US Green Card Holder to do BSc Nursing in India, and to pursue MSN and Job in USA

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My sister is a Green Card holder and settled at New Jersy (NJ), she is going to complete her +2 studies this year. we are here for last 4 years, so we are not yet US citizens.

Now she would like to do BSc Nursing at India and will be planning to come back to US as holding the same Green card to do MSN or Job by qualifying the required exams as NCLEX (or if anything else required also). Will there be any difficulties that she has to face to pursue further studies and Job in US.

Can anybody please suggest me about it. She planned to study at India is because of low cost of tuition fees in India as compared to US.

Please help me in this case and that would be great if we could get a better idea to look forward to her life and career

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Specializes in Oncology.

Study in India or anywhere else in the world does make it a little disadvantages from student who graduated in the U.S. You can find this to be true from the passing statistics from NCLEX. Also, from my own experience, my friend graduated with her BSN from S.E Asia country, it took her 5 times to pass her nclex and got her license versus me I graduated with my ADN from a local community college in MI. I passed on my second attemps. My fault that I didn't study for my first try.

So, if your sister is a green card holder, why don't she move here and does her ADN or BSN here in the U.S.? Maybe start from a community college, the tuition is a lot cheaper for an in state resident. Few people I know from India did that. As a matter of fact, one of my good friends is from India and he did an LPN and graduated with me.

Well, I think it's easier to study in the U.S. if she plans to find a job here.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

1) yes, education in India may be cheaper but your sister will have to go through some hoops before taking licensing exam here in the USA and get licensed. It won't be impossible but cost some time and some money as well.

2). Depending on school she goes into, her diploma may or may not be qualified as BSN here in the USA.

3). She may have problems to get licensed in some states, the most known is California. This forum is full of stories about foreign grads battling Cali Board of Nursing.

4). Her foreign education will not endear many employers. VERY many, in fact.

5). Depending on which MSN she would like to pursue, she may or may not have to retake courses. The more prestigious programs are picky about it and may not recognize any of her pre-reqs.

6). Last and very important: get a good immigration lawyer consult before doing all that. Green card holders may have limits of the time they can spend outside of the USA during one trip and summarily in order to continue their legal status. Make absolutely sure your sister knows if there are any of these limits applied to her situation and has a worked-out plan how to satisfy them. Even one day missed because some flight delay somewhere in transit can put a legal resident in hot water up to his ears.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to Nurse Registration

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

First, if she is not continuously residing in the US, she may lose her green card. I'm not sure what the current laws are, but I would certainly check with Immigration Services before leaving the country for any extended period. And recheck periodically while in India, because laws occasionally change.

Next, make sure the school in India is properly accredited so that a degree from there makes your sister eligible to write the US NCLEX. She needs to check with the Board of Nursing to find out the requirements. And recheck periodically, in case their rules change.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

It is always recommended to complete your nursing education in the country where you wish to live and work.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Threads merged

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First, if she is not continuously residing in the US, she may lose her green card. I'm not sure what the current laws are, but I would certainly check with Immigration Services before leaving the country for any extended period. And recheck periodically while in India, because laws occasionally change.

Next, make sure the school in India is properly accredited so that a degree from there makes your sister eligible to write the US NCLEX. She needs to check with the Board of Nursing to find out the requirements. And recheck periodically, in case their rules change.

Good luck.

IF you stay out of US for more than 6 month or less than a year then you will probably be ok, If you stay outside USA for more than 1 year then you can and may be declined entry back into USA...

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Thanks for all your valuable response and help, really appreciate that.....we decide her to continue and study its itself in US.

Good luck for u all :)

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