tourist visa convert to either working or student visa

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hello everyone.. im an ielts passer as well as nclex passer. just got my visa screen certificate.. i applied for a tourist visa but i wasnt given the said visa.. in other words, denied.. actually i dont want to apply for a tourist visa but my sister encouraged me to do so.. she told me that most of her friends did that and if granted, they will convert it to either working or student once they are already in the states.. is that a good strategy, i mean the conversion of visas? since i am denied of that visa, my sister is currently working on my student/working visa in the states but im not familiar with that. is it possible that i will be granted that kind visa while im still here in the philippines? what do u think are the requiremnts? i want to apply to other countries but my sister doesnt want.. she said she will try her best for me to get in the states.. what do u think are the possible strategies for me to get in there? thanks..

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Specializes in NICU, Nursery.

You have to have much HOSPITAL/CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN A SPECIALTY AREA (ICU, DIALYSIS, ETC.) of at least a year or two to be considered for a working visa as a nurse. For student visa, you have to show that you have enough money to support yourself- but you cannot work as a nurse, if this is your goal. Conversion of tourist visa into other visas is not much encouraged as the economy is down and employers prefer that you apply with them with a legal working visa, or you should already be an immigrant so they wouldn't spend much or go into all the trouble especially if you have not much experience or if you've just graduated college. The best route is still to gain your hospital experience on a preferrably 150-200 bed capacity hospital then worry about going overseas after you've gained needed experience. There are thousands of grads just like you who are looking for an easier way out or a shortcut to greener pastures. Not going to happen these days, you have to be qualified for these visas for an employer to petition you. You cannot petition yourself for a working visa. The employer will make sure that you are worth investing in (thousands of dollars) before they petition you, they will not waste their time on someone who doesn't meet their qualifications.

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It is illegal to enter the USA for the purposes of employment on a tourist visa.

You need to consult an immigration professional, not your sister, on immigration matters.

These are serious times, if you get deported for immigration fraud or overstaying your visa then you may be unable to go back to the USA for life.

Don't risk it... let an expert help you.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the International forum

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A tourist visa is just that a tourist visa. It's not for the purpose of coming to the US and attempting to convert it in order to stay. Sorry but there are others who have been waiting patiently in order to come to the US. They've been waiting for years.

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Specializes in Neuro-Surgery, Med-Surg, Home Health.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

My advice to you is for you to come the United States legally.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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Specializes in CTICU.

You have had your tourist visa denied. That means that USCIS are concerned that you will not leave at the end of your trip. That also makes it unlikely that they will approve a student visa for the same reasons.

You must have the intention (and evidence of this) to leave the US when a temporary visa ends. You cannot use it as a fast way to bypass the line of people waiting to legally enter the US. Even if you get the student visa, you can't work as a nurse.

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You must have the intention (and evidence of this) to leave the US when a temporary visa ends. You cannot use it as a fast way to bypass the line of people waiting to legally enter the US. Even if you get the student visa, you can't work as a nurse.

A lot of people get extended stay tourist visas which last up to six months.

The mistake that MANY of these people make is that they don't buy a return airplane ticket because they are hoping to just convert the tourist visa.

Well, sad to say, that won't happen.

When I moved to the Philippines it was on a tourist visa to be converted to a residency visa. This is about the only way I could do the move because my wife was here and the consul in the USA would not issue the residency visa since they could not interview my wife.

Now, when I moved on a tourist visa, I knew up front that I would have to "waste" an airplane ticket. I bought a round-trip flight which occurred two days before the end date of my tourist visa.

If you buy a one-way ticket then it is obvious you are going to commit immigration fraud or attempt to do some sort of visa conversion. While the USA is under retrogression the chances of a successful visa conversion is slim to none. Don't risk it.

Talk to an immigration professional about matching the right visa to your goals and just work through the immigration process properly or else you'll be in for a lot of trouble in the future.

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gracielle86,

The most appropriate type of visa for you to use will be a student visa. Tourist visa is just out of the equation.

So what you need to concentrate at is to apply for a student visa. Get a school to sponsor you. Ask for an acceptance letter then show a proof of financial capability.

By far this is the only way for you to acquire a visa to go to the US.

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Specializes in NICU, Nursery.
gracielle86,

The most appropriate type of visa for you to use will be a student visa. Tourist visa is just out of the equation.

So what you need to concentrate at is to apply for a student visa. Get a school to sponsor you. Ask for an acceptance letter then show a proof of financial capability.

By far this is the only way for you to acquire a visa to go to the US.

----> you cannot work in the US as a nurse on a student visa

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Of course she can not work as a nurse on a student visa. But what i'm trying to suggest is if she is really desperate to go to America she can take the student visa route. Then after finishing her further education (maybe Post Graduate course) she can find a sponsor to apply for a working visa (Maybe a nursing or a Non nursing related job).

There are other ways to go to the States if thats what she wanted...

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Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

To the OP, what do you want? It's not your sister it's YOU, right?

Since the tourist visa route is nonsense and illegal do you have the money and wish to study without any guarantee that you can stay afterwards. Or do you have the necessary experience to get a work visa legally? But might be not where your sister live (where ever that is).

Would you have a job elsewhere waiting for you or the chance to get one? You need to think about your options, not your sisters, especially, since she doesn't seem to know immigration stuff well, all hearsay......

On this board I found the most inappropriate advises came from familymembers or welldoers. Sorry to say that.

Idea might be to talk to a immigration lawyer, so at least you would exactly know what your options are.

good luck

5cats

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