Work Visa for Foreign Nurses: Is there such a thing?

World Immigration

Published

Or its just immigrant visa, which of course arent available because of the retrogression?

Work visas are not affected by retrogression right? Are nurses qualified for work visa?

Work Visa for Australians... Pls help and clarify...

I heard that E-3 visa is what Australians use (similar to TN visa in Canada & Mexico) to work in the US.

Currently we are in the process of waiting for USCIS petition, we signed a contract last month, January 2008, to work for an agency in the US under I-140 petition.

Due to retrogression. They cannot guarantee how long the processing will take. They said, it may take more than a year or a few years. Now we felt we're going nowhere.

I just want to ask if we can cancel with this Agency, and just fly to the US on E-3 visa with another employer (direct hiring - Hospital), and have our papers fixed over there, from working visa and unto green card.

We are desperate for some answers, please help anyone!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Work Visa for Australians... Pls help and clarify...

I heard that E-3 visa is what Australians use (similar to TN visa in Canada & Mexico) to work in the US.

Currently we are in the process of waiting for USCIS petition, we signed a contract last month, January 2008, to work for an agency in the US under I-140 petition.

Due to retrogression. They cannot guarantee how long the processing will take. They said, it may take more than a year or a few years. Now we felt we're going nowhere.

I just want to ask if we can cancel with this Agency, and just fly to the US on E-3 visa with another employer (direct hiring - Hospital), and have our papers fixed over there, from working visa and unto green card.

We are desperate for some answers, please help anyone!!!

You can not do E3 from the US has to be done in Australia. Also E3 is available for citizens so if just a resident of Australia you will not qualify for it (just to point out to others reading this) If you cancel with agency then you may loose I140 as pertaining to Job and may not be a window to change from E3 for a few years and they may have cancellations fees to pay

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Depending on the agency that you have signed with, you could be up against a large cancellation fee. We have seen that happen over and over again.

And as mentioned by Anna, the E3 visa must be obtained in Australia and is only available if you actually hold an Aussie passport.

There are no green cards available at this time, so there is no way to fix papers faster for the green card if you are in the US. You would still only be able to get the I-140 submitted and then all would come to a standstill.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Depending on the agency that you have signed with, you could be up against a large cancellation fee. We have seen that happen over and over again.

And as mentioned by Anna, the E3 visa must be obtained in Australia and is only available if you actually hold an Aussie passport.

There are no green cards available at this time, so there is no way to fix papers faster for the green card if you are in the US. You would still only be able to get the I-140 submitted and then all would come to a standstill.

Thanks Anna and Suzanne for your reply. We are Australians. And reading through the contract we signed, it says "upon approval of petition... and upon arrival to the US..." we only signed last month, we paid $1000 for processing fees, which they said is refundable. So I suppose that is what we will loose, just in case... so this means E-3 is the way to go at this time... please clarify...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You should not be paying processing fees like you did for that agency in the first place; doubt that you will see any of it, they are going to tell you that they incurred expenses already on your behalf. Never advise agencies when you need to pay them anything for their services, they are also getting paid by the employer that they will place you with. You were taken advantage of, plain and simple.

The E3 has specific requirements, you must have the license for that state, as well as the Visa Screen Certificate in hand before you can even apply for it. But the nice thing about it is that the spouse can also work with this one, they cannot with the NAFTA TN Visa.

Just check out the specific requirements with the US Embassy in Sydney for the other requirements.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hi this is my first time to post and i am a new member also.like every body else,im also a nurse waiting to work in USA. so far i've been offered a job in arizona but still waiting to sigh the contract.but prior to this i spoke to one agency and they are actually offering working visa's to USA,is these real? i did not belive it so i thought its gone.could someone shed some light on this,i will appreciate any reply.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
hi this is my first time to post and i am a new member also.like every body else,im also a nurse waiting to work in USA. so far i've been offered a job in arizona but still waiting to sigh the contract.but prior to this i spoke to one agency and they are actually offering working visa's to USA,is these real? i did not belive it so i thought its gone.could someone shed some light on this,i will appreciate any reply.

I would be wary as main visa is GC and currently everyone is under retrogression. Did they give any indication to which visa?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What type of visa did they mention and what type of qualifications do you actually have? Very difficult to get the H1-B visa if you are going to be working as a staff nurse. Almost impossible.

We keep seeing some agencies make promises that they cannot keep, they do not issue the visas, that is done only by the US federal government.

The H1-B also requires the BSN, and does not accept the three year diploma program from the UK, not sure of what your training was.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What type of visa did they mention and what type of qualifications do you actually have? Very difficult to get the H1-B visa if you are going to be working as a staff nurse. Almost impossible.

We keep seeing some agencies make promises that they cannot keep, they do not issue the visas, that is done only by the US federal government.

The H1-B also requires the BSN, and does not accept the three year diploma program from the UK, not sure of what your training was.

they said its a hospital in maryland that sponsors working visa instead of green card due to retrogression,i'll be under 24 or more months(can't remember)then upon completion (i think,can't remembr)of the contract they will file for greencard visa.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i hold a us license, w/BSN(4 YEARS).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
they said its a hospital in maryland that sponsors working visa instead of green card due to retrogression,i'll be under 24 or more months(can't remember)then upon completion (i think,can't remembr)of the contract they will file for greencard visa.

You are speaking of the H1-C visa first of all. I suggest that you do some more reading and perhaps even contact the facility, as the one that you are speaking of, last we heard was no longer sponsoring under this visa.

That visa in its entirety, actually expires sometime in 2010 and we are not sure if it will be renewed. No one knows if it will be renewed. If your visa expires, or is cancelled then and there are no visas available; they will not be able to submit the required petition called the I-485 that you will need for the green card and to use the AOS processing.

Also some other facts that you need to be aware of, there are only 15 facilities out of the entire US that have been able to sponsor under that classification and it is because of a severe shortage and not being able to get enough US nurses willing to work there. For the facility in Maryland, it is also due to its location and therefore safety of the staff.

Your choice as to what to do, but I have never liked this particular visa and never will. And seriously hope that they do not return when they are times out. You are not paid the same as the American nurse, and it is only a temporary visa and if it gets cancelled for what ever reason, or you do not like something at the facility, you have to leave the US unless you can find another hospital in the US that is already under that classification for you to move to. So that would also mean moving again. Most are on the Mexico border or in the middle of no place and you have to drive more than an hour just to get to the market.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
they said its a hospital in maryland that sponsors working visa instead of green card due to retrogression,i'll be under 24 or more months(can't remember)then upon completion (i think,can't remembr)of the contract they will file for greencard visa.

That facility in Maryland is no longer sponsoring for the H1-C visa. At least the last that we heard. And there was only one in the entire state.

Again, if you come to the US on a visa like that, you will be leaving in less than two years since the H1-C is due to be finished then. It was only authorized until 2010, then the visas go poof. We do not expect it to be renewed as there are only 15 facilities in the entire country under this designation.

This hospital was doing it before the retrogression even started.

If there are no visas available for you to adjust to at that time, then again, you will be unable to remain in the US and wait. With the retrogression in place and this company not even starting the petitioning process until the end of your contract there, your chances will also be much slimmer in terms of getting a green card. Being in the US no longer gives you the benefit as there just are not enough visas to go around.

If you are aware of all of this, then it is your choice. But I never, ever recommend this type of visa, never have and never will.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment