UK student nurse moving to California..need some advice

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Hi all,

im new to this forum and i found it while i was trying to find out more information on moving to the US.

A bit of background story. Currently i am in my 2nd year of an adult nursing programme, diploma, will hopfully be transfering to degree at the end of the year. I started on the mental health branch doing 2 placements (just over 2 months) in a psych ward. My partner lives in the states and we are planning to get married after i finish my course. If things carry on as they are i will be moving over there.

Basically my query is : - would it be best if i worked here for a year then apply for a work visa (and do the exam etc) and hopefully get a hospital to sponsor me? (i have read that this route can take a long time and honestly i do not want to be away from him for any longer than i need to). Or our other plan is that i move over there on a fiance visa and get married. If im being honest this is what i want to do, however i do not want to become a burden and find i cant find work as a newly qualified RN. Does anyone know whether anywhere would take me on and let me get experience if i pass the exam? - then again i have now read i need certain amount of clinical hours in all the areas, does anyone know how i can gain this? Would it be possible to work in the states and gather the experience needed? I personally wont mind working below an RN, can i work as an LPN? (apologies if thats not the right job title im looking for but i hope you get what i mean).

He has been so understanding and even though he has basically popped the question he doesnt want me to be unhappy when i get there. And as i said i do not want to become a burden.

Or is there a possiblity i can study more when i am in the states?

I have been trying to look for the answers i need and as has he, so apologies there are so many questions in my first post. If anyone can point me in the right direction to look, either on the internet or in the states (i go to cali every chance i get) i would be extremely grateful.

Thanks felicia

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the International forum

Even for LPN you will be required to have hours both clinical and theory in Paeds, mental Health, Obstetrics and General Adult. Whether you meet requirements will all depend on the state you apply to and what your transcripts indicate. What work visa are you looking at applying for because you will need a BSN for H1b and if looking at CA as indicated in your post then they have a lot of nurses currently looking for jobs both as new grads and experienced which will mean it will be hard to find a employer for H1b. Is your Fiancée a US citizen or are they in the US on their own work/immigrant visa?

Either way you need to meet requirements and pass NCLEX before you will be able to work as a nurse (RN or LVN/LPN) however if you are able to get a work/immigrant visa due to your Fiancee then you can work in other areas whilst getting sorted.

If you are short of clinical and theory hours to meet state requirements you could try to find a school of nursing in the US that accepts you as a guest student whilst you make the hours up but will require a lot of work from you in asking around and there may be fees to pay

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Apologies for postin in the wrong forum.

He is a US citizen so i was hoping i could get work while i try to meet the requirements to work as an RN.

So i need to get on the degree course to be able to get a work visa as an RN? Its BSc adult nursing would you know if that makes a difference? What if i can not get on the degree course? Will i never be able to get work if i graduate as a diploma RN? Because here in england it makes no difference. You will be an RN regardless (unless of course you want to do masters then you need to make up credits)

I am prepared for the hard work and so is he so thanks for answering. I will look into this H1b visa but i am still a little confused, will i still need to apply for that if i can get an immigrant visa? I guess my question is, if i immigrate to CA as his wife will i eventually be able to become an RN in the states if i can make up my hours as a guest student and then pass the NCLEX exam?

also a question about fees. If i can enrol as a guest student will the fees be as if i was a foreign student? Or because i am on a immigrant visa will the fees be less? Or is there just the standard fee? We want to be prepared so we are already saving up for when i finish my course.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Because he is a USC it makes it easier for you as you will get a immigrant visa (greencard) so no worries about H1b

Getting a degree isn't the issue as the US has ADN as well as BSN for nurses the issue is having enough theory and clinical hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult. The fees will depend on the school as they may have a residency requirement ie x amount of months/years as a resident of that state to qualify for normal fees

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Specializes in NICU.

Just went through US immigration with my British husband--best thing I can recommend to you is to go to visajourney.com and click on the "guides" to figure out the best visa for you. You can do all the paperwork yourself, for free.

You can go over as a fiance or as a wife, takes about 6-10 months, costs about $2000 or so altogether. Do NOT get a lawyer unless you have committed crimes, have been denied entry to the U.S., etc etc. You will be wasting your money :)

Good luck!

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ty for the replies. much appreciated

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Specializes in CTICU.
Just went through US immigration with my British husband--best thing I can recommend to you is to go to visajourney.com and click on the "guides" to figure out the best visa for you. You can do all the paperwork yourself, for free.

You can go over as a fiance or as a wife, takes about 6-10 months, costs about $2000 or so altogether. Do NOT get a lawyer unless you have committed crimes, have been denied entry to the U.S., etc etc. You will be wasting your money :)

Good luck!

I don't know that this is good advice - some people are good with filling in forms precisely as required, and some aren't. If you aren't, a lawyer is a great idea. If you can follow directions well, it's not generally necessary if your background is uncomplicated. I would check out britishexpats.com/forum if I were you - you'd be well advised to read up about your various options well in advance.

Honestly if you aren't even in the RN course yet, I wouldn't bother. It's such a hassle to transfer your qualifications to the US, that if you plan to remain in the US in future I would try and do it there. You generally have to be living somewhere for 12 months before you qualify for instate tuition (but school-dependent) but you could always work at something else while studying if you wanted (assuming you had your GC or EAD).

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ghillbert - thanks for the reply. I'll check out that website. Im already in my 2nd year of adult nursing and i really dont want to stop then start again. Having already been through university once before as a BSc Psych student i just want to get out there and work now.

Whats GC and EAD?

edit - just been reading the site you gave me. I now know what an EAD is lol

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

CG is GreenCard and EAD is authorisation to work

This is for others that read and wonder

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