STEPS to take to work in the U.S.A.

himdale · Jun 28, 2005

hi, everyone...im Mark, a new member of this online community although been here many times before to look at articles that may be of help....
i'm a new graduate from a nursing school here in the Philippines, and had just recently took the board exams and passed. i'm currently in the process of acquiring my license from our licensing authority...and after which im gonna take the ielts this august....
here are my questions:
1. if im going to work in the u.s.a. what are the things needed to allow me to work there?
2. im planning to work in new york....do i have to take cgfns exams? or take nclex directly in hongkong. after which, if i pass what would be my next step?
Is it to apply for the visa screen certificate?
3. from my research in the net, here's what ive gathered to be the steps to take in having to work there:
a. must be a licensed nurse in own country
b. must take nclex, and ielts (or similar) in N.Y.
c. if both passed, must apply for visa screen cert. by the cgfns org.
Are these all correct? If so, please correct my info.
And do suggest the correct steps to take...
Thanx, and more power to the no. 1 online community for nurses!!!

I know some of you would not agree but definitely this is the best option!

1. Be a registered nurses/ licensed at your home country.

2. Take and Pass CGFNS Exam

3. Take and Pass English Exams (IELTS is better, cheaper and easier...its like hitting two birds with one bullet!)

4. Get your CGFNS Certificate and visa screen certificate

5. Look for an employer and have your I-140 filed...

6. Take NCEX in the state where u want to be licensed...(u can take it in the U.S. when u arrive)

I suggest taking CGFNS because if ever that someday you plan to change a state in which you want to work...other states require CGFNS or CES and that means you have to sit on the exam if you don't have one...Plus most of the states that DOES NOT REQUIRE CGFNS...they require you to have a social security number and that means you have to fly to U.S. (be physically and legally there) and get a number to get your license! PLEASE ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT A PASSING SCORE IN NCLEX EXAM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE USCIS AND THAT MEANS YOUR IMMIGRANT VISA PETITION CANNOT BE FILED...

ASK ALL THE NURSES HERE...THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS IN IMMIGRATING TO U.S. THE BEST WAY IS TO TAKE THE SAFEST AND SUREST ROUTE.

And please don't ever think on flying to the U.S. on a tourist visa and then sit for the NCLEX exam and then adjust status...I hope you read the provisions of the new law called THE REAL I.D. ACT! If you ever at one chance GOT OUT OF STATUS ON U.S. SOIL... you will be doomed forever!~ Trust me I know alot of nurses who took the shortcuts and they are :crying2: crying loud now because they were either caught by immigration or their status are still illegal or they are not yet permanent residents(green card holders) and cannot be with their families...

U.S. is a super high-tech country spending billions for anti-terrorist effforts, border protections and illegal aliens. I am sure all of the illegals will be caught very very soon!

I am not scaring you...just making sure your American Dream will be fulfilled!

Dale

suzanne4, RN · Jun 28, 2005

I do not agree with sitting for CGFNS exam. The only two states that will not permit endorsement without it are Michigan and Illinois. Michigan requires five years work experience in the US to waive this, and Illinois two years.

All others will accept endorsement from a foreign nurse licensed in another state.

It is also not a requirement to be licensed in your home country, there are many that are not. Just that you have a full set of transcripts that have been accepted so that you can sit for either NCLEX and/or CGFNS exam.

New York does not require a Social Security Number to get a nursing license there. It will be issued without one. That is why I prefer NY over any of the others.

Easiest thing to do is to follow what is listed under the sticky called "Fastest Way for Getting Licensed in the US." If you go that route, only one set of documents needs to be sent in, they can be used for both the Special Credentials Verification and the Visa Screen Certificate for CGFNS. You just need those two applications plus the Part One of the NY BON application.

Simple as that.............just pass the NCLEX and IELTS and you can get everything done.

NCLEX can be written in either Saipan or Hong Kong, and the IELTS just needs to be the academic branch with the speaking section.

Hope that this helps..................... :)

suzanne4, RN · Jun 28, 2005

I know some of you would not agree but definitely this is the best option!
1. Be a registered nurses/ licensed at your home country.
2. Take and Pass CGFNS Exam
3. Take and Pass English Exams (IELTS is better, cheaper and easier...its like hitting two birds with one bullet!)
4. Get your CGFNS Certificate and visa screen certificate
5. Look for an employer and have your I-140 filed...
6. Take NCEX in the state where u want to be licensed...(u can take it in the U.S. when u arrive)
I suggest taking CGFNS because if ever that someday you plan to change a state in which you want to work...other states require CGFNS or CES and that means you have to sit on the exam if you don't have one...Plus most of the states that DOES NOT REQUIRE CGFNS...they require you to have a social security number and that means you have to fly to U.S. (be physically and legally there) and get a number to get your license! PLEASE ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT A PASSING SCORE IN NCLEX EXAM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE USCIS AND THAT MEANS YOUR IMMIGRANT VISA PETITION CANNOT BE FILED...
ASK ALL THE NURSES HERE...THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS IN IMMIGRATING TO U.S. THE BEST WAY IS TO TAKE THE SAFEST AND SUREST ROUTE.
And please don't ever think on flying to the U.S. on a tourist visa and then sit for the NCLEX exam and then adjust status...I hope you read the provisions of the new law called THE REAL I.D. ACT! If you ever at one chance GOT OUT OF STATUS ON U.S. SOIL... you will be doomed forever!~ Trust me I know alot of nurses who took the shortcuts and they are crying loud now because they were either caught by immigration or their status are still illegal or they are not yet permanent residents(green card holders) and cannot be with their families...
U.S. is a super high-tech country spending billions for anti-terrorist effforts, border protections and illegal aliens. I am sure all of the illegals will be caught very very soon!
I am not scaring you...just making sure your American Dream will be fulfilled!
Dale

Sorry but I do not agree with you on this one. :)

(Still friends?)

himdale · Jun 28, 2005

Sorry but I do not agree with you on this one. :)
(Still friends?)

ofcourse still friends...:)

Rep · Jun 28, 2005

As long as the NCLEX is not offered here in the Philippines, the best option is for nurses to take the CGFNS and the English exams. Once they got their CGFNS Certificate, they can look for a good employer to sponsor their petitions.

