The MSN/EB2 situation

suzanne4, RN · Jan 15, 2008

The issue is that you must be hired for a job that requires the MSN as a starting degree in order the qualify of the EB-2 classification and this may be where you get hung up. Because something is current right now, does not mean that it will be later on. Example, look at the EB-2 category for those from India and China, it is no different essentially from those trying to get the EB-3 green card.

Also, what has happened in the past with someone that went this route does not mean that it will work for anyone in the future. Immigration has been changing significantly over the past year or two.

Ironclad · Jan 15, 2008

Hi
I am at the very start of a combined BSN/MSN course in the States and am originally from the UK. If I do get offered a job here/apply for a job here once I am qualified (4 years time) and I have the MSN will I qualify for the EB2? It says on the Visa Bulletin that these are current and I hope that this will continue. I realise I will need some experience and will be using a years OPT after I complete the BSN/NCLEX and then a second year once I have done the MSN. Is there anyone else out there who is going down this route to become an ANP but is not a US citizen? Would really appreciate any advice if anyone out there has any experience of the EB2 green card :)

I doubt that you will be able to get your opt after you get your bsn, since it's not just bsn, but bsn/msn program.

klama78 · Jan 15, 2008

Apparently I can get the two OPTs as the BSN is accelerated but seperate from the MSN. It is just the fact I can do one straight after the other that makes it combined IYSWIM. After the BSN you can do the NCLEX, then continue on to the MSN where you can specialise. The admissions people have said as an international student I would be able to do two OPTs as each would be for a different level of qualification.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 16, 2008

Most facilities require a new nurse to go thru a full-time orientation that lasts for several months, hard to do that with grad school full-time.

You also cannot work full-time and be in a program full-time. The OPT was designed for you to be able to work full-time for the year to obtain additional training, not to attend school at the same time on top of this.

Your issue is going to be whether or not you can get hired for a job that requires the minimum of the MSN for the entry level of that job when you finish. Not sure what things are going to be like when you finish as far as visas, no one knows what will be happening at that time. But if you look at the EB-2 category, you will see that for those from some countries, the wait is as long as the EB-3, if not longer.

klama78 · Jan 16, 2008

Thanks for your advice so far Suzanne and Ironclad :)

I realise I cannot do the OPT and study full time, they are seperate entities albeit still attached to the student visa. What the school has told me is I can do the BSN, take the NCLEX and then do 12 months OPT. Once that OPT is finished, it will be the start of the academic year again and the MSN studies will start. I won't work at all during that time. Once I have finished the MSN I will be able to do 12 months OPT again, this time attached to the MSN. My OPT and my studies will always be done at seperate times. The school has explained that this is acceptable to immigration officials, and that this will be the likely way for me to gain much needed experience.

It has been explained to me that once I have done orientation and my first OPT I will be able to work during the MSN up to 20 hours per week, to keep my foot in the door so to speak, as PCT. Whether or not this will actually be possible given the courseload is another matter!

Of course all of this depends on whether or not I want to stay and work in the States, or even get offered a job that fulfils the visa requirements. I just feel very lucky to be able to study here, it's a great opportunity and benefit to my career whether or not I stay here afterwards. My hope in posting on this forum would be to find other nurses from the UK or elsewhere who have actually gone the MSN/ EB2 route to get their view on how it works etc. Most of the posts here are for the EB3 and that isn't really relevant to my situation.