Visa Screen Certificate / CGFNS

World Registration

Published

Visa Screen Certificate is required by all foreign nurses wishing to obtain a green card to work in the US, as well as any type of temporary work permit, such as the Nafta TN Visa for those from Canada and Mexico.

It requires that you pass either the NCLEX-RN or the CGFNS exam, as well as the series of English exams if you are not exempt from them.

The CGFNS exam is only required now in about five states, and rumor is that one or two will be removed from that remaining list as well. Do not bother with that exam if you are not going to work in a state that does not require it, or you have no way to be able to take the NCLEX exam from where you are currently located.

The application for the VSC is now only good for one year.........please do not apply for it until you have passed at least one of the required exams, or you may need to pay an additional fee.

(This thread is replacing the original thread that was from more than 2 and 1/2 years ago, and has updated information.)

Specializes in ms,pacu,pdn.

anyone, my online status indicated that they have mailed my certificate but didnt reached me. i checked the tracking number they provided me but it said that my mail encountered an exception so they mailed it back to the sender.please anybody who knows where and how can I follow up my certificate from cgfns? thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I would suggest requesting CGFNS to resend the certificate once you have checked that your address is right or find out what was the problem and rectify it

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey everyone,

After a long process of trying to relocate to NC from Canada, not passing the NCLEX, personal events, etc..I've finally passed the NCLEX and received my license from Minnesota.

My questions:

I've paid and applied to cgfns for my visa screen (probably prematurely because I didn't pass my nclex before paying and now have 3 months before it expires)..I have sent them documents for education, licenses I've held in Canada, etc long time ago.

They require my photo still. I'm assuming I have to send them verification of passing my exam (is a copy accepted?) + current license in Minnesota? I'm wondering if they'll also be waiting for me to endorse into NC and wait for those documents as well before I can get a certificate?

I also remember another nurse telling me I had to register for something called nurse sys? What is that about?

Am I going to somehow have to get a US social security # before going back to the states? Am I required to update my CPR certs in Canada or will I be able to do this when I get back to NC?

I was also told for the TN visa that I should have some sorta proof that I have ties in Canada. This worried me because I don't have anything like a car or house in my name..just bank accounts really.

I'm really wondering how much longer this will all take and if there's anything else I didn't mention that I'll need to present when I enter the US again?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

All VSC requires is a letter from the state saying you have meet RN requirements and passed NCLEX it doesn't matter which state but if you have only 3 months left to complete things then go with the state you passed NCLEX. Not sure on nurse sys may need to get more information about that

You can not apply for a SSN until you are in the US and have your TN and for that you will need employment letter from hospital, vsc (I know you have already mentioned it and aware of it) and I haven't heard that you need ties for home

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi!

I would like to ask for assistance regarding the endorsement and the application of visa screen. I passed the CA NCLEX-RN exam last Feb. and just recently I got the required IELTS score for US bound nurse. I have an employer in Maryland who is petitioning me and ask me to file for endorsement. Last week I emailed MBON and ask for its application for endorsement and presented some queries because I do not hold my permanent license yet from CA. MBON replied me that they do not accept endorsement without having the permanent license on hand. In my email I told them that I am willing to send them a copy of the notification letter I receive when I passed NCLEX and the last email I sent them was for me to write a request to CA BON to forward my file to MBON but hadn't got an answer yet. As I read some of the posts here. I thought that forwarding my file to a state which doesn't require a permanent license on hand and a social security number would help me. I am thinking of NEVADA because they only require a verification from the state where I have my NCLEX as far as I know. As I look at the CA BON website I found on the miscellaneous fees about the Verification of CA RN Licensure which cost $60. Is this the verification that the Neveda State Board of Nursing requires? Is that the right form I need for the endorsement to Nevada and later on when I receive the hard copy of my license would allow me to endorse again to MBON as the finale? I am also aware of the compact states but I do not know if it applies to me since I am a foreign nurse. With the visa screen, I have a petition for H1b for FY 2009-2010. Though my employer did not mention about its neccessity for H1b I would like to have it ready on hand by the time it's needed and requured from me. My question is if I apply now for the visa screen and at the same doing my endorsement to Maryland will it affect my record later on during the USCIS evaluation or consular interview or in one way or another? I do not know what is written in the visa screen certificate. I am a bit confuse if I am going to apply now or wait for my endorsement be granted and have my permanent license from Maryland before I apply for it. Does holding a visa screen applies to any state regardless of where you hold a license? Pls. shed me on these issues I have. I hoping for a positive response. Thank you so much in advance. Lastly going back to the the Verification of CA RN Licensure under misellaneous fees is if there is a downloadable form for that or should I write a personal request letter and just enclosed $60 on a demad draft. Thank you again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In addition to my post above. I just knew that the NSBN would also require a valid permanent license so I am not going to make it there. Do you know any state who doesn't require a permanent license and an SSN in applying for endorsement? Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/ORTHOPAEDICS.

