searching for hospitals which offer H1B nurse sponsorship

World Immigration

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Hi everyone,

I will graduate in May 2009 from a university in Philadelphia. However, I'm an international student with F1 visa right now. The counselor in school told me that it is very hard for me to find a job in US after graudation. Does anyone know those hospitals that still offer H1B sponsorship for nurse? Thanks.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

The key is to do your own homework and not rely on the internet. If you have a job as a NP and meet requirements then you can apply for a GC. Depending on country will depend on whether EB2 (think that is what you would come under) is current then you will be processed quickly

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The key is to do your own homework and not rely on the internet. If you have a job as a NP and meet requirements then you can apply for a GC. Depending on country will depend on whether EB2 (think that is what you would come under) is current then you will be processed quickly

Thanks for the help.

I know it is my own homework to do the reserach.

There are so many legal elements to consider and to figure out what needs to be consider.

I am trying to gather as many lead as possible so I have an idea to which direction I should look at.

Now I know that BSN alone isn't enough to quailify for H1-Visa...So I know I have to explore other options such as BSN specialties or NP...

I did engineering in undergrad and the legal critieria whether an occupation was relevent to my field was a lot more grey than in health professions. For example, with an engineering degree, I could have worked for industries other than engineering.

Really, thanks a lot for your help, and thanks for sharing with them.

I would appreciate even more help ^_^

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Where did you get your current B.S. degree? If not in the U.S. then you will be eligible for OPT after completing your BSN. You can join Wound and Ostomy care program while on OPT, but I've heard that because there are very few accredited schools in the U.S. (something like eight in the entire country) it's very competitive. But without prior clinical experience and considering your current status it will be challenging to get a job as a new grad. Although, chances are that you will be able to get a job somewhere in the Midwest or South (where the pay is low and working conditions are not so great, and nursing shortage results from those factors).

Another thing you may want to consider is that a demand for H-1B visas is about twice as high as a supply. For the last couple of years USCIS had to conduct a lottery to randomly select 65,000 applications (about twice as much were filed last year) and the filling was allowed only for the first few days in April. So, even if your employer will file H-1B petition for you, chances to be selected for further processing are 50-50. But that's as of right now. Nobody knows what's going to happen within the next 3-4 years. But so far the U.S. immigration system is very inefficient.

I would suggest to google word "trackitt" on the internet to find a website that will help you to stay informed on the immigration issues.

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Where did you get your current B.S. degree? If not in the U.S. then you will be eligible for OPT after completing your BSN. You can join Wound and Ostomy care program while on OPT, but I've heard that because there are very few accredited schools in the U.S. (something like eight in the entire country) it's very competitive. But without prior clinical experience and considering your current status it will be challenging to get a job as a new grad. Although, chances are that you will be able to get a job somewhere in the Midwest or South (where the pay is low and working conditions are not so great, and nursing shortage results from those factors).

Another thing you may want to consider is that a demand for H-1B visas is about twice as high as a supply. For the last couple of years USCIS had to conduct a lottery to randomly select 65,000 applications (about twice as much were filed last year) and the filling was allowed only for the first few days in April. So, even if your employer will file H-1B petition for you, chances to be selected for further processing are 50-50. But that's as of now. Nobody knows what's going to happen in the next 3-4 years. But so far the U.S. immigration system is very inefficient.

I would suggest to google word "trackitt" on the internet to find a website that will help you to stay informed on the immigration issues.

I got my B.S from UW-Madison. I have heard about people going to rural area to work as a nurse or doctor to get their GC or Visa, then move back to a city once they received the GC.

I haven't used my OPT yet, so perhaps I can work under OPT, gain experience and try to pass a specialty exam?

I guess I will have to find out whether one year of experience will be suffcient enough to take a speciailty exam.

I understand the deman-supply situation with GC and H-1B. I was a little hopeful when I recently heard that they were going to ease the immigration process for nurses, or at least such a bill has been proposed. What type of

nurses are such a bill targeted for? It sure doesn't help recent BSN gradautes....

Once again, thanks for your help.

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I got my B.S from UW-Madison.

I'm a little confused here. What is your major?

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Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

The problem is for any kind of work related visa you'll need a sponsor. I would say most sponsors are interested in nurses with experience. And what I understand you have none so far. Another problem is we all don't know if the shortage from today will be the same in the future.

So difficult to give advice. Generally spoken rural areas are a good bet, as well as border towns. Some States seem to look more than others, Texas came to mind.

Since the waiting time for a GC is so long so would need another type of visa, but strictly spoken to don't qualify for H1B, nobody knows if there will be a special nurse work permit. H1C is apparantly not used? anymore and ends 2010 anyway. Maybe try to contact potential employers and see what they say.

5cats

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Specializes in Surgical/Ortho.

Have you ever heard of http://www.globalnursingsolutions.com/, i have heard that they are global recruiters, i don't know much about it personally but i thought it would be worth checking.

Its amazing how this economy is affecting everyone in just a short amount of time. And the fact that there is minimal hope for F1 students is really unfortunate. But i hope and pray that this situation gets better for the better. Good luck with everything. God always have a way, and with your determination, you will make it.

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I have a B.S in computer engieering from UW-madison. I didn't use my OPT, and worked for 2 years elsewhere (different country). I always had a thing for health professions, and came back to take pre-requisites for pharmacy school...Then I sort of switched my mind to nursing with more career options and few number of years in school.

Right now, I am waiting to hear admission decisions from a few BSN programs U of Minnesota, Shenandoah University, of UT-Houston. I don't think I got into UT Houston...

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If you were granted employment authorization under OPT, regardless of either you worked or not, you won't be able to get another one again after you earn your BSN. IMHO if you have enough money to pay for pharmacy school, it looks like a MUCH better option.

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Thanks for the reply.

I have stayed in Texas, and wouldn't mind living there especially in Houston.

I don't have any experience as a nurse besides working as a hospital volunteer.

From what I have read, I guess I could work for a year on OPT and try to become specialized w/i a year, then try to find a hospital, which will sponsor H1 visa. I will have to find out if this is a realistic goal or not, since one year experience in engineering field is not much.

Or, i guess I could work in Canada or Australia, then try to come back to US if I really want to? Are those the only two countries that recognize American RN license?

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I didn't even apply for OPT after my first B.S. So, I am still eligible....

Money is also an issue. Currency has nearly doubled, I don't think I could go through 4 years of school finanically.

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Immigration-wise in could be better to get M.S. in computer engineering, try to find an employer and file under EB-2 category if you are not from India or China.

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