Visa screens?? Australian nurse wanting to work in USA

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Hi all,

I'm a nurse from Australia and am undertaking the LOOONNGG process of getting my nursing reg to the states. I'm planning on working in Colorado. I have to do 2 courses to make up hours in paeds and obstetrics, and then i'm planning on applying to Vermont (Q1. Is vermont good to go through?) Also from there I will sit the NCLEX, Q2. it doesn't matter what state I sit the NCLEX in does it?

Q 3. I've just come across visa screens and have no clue what this is?? can anyone give me some info?

Q4. After I sit the NCLEX, whats the process in order to work in the US? Is all I have to do is find a hospital to sponsor me (or go through an agency?) Is there much paperwork to do after I have sat the NCLEX?

Any advice would be appreciated, I'm feeling very overwhelmed!!!

Cheers :bugeyes:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Hi

Which route are you planning on working in the US?

Visa screen certificate is something all foreign nurses require if getting work visa of their own and all information can be found on the CGFNS website. If has to be in hand if you apply for a E3 visa (only Australian citizens qualify) if applying for GC then you can get it near time of your visa application being processed. Currently for GC there is a retrogression and looking at several years wait and all countries are affected.

Can be done without agency and usually hospital will have a lawyer that will be able to sort paperwork out as the hospital has to provide certain paperwork.

I would suggest a good read on Retrogression and E3 visas as there are a couple of Australian citizens who have used this route.

Personally if planning on working in Colorado then apply to the BON from the start as even for endorsing you usually have to meet requirements for foreign trained nurse

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Specializes in CTICU.

I used VT and found them excellent. It was 4 months from submitting documentation to getting Authority to Test for exam. Sat NCLEX in Sydney. License issued within 60days after that. Applied for Visa Screen Certificate some time before, and then just submitted NCLEX result and Vermont license and VSC arrived quickly.

Got an E3 specialty work visa for australians. I did get an academic equivalency report to show that my BN = BSN. At no point did I need to show either this or the VSC - waste of money, really!

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im also living in Australia, SA and had plans to nusre in the USA. I have passed my NCLEX and got a visa screen but im not sighned to any hospital as im still deciding if its a good idea to sign up and risk that i still want to make the move in four or five years.

Any way thought id let you know that you can do your NCLEX in Sydney as it sounds like you think you have to go to the US to do it.

Good luck

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Specializes in CTICU.

space woman, are you an Australian citizen?

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Hello I am a British nurse. Dont mean to sound on a downer about this but we were in the process of emmigrating to America. I passed the nclex exam and fortunately i didnt need to do extra studying for obstetrics etc...I got to the first stage the DIAC which was a total nightmare due to the visa retrogression. In addition the second stage at the National Visacentre was currently dealing with May 2004 applicants therefore not only would you have to wait for the Diac you then have a lenghty wait for the NVC. If you are prepared for the long wait I reckon about 6 years I would look at other options. Why America and do you have any family. Joanna

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If an Australian citizen and the OP meets E3 requirements then they can use that to go work in the US, unfortunately only 3 countries have treaty work arrangements with the US so many more are affected by retrogression

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Joanna re:

Hello I am a British nurse. Dont mean to sound on a downer about this but we were in the process of emmigrating to America. I passed the nclex exam and fortunately i didnt need to do extra studying for obstetrics etc...I got to the first stage the DIAC which was a total nightmare due to the visa retrogression. In addition the second stage at the National Visacentre was currently dealing with May 2004 applicants therefore not only would you have to wait for the Diac you then have a lenghty wait for the NVC. If you are prepared for the long wait I reckon about 6 years I would look at other options. Why America and do you have any family. Joanna

Thanks for your reply,

From my understanding I am not eligible to sit the NCLEX until i have enough hours in obstetrics and maternity so therefore i have to do extra study... Pardon my ignorance, but what is DIAC?

My boyfriend is a citizen and we want to move and live over there. I've already booked tickets for October 09 and will be doing seasonal work until my nursing reg comes through... If it ever will! 6 years??? Is this true? i'm not prepared to wait that long

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Thanks for your reply,

From my understanding I am not eligible to sit the NCLEX until i have enough hours in obstetrics and maternity so therefore i have to do extra study... Pardon my ignorance, but what is DIAC?

My boyfriend is a citizen and we want to move and live over there. I've already booked tickets for October 09 and will be doing seasonal work until my nursing reg comes through... If it ever will! 6 years??? Is this true? i'm not prepared to wait that long

Have you applied yet to board of nursing? and What visa will you be applying for? It takes on average 4 to 6 months to get eligibility to sit NCLEX and get results. Then depending on visa will depend on when to apply and how quick it is issued.

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I haven't applied to the nursing board yet. Is this something I should do ASAP? I have downloaded the forms but haven't filled them out. I'm thinking i'l get an E3 visa or H1/2B. Any suggestions? I'm aware of the 4-6 months for eligibility to sit NCLEX

Thanks for the reply

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I haven't applied to the nursing board yet. Is this something I should do ASAP? I have downloaded the forms but haven't filled them out. I'm thinking i'l get an E3 visa or H1/2B. Any suggestions? I'm aware of the 4-6 months for eligibility to sit NCLEX

Thanks for the reply

I would say you need to sort the forms out ASAP. To qualify for either visas you need a pass in NCLEX (license or letter stating you meet BON requirements) visa screen certificate and employment job offer in hand plus usually an interview at the embassy. I also think you will need a medical although I am not 100% sure on that but one is required when going for immigrant visa. H1b has to be applied for by employer as does the E3. I do wonder if you are pushing the time frame for October as for either route the employer has to complete several things like file a Labor Condition Application with the Secretary of Labor and wages. I would suggest you try and contact ghillbert as they have gone the E3 route and will be able to indicate time frame to you

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Read this link US Embassy Camberra

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