Not all nurses have the money to fly to Hong Kong and take the NCLEX but with a limited budget and amply prepared, then can take and pass the CGFNS here.

I know taking the NCLEX will save time and effort and I agree with that but to take it in another place away from the Philippines defeat the purpose because not all of us have the financial capabilities to undertake that let alone the air fare.

Most hospitals' recruiters here in the Philippines require that applicants have a CGFNS certificates for the simple reason that having one guarantees an applicant better chances to pass the NCLEX than the applicant with Philippine license only.

They won't hire somebody with out a CGFNS. Although there are some recruiters who will sponsor nurses to take the CGFNS but there is a clause in the contract that the nurses who failed in the first attempt will have to take the second on their own money. Failure to complete will entitled the nurse to pay the agency the cost of the exams.

Although, I agree that it is good for nurses to do it on their own using their own money because they can get the best deal from their employers unlike those who course through agencies. But this is only applicable to few nurses here. Most nurses here have to go through agency in order for them to achieve their American dream because of financial reason. Not all of us can afford the $4000 fee of a refutable attorney. Although one can file an I-140 with out an attorney.

Anyway, two or three years contract is good enough when one sees her dreams fulfilled.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 28, 2005

But is is not a requirement to have. There are some employers that will pay for the NCLEX exam. There are also time constraints when waiting for the CGFNS exam, it adds on about six months to the process. You have to have all documents into CGFNS at elast three months prior to the exam, then it takes about another two months until you have the letter in hand with your results.

Not all require CGFNS.....................

suzanne4, RN · Jun 28, 2005

If the nurse wishes to get licensed in NY, it can be done in about one year from application, that is why I do not like CGFNS. It just takes too long, that is the major reason that many states no longer require it.

markpacs · Jun 28, 2005

If the nurse wishes to get licensed in NY, it can be done in about one year from application, that is why I do not like CGFNS. It just takes too long, that is the major reason that many states no longer require it.

thanks for the insight :chuckle ....anyways, i wonder about no. 20 in the registration form for the ny nclex,

what if i dont have a visa? do i have to acquire one first, since their is no choice in the form for those who have none....

suzanne4, RN · Jun 29, 2005

Just attach a copy of your passport. They want to make sure that you are a legal entity. You can just write, "will be applying for permanent residency."

This is what all of my students from Thailand did, and none had a problem with it.

eperey · Jul 1, 2005

I know some of you would not agree but definitely this is the best option!
1. Be a registered nurses/ licensed at your home country.
2. Take and Pass CGFNS Exam
3. Take and Pass English Exams (IELTS is better, cheaper and easier...its like hitting two birds with one bullet!)
4. Get your CGFNS Certificate and visa screen certificate
5. Look for an employer and have your I-140 filed...
6. Take NCEX in the state where u want to be licensed...(u can take it in the U.S. when u arrive)
I suggest taking CGFNS because if ever that someday you plan to change a state in which you want to work...other states require CGFNS or CES and that means you have to sit on the exam if you don't have one...Plus most of the states that DOES NOT REQUIRE CGFNS...they require you to have a social security number and that means you have to fly to U.S. (be physically and legally there) and get a number to get your license! PLEASE ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT A PASSING SCORE IN NCLEX EXAM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE USCIS AND THAT MEANS YOUR IMMIGRANT VISA PETITION CANNOT BE FILED...
ASK ALL THE NURSES HERE...THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS IN IMMIGRATING TO U.S. THE BEST WAY IS TO TAKE THE SAFEST AND SUREST ROUTE.
And please don't ever think on flying to the U.S. on a tourist visa and then sit for the NCLEX exam and then adjust status...I hope you read the provisions of the new law called THE REAL I.D. ACT! If you ever at one chance GOT OUT OF STATUS ON U.S. SOIL... you will be doomed forever!~ Trust me I know alot of nurses who took the shortcuts and they are crying loud now because they were either caught by immigration or their status are still illegal or they are not yet permanent residents(green card holders) and cannot be with their families...
U.S. is a super high-tech country spending billions for anti-terrorist effforts, border protections and illegal aliens. I am sure all of the illegals will be caught very very soon!
I am not scaring you...just making sure your American Dream will be fulfilled!
Dale

I did these steps exactly. It just seems long way process but actually it's not. When I passed CGFNS, I did take IELTS after 2 months and passed + applied for Visa Screen = CGFNS and VS Certificate ready. After few months, found employer to sponsor/petition my greencard while reviewing for NCLEX to my choice of State. However, I will not take NCLEX in US, it is now offered here in london.

markpacs · Jul 29, 2005

just wanna ask about the fbi card....

what should i fill in the race and citizenship spaces?

race: Asian

citizenship: Filipino

is that what I'm suppose to write? cos my friends submitted their application and left the spaces blank....

hope anyone can answer :)