Hi! this is just an inquiry regarding my plan to apply for the Visa screen certificate.I passed the CGFNS/NCLEX/IELTS. I am applying thru mail as applying on line does not give you other option in giving your answers. I am confuse with one question regarding 16c-did passing this exam lead to a licence in the same state /country /what should I answer ? Should I answer NO because I did took my exam in the Philippines although I was issued by the Washington state board of nursing a license which is active-please help me here.Also I want to ask if do I need to sign my entire name including middle name as stated by the form(signature of applicant).Does anybody know how much it cost for the verification of license from the Washington state Board of nursing?and is it right that when I passed the NCLEX I did not received confirmation letter from the Board that I passed the NCLEX instead they sent me a photo copy of my license.I am presently working here in the UK so that means I need 3 separate verifications of licenses which costs me much.Thank you ,any help to this matter is highly appreciated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi!

I would like to ask for assistance regarding the endorsement and the application of visa screen. I passed the CA NCLEX-RN exam last Feb. and just recently I got the required IELTS score for US bound nurse. I have an employer in Maryland who is petitioning me and ask me to file for endorsement. Last week I emailed MBON and ask for its application for endorsement and presented some queries because I do not hold my permanent license yet from CA. MBON replied me that they do not accept endorsement without having the permanent license on hand. In my email I told them that I am willing to send them a copy of the notification letter I receive when I passed NCLEX and the last email I sent them was for me to write a request to CA BON to forward my file to MBON but hadn't got an answer yet. As I read some of the posts here. I thought that forwarding my file to a state which doesn't require a permanent license on hand and a social security number would help me. I am thinking of NEVADA because they only require a verification from the state where I have my NCLEX as far as I know. As I look at the CA BON website I found on the miscellaneous fees about the Verification of CA RN Licensure which cost $60. Is this the verification that the Neveda State Board of Nursing requires? Is that the right form I need for the endorsement to Nevada and later on when I receive the hard copy of my license would allow me to endorse again to MBON as the finale? I am also aware of the compact states but I do not know if it applies to me since I am a foreign nurse. With the visa screen, I have a petition for H1b for FY 2009-2010. Though my employer did not mention about its neccessity for H1b I would like to have it ready on hand by the time it's needed and requured from me. My question is if I apply now for the visa screen and at the same doing my endorsement to Maryland will it affect my record later on during the USCIS evaluation or consular interview or in one way or another? I do not know what is written in the visa screen certificate. I am a bit confuse if I am going to apply now or wait for my endorsement be granted and have my permanent license from Maryland before I apply for it. Does holding a visa screen applies to any state regardless of where you hold a license? Pls. shed me on these issues I have. I hoping for a positive response. Thank you so much in advance. Lastly going back to the the Verification of CA RN Licensure under misellaneous fees is if there is a downloadable form for that or should I write a personal request letter and just enclosed $60 on a demad draft. Thank you again.

You have no license to endorse so you have to apply by application for license and arrange for Ca to forward your results. You will still have to meet BON requirements for foreign trained nurse. This is what Maryland is saying you have to do. Compact state is of no use to you as you are not currently residing in the US. Ca do charge $60 to verify your NCLEX results

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do I have to write the CABON to request for the Verification of CA RN Licensure be forwarded to MBON? Or is there a form I have to download from their webiste to be fill up and just enclose the payment and sent it to them? I do not see any forms though to be downloaded for this type of request. One more thing with regards to my Visa Screen is ICHP Visa Screen under misellaneous fees at CABON website the right one? In doing that all I have to do is sent them the payment of $60 together with the Request of Validation of Registration/License Form from CGFNS right? Thank you so much for the help. God bless...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I will be honest and say I am not sure if you write to them of there is a form you have to complete although I couldn't find anything on either website just fees. May be worth having a search for California and read up on some of the threads that come up there may be your answer

Yes for ICHP you complete the form that is in the handbook and send to Ca along with the fee and they will forward it on to ICHP once completed

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much Silverdragon. Now I am confuse if I do the Visascreen first or the CES. Though I think visascreen should be done first since it'll be needed for my petition for H1b. What do you think? I am trying to give prioritization because of limited resources. These stuff are very expensive for me to do at the same time. But I am so greatful that we have you to guide and teach us towards our desire to work in the US. I truly appreciate it. God bless! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If you are going for H1b then I would get VSC out of the way first. However I would also move forward with CES as it can take up to 4 months of more to go through the process and if you need your license once you get your H1b it will be a delay if still waiting you can not work without the license for the state

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment