US Student visa together with pending US immigrant visa

[adangerousbeauty]

Since it takes years for the immigrant visa to be issued, what if for now, I apply for a students visa, with my immigrant visa processing on-going?

I understand that with a student visa, I am only allowed to work for only 20H/wk except school breaks. That's fine with me. The school and the employer are willing to accept my application in their institution...If a time comes that my immigrant visa is approved while I am still on the student visa, will my status be automatically adjusted to immigrant? What are the disadvantages/ risks of going via this route?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I found this which explains very clearly about working on student visa and you are restricted in the first 12 months on where you can work.

http://www.workpermit.com/us/exchange_student.htm

[suzanne4, RN]

sounds so fishy... are those legitimate accredited program?

When a program tries to take a back door approach to getting someone to the US and only to put money in their pockets, I do not like them and would never advice anyone ever to go thru any of them. That is my personal opinion of what I have seen out there in the past, and not one has met my requirements.

Have seen too many in violation of something, and not one has been able to change my opinion of them. And their contracts are for four years, and other things that are not acceptable practice. And as mentioned above, the nurse cannot begin to work immediately as these programs tell them. Too many holes in their stories, and if anyone wants to go with one of them, they are doing to at their own accord and under their own responsibility. They were warned, and if they know better, they can proceed. But have seen too many bitten on the butt as they were having to leave the US.

Not a good thing as Martha would say.

[Proverbs 16:3]

A student visa does not automatically give someone the permission to work on campus, they still need to apply for the EAD and they do not get it immediately.

Actually, a student with F-1 visa can work up to 20hrs on campus without any EAD. You only need an EAD if you are going to work outside campus such as doing a precompletion OPT or CPT.

I know this is as a fact and reality here on campus.

So to the OP, the only way to work off campus while in school would be through OPT or CPT. Know any time worked during school on precompletion OPT comes out of the 12months you get at the end. Each month on Precompletion OPT counts as half a month. Plus, you have to pay to apply for the precompletion OPT and i believe they doubled the fee last july or so to $340.

My advise, go with CPT since that doesn't affect your OPT time at the end. I have a friend in a school in texas who was doing CPT. Some schools that have co-ops make those co-ops CPT and you'll require authorization from your school on your I-20 showing you are authorized for the CPT. Once you have the authorization, you just need to show that last page on the I-20 to the employer and i know they zerox it.

Good luck with whatever you do.

[hopeful_nurse]

From what I have read Ms Suzanne from this forum you don't advise this set-ups , is this like the Global scholarship alliance , Tailored Healthcare or Health Carousel program. Thanks

[LBgirl31]

Hi Suzanne,

I have read ur posts in several threads regarding International Students in Nursing and you seem knowledgeable in the U.S. laws about immigration, green card, F-1 etc. =)

I am an international student currently about to finish my Bachelor's in Health Science. I am applying to the Direct Entry Master's in Nusring program at 3 Universities. I am looking into a MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner.

Because of the retrogression, hospitals are not willing to sponsor newly graduated RN's. But how likely do you think hospitals and clinics are willing to sponsor RN's with a Master's in Nursing?

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

Finding a hospital willing to sponsor you will be hard. With budget cuts it's not happening in many hospitals through out California as people are laid off from their jobs. There really is no need to sponsor a foreigner when there are many domestic new grad RN (some with ELMSN) who can't find a job. Not saying it's impossible, but it's going to take some research and a lot of calling hospitals on your part until you can find a hospital or clinic willing to spend the money to sponsor. Good Luck

[ashh]

which part of usa are you going to study? and how did you manage to get full scholarship? thanks

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

You can try doing a search for scholarships that might be privately funded by an individual, group of people etc. You wont get anything from the federal government as you must be a legal resident or US citizen to apply for financial aid. Doing a scholarship search is a pain in the butt for US citizens and legal residents, so I can just imagine how hard it will be for a foreigner, but it can be possible. There are many sites that have tons of information for scholarships but a lot of them have parameters that one must follow. You willl want to get in contact with the scholarships that interest you and find out if they work for foreign students. You just never know you may find some to help fund your education. Hope this helps and good luck.