Visa Screen Certificate / CGFNS

World Registration

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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 Medical and general practice now LTC.

CES is not part of the VSC process, they are 2 different things although the documents sent for one can be used for the other

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hi there guys i just have a few queries about my visa screen application.

1. on the application page on step 12, it stated that i need to submit the academic records and nurse license validation via mail. i already have ces, how would cgfns know that i have been evaluated already? if it's confirmed that i do not need to send another copy of my credentials anymore, does that mean that the only forms that i need to submit are the photo id card and visa screen application?

2. on the photo id card, it says" do not print - sign entire name" what does this mean? is this my signature or do i have to write my full name?

3. where would i find the request for request for validation of registration/license?

4. i have read nursing forums suggesting that i do my application by a paper application, since you are going to need to mail cgfns things in the first place, but i am going to have my payment via credit card. is it possible to do this? i already created my application online, but there are a lot of errors in the final page.

5. in the step 7: nurses only information, there is a question about "did passing of this exam lead to a license being issued in the same state/province and country?" i passed that nclex in new jersey but did not give me a license yet because i am currently in the philippines so should i answer no?

thank you.

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Specializes in Acute Care. ER. Aged Care/LTC. Psyche.

i'll try to answer this as accurately as possible.

hi there guys i just have a few queries about my visa screen application.

1. on the application page on step 12, it stated that i need to submit the academic records and nurse license validation via mail. i already have ces, how would cgfns know that i have been evaluated already? if it’s confirmed that i do not need to send another copy of my credentials anymore, does that mean that the only forms that i need to submit are the photo id card and visa screen application?

i did the online application. and normally, if you already got your ces, cgfns will use your record to come up with the visascreen. and i've asked cgfns about this before, and they told me i do not have to submit it again. so yes, just the photo id card and the application form.

2. on the photo id card, it says” do not print - sign entire name” what does this mean? is this my signature or do i have to write my full name?

on mine, i signed in front - bottom part of the picture. that's it.

3. where would i find the request for request for validation of registration/license?

on cgfns website?

4. i have read nursing forums suggesting that i do my application by a paper application, since you are going to need to mail cgfns things in the first place, but i am going to have my payment via credit card. is it possible to do this? i already created my application online, but there are a lot of errors in the final page.

i believe it's possible. there's a credit card form in the application packet. just fill that up.

5. in the step 7: nurses only information, there is a question about “did passing of this exam lead to a license being issued in the same state/province and country?” i passed that nclex in new jersey but did not give me a license yet because i am currently in the philippines so should i answer no?

thank you.

you're right.

i prefer online application than the paper. faster response, faster feedback, faster result.

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CES is not part of the VSC process, they are 2 different things although the documents sent for one can be used for the other

thanks silverdragon.. :)

may i ask if there are some of you who processed their VS cert. even without an agency yet?

and those of you who are endorsing their NCLEX in another state, do you guys already have your agency or employer for you immigrant visa application ?

I am an cali NCLEX passer too and still looking for an agency, is it wise for me to process the visascreen cert while scouting for an agency or is it just fine to avail it now to avoid wasting time since i still own my time at the moment because i have no work to do? looking forward to your responses.. pls. Thanks

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thank you vmuch :)

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
thanks silverdragon.. :)

may i ask if there are some of you who processed their VS cert. even without an agency yet?

and those of you who are endorsing their NCLEX in another state, do you guys already have your agency or employer for you immigrant visa application ?

I am an cali NCLEX passer too and still looking for an agency, is it wise for me to process the visascreen cert while scouting for an agency or is it just fine to avail it now to avoid wasting time since i still own my time at the moment because i have no work to do? looking forward to your responses.. pls. Thanks

Up to you when you apply for VSC however there is a 5 year expiry date and it isn't always a requirement to have vsc in hand by employers. VSC takes approx 4 months to issue as long as all documents are in date i.e English exams etc so a lot will depend on when you English exam expires, you could apply for vsc if you have approx 6 months left on it but really it is your decision to make. Retrogression is still ongoing however the dates did jump 10 months on the visa bulletin but there is no telling how long you will have to wait especially with no employer yet

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Hi. I am in the process of applying for visascreen online although I haven't paid yet. I noticed that i typed the wrong year for the test information for the English proficiency test. Problem is, there are no options where I can edit the wrong data. So what I did is add another proficiency test thinking that it will erase the previous data but when I saved the data, there were already 2 tests in it with the same exact information except for the year of my test date. I cannot erase the wrong information since there is also no option to delete the wrong data. Now, I cannot pay for my application because I might encounter serious problems regarding this error. What should I do? Please, anyone, help me.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi. I am in the process of applying for visascreen online although I haven't paid yet. I noticed that i typed the wrong year for the test information for the English proficiency test. Problem is, there are no options where I can edit the wrong data. So what I did is add another proficiency test thinking that it will erase the previous data but when I saved the data, there were already 2 tests in it with the same exact information except for the year of my test date. I cannot erase the wrong information since there is also no option to delete the wrong data. Now, I cannot pay for my application because I might encounter serious problems regarding this error. What should I do? Please, anyone, help me.

You can not edit information online once it has been entered, the only thing you can do is print the forms off, complete by pen and send it in to them with a cover note explaining you made a mistake on your online application, they will make the changes

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Hi guys.. I'm a newbie here at allnurses.. I was browsing google for my questions regarding VSC and I found this site and I think it can help me.. Right now, I am filling out the online application of VSC.. I was about to pay it but I notice I'm having a problem with my 2 courses: BS Pharmacy and BS Nursing (both licensed)

Questions:

1. Should I or should I not include my BS Pharmacy course?

2. If I include this course should I process the form for this course?? or just the BSN?

3. I also got 2 forms for PRC since I'm both licensed in these fields. Do I have to process both? or just my RN license?

4. There's a part for what kind of visa? I ticked the Green Card part.. Is it right?

5. Regarding the signature, should I plainly write my full name?

Please help me.. Thank you

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Hello everyone! I was wondering if anyone knew the process if you got married to an American. I have been with the same guy for 7 years and we are planning on getting married however will not be able to afford a wedding for at least another 1-2 years. If we got married tomorrow, would I be eligible to work in the US (I am Canadian) without having to do any of this CGFNS? I have heard from others that once you get married it still takes about a year before you are eligible to work. This is not my preferred option but if it makes this whole process much easier it may be worth it.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hello everyone! I was wondering if anyone knew the process if you got married to an American. I have been with the same guy for 7 years and we are planning on getting married however will not be able to afford a wedding for at least another 1-2 years. If we got married tomorrow, would I be eligible to work in the US (I am Canadian) without having to do any of this CGFNS? I have heard from others that once you get married it still takes about a year before you are eligible to work. This is not my preferred option but if it makes this whole process much easier it may be worth it.

Marrying a USC only makes it easier to get a immigrant visa and you do not need a visa screen certificate. However if the state requires CGFNS service like CES then you have to still go through it because you still have to meet the state requirements for foreign trained nurse. Even marrying a USC takes time to complete paperwork allowing you to live and wok in the US it isn't a quick route

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Hello, everyone! I've a question about Visa Screen Certificate. I'm a Canadian, and had my RN education in US and passed Nclex recently. Do I have to apply for Visa Screen Certificate if I want to get TN visa to work in US?

All your reponses will be greatly appreciated!

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