Warning to UK nurses trying to work in USA.

[AandE angel]

Just a word of warning for any UK nurses who regardless of retrogression and economic problems within the US are still trying to obtain a visa, some issues I have encountered:-

Decided in September 2008 to start the process of moving to the US, I applied to Vermont Board of Nursing, I was warned that they can be a little slow but decided to go ahead, now 7 months later I have heard nothing from them, no email, no correspondence or any contact at all. The web site gives little information about your application other than it has been received and confirmation of the information that you have provided, it doesnt tell you where your application is up to or if you need to do anything to assist them.

As I know the visa wait is very long, I decided to pay for the CES at the same time as I sent my application to CGFNS, the service I have received from them has been deplorable!! I have had to chase all my documentation myself as they just keep sending me "do not reply" emails telling me that my application is dormant, 4 months after receipt of my application, the web site still stated that they had received neither my transcripts or my NMC confirmation, yet again I contact both these agencies to be told that both documents had been returned to them 2 days after they had been asked for!! I assume carrier pidgeons must have been used, after 5 months they confirmed that they had in fact received the documentated and that my date of birth was incorrect - this has occured because the US and UK write the dates transposed, they stated that they had sent a letter to my university for confirmation, again this was received and replied to within the same week, guess what!! now 7 months on they say this still havent received this letter and that my account is dormant - the full CES is expensive and at present I have definately not received a service anything like I have paid for!!

Taking all this into account and the fact that the Visa Bullitin date has now not changed for 4 months!! I have decided that the America dream has turned into a nightmare and that the UK with our 7 weeks paid leave isnt that bad after all!!! my heart goes out to all the other UK nurses who are at some point in this system!! I hope you have staying power!! and the patients of a saint!!

PS - CGFNS did reply very quickly to my email complaint and request for full refund!! to inform me that they dont do refunds!!! :banghead:

[KoshkaBuba, RN]

CGFNS is one of the MOST horrible places i have dealed with living in the US . I even didn't know how they exsist and nobody will close them. It took me 4 years to get my US licence through CGFNS.