, would s/he be able to apply for green card if a hospital sponsors her?

I was under the impression that U.S has recently passed a bill allowing easier immigration process for nurses to resolve the shortage proble,.

Thanks

Kosmonavt · Mar 10, 2009

Suzanne4-
So if OP works for a year while his / her OPT is valid, then purse a Masters degree, then she will be able to apply for H1B visa?
With BSN only, would s/he be able to apply for green card if a hospital sponsors her?
I was under the impression that U.S has recently passed a bill allowing easier immigration process for nurses to resolve the shortage proble,.
Thanks

Good Morning! Welcome to reality. Sounds like it's time to clarify your options. Glad you did not wait till the last day of your OPT.

So the harsh reality is that at the present time you only qualify for OPT, which is valid for only one year. Your BSN itself does not make you eligible to apply for H-1B. I would suggest to do some research on nursing specialties that qualify for H-1B (quick hint: those include nursing managers, wound and ostomy care [requires a special certificate], and clinical nurse specialists). But, depending on your state, even getting hired on OPT can be difficult. Most facilities won't hire you knowing that you have only a year of employment authorization and they will not be able to sponsor your green card or H-1B. Even getting MSN is not going to help, unless your position actually requires that degree. The new OPT rule states that after your OPT is in effect you can not stay unemployer for more than 90 days, or your OPT voids itself and you will be out of status (I would suggest to google "opt 90 days rule").

snvplayer · Mar 10, 2009

Thanks for the reply.

I haven't started my BSN program, so I would really appreciate any info / help before I get

my feet wet.

Though I understand the situation, it seems a bit contradictory when there

is all this talk going on about allowing easier immigration and employment process for nurses,

yet getting BSN won't help at all.

What type of nurses / degree would I have to be come to be eligible for either H1 visa or green card?

I will look more into it myself but could you elaborate a little bit more on these nurses with "specialties"?

Kosmonavt · Mar 10, 2009

What is your current immigration situation? If you are a new grad, it's very unlikely that BSN will help you to get H-1B. The only specialty you may try for that is Wound and Ostomy care, because it required BSN. For that you have to take a course at the accredited school. It lasts about 7 weeks and costs around $7K, OR you have to be precepted by the wound and ostomy nurse for one year full-time. After that you have to pass a special exam, get your certificate, and get a job in that specialty (you can go to the search engine like google and find more detailed info yourself using the inofrmation above). If all those criteria are met, you will be eligible for H-1B. BSN gives you an opportunity to practice nursing in other coutries like Canada and Australia as well.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 10, 2009

RN would be what you need to qualify for US immigration/work permit.

H1b is a specialist visa and a new grad generally doesn't meet that requirement. Not many hospitals go the H1b route and expect to see less with the current US job situation. BSN will assist you for other countries but you need to be aware there may not be an option for you to stay in the US once you have completed your training. There is nothing to indicate that things will get easier for foreign nationals and the bill that was recently submitted will more than likely fail with current US recession

snvplayer · Mar 10, 2009

What is your current immigration situation? If you are a new grad, it's very unlikely that BSN will help you to get H-1B. The only specialty you may try for that is Wound and Ostomy care, because it required BSN. For that you have to take a course at the accredited school. It lasts about 7 weeks and costs around $7K, OR you have to be precepted by the wound and ostomy nurse for one year full-time. After that you have to pass a special exam, get your certificate, and get a job in that specialty (you can go to the search engine like google and find more detailed info yourself using the inofrmation above). If all those criteria are met, you will be eligible for H-1B. BSN gives you an opportunity to practice nursing in other coutries like Canada and Australia as well.

I can't express enough how grateful I am for your help.

I am currently F1 going for B.S. I already have B.S in another field.

This piece of information (BSN ineligibility for H1-B) is sort of a slap on my rear head. As I am about to start

accelerated BSN in the coming fall.

Can I join the Wound and Ostomy care program after comepting BSN and I still have my F1? Or would I have to go on OPT?

Are there other BSN specialties that I can get certified in to be eligible for H1-B visa?

Are Nurse Practioners eligible for H1-B and Green Card application? Then, I could finish my BSN, work for a year, and join NP program.

I know I should do my own reserach, but it would be really helpful to get some kind of lead to know what to look into.