searching for hospitals which offer H1B nurse sponsorship

snvplayer · Mar 10, 2009

I am from S. Korea..I am actually considering doing Industrial Engineering with this new piece of info on nursing employment. I could work for biomedical companies, hospitals, or so on..I am not sure how easy it is to get GC with M.S. as an engineer, though a lot of companies do sponsor H1 for engineers.

However, in timees like this, we are also the first ones to go...lol

This new information contradicts everything I have read / heard on immigration process for nurses....I have even heard stories on how friend's friend did nursing and got her green card in matter of months. And that person was from India...

I guess there is uncertainty in visa / immigration process in any profession. I just thought it was much easier for nurses...

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 10, 2009

Many countries recognise the US training as long as it is at BSN level. ADN doesn't in general meet requirements for other countries

VB can be found here and you will be looking in general at EB3 although may depending on training and experience meet EB2 http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html

Retrogression and nurses being affected has been ongoing since Oct 06 with many many nurses affected regardless on where they trained. H1c is only used by 14 hospitals in the US and only 500 at any one time also due for review at the end of this year with no indication of extending it. H1b is just for specialist and not many especially new grads will meet requirements

You may have to consider another country or returning home once you have completed your training and that your training meets country's foreign nurse requirement

snvplayer · Mar 10, 2009

Thanks for the info.

There is always a risk / chance that I wll have to return to my home country with any field of study.

So the retrogression affects every H1 and GC applicant regardless of their home country?

I guess my best bet with BSN is to get into NP program or specialize after a year of experience.

Does foreign NPs also have this much difficulty with employment?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 10, 2009

Retrogression isn't affecting H1b visa allocation as different but finding employers that use H1b will be hard. Not many hospital utilises them and they generally are the first to go when jobs have to be lost.

As regards to NP finding employment well again will depend on employer and what experience you have managed to get

Trauma Columnist · Mar 10, 2009

I can speak to NP employment: even for US citizens, employment is tight. And...since you would be coming into NP employment without ever having worked as an RN, would be doubly so for you.

snvplayer · Mar 10, 2009

haha, very encouraging information.....

what happen to the shortage in nurses?

allnurses Guide · Mar 10, 2009

A lot of misleading information has been posted so far in this thread.

Hospitals ARE still sponsoring H1B visas - if they want you. To make them want you, I would not think of something like a WOCN nurse. I'd be going more for critical care/ICU and getting your CCRN certification. Critical care nurses are in demand globally. The problem is that you still may not be seen as a "specialist" after one year's experience. The certification would help your cause though. The best solution would be to get a job with OPT, get into critical care (or other in-demand area), get certified, and try to get your employer to sponsor H1B. Almost ALL hospitals use H1B at times, particularly for getting foreign physicians, surgeons, other professionals over faster than a green card.

If you get a masters degree as a NP using F1 visa, and then get a job as NP, your employer could apply for green card in the EB2 category (for professionals with masters degrees). There are also 20,000 H1Bs reserved each year for those with US-issued masters degrees. In addition, if your employer is a large tertiary hospital (non-profit) with an affiliated university, it's highly likely that they will NOT be subject to the 65,000 H1B limit and can apply for as many H1Bs to start whenever they like.

The key is really personal relationships. You need to work well, and get someone who has enough power to influence hiring to like you enough to go the extra mile. At least, that's how I was able to get sponsored (mind you, I have 12 years experience in a specialty directly related to my current US position).

nina9 · Mar 10, 2009

Lol.....i think the shortage is always there. Nurses are working understaffed everywhere and with the rapidly aging population, there is always going to be a demand for nurses. But in the same sense there are so many unemployed nurses out there (including me ) especially right now, since many hospitals at the moment are on a hiring freeze in fear of the uncertain economy. It seems like the target are new graduates. Its just a terrible time to look for a job, although statics show that nursing is one of the professions which still has job opening and is hiring along with engineering and pharmacy despite the recession.

But as for you since you are going to be doing your BSN, minimum two years there, things should change till then. So i don't think the situation will stay the way it is for forever. Its just typically not a good time at the moment. I say don't be discouraged, if you have a passion for nursing then go for it. Nurses are always in demand. And as for experience, make sure you hunt down internships during summer and work like as a tech part time if you can fit it with your classes, which i know could be hard to juggle the two. That should put you ahead of the game to be more competitive.

allnurses Guide · Mar 10, 2009

By the way, with engineering and nursing, there are some great options for you.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 10, 2009

It is always best to get your medical, legal and immigration advice from the experts. We always advise people to seek official word versus what you get from the internet.

snvplayer · Mar 10, 2009

Thanks for the information.

I guess if there is shadow, then there is also light...

I will look into CCRN certification..

Thanks a lot, and good luck to you as well..

Kosmonavt · Mar 11, 2009

A lot of misleading information has been posted so far in this thread.
Hospitals ARE still sponsoring H1B visas - if they want you. To make them want you, I would not think of something like a WOCN nurse. I'd be going more for critical care/ICU and getting your CCRN certification. Critical care nurses are in demand globally.

http://www.aacn.org/WD/Certifications/Content/ccrn.pcms?mid=2869&menu=#Initial

A BSN is NOT required to sit for the CCRN exam.

And, therefore, CCRN certification does not make BSN eligible for H-1B, unlike Wound and Ostomy care certification, that requires BSN.