Working toward e3 visa with questions on the way?

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Hi

I have a couple of questions as I work toward the long process of an E3 visa to work in Labor and Delivery in the U.S. I am in the process of the CGFNS CES report. I have read some threads that some Australian bachelor of nursing degrees are not equivalent to a BSN. In same cases okay and in others not according to CGFNS as they lack science subjects, biology and year 12 High School subjects. I hold a (NSW) UTS 1993 (3 year) bachelor of nursing degree i'm a little worried. I also hold a 2 year diploma in midwifery (health science) and hoping this may suffice any shortfalls in the nursing bachelor. I require my credentials to match a BSN to suffice the E3 visa where many L&D nurse jobs such as Penn Hospital and other "magnet status" hospitals require a BSN for employment. I have 18 years experience in acute care facilities with 12 years in maternity alone.

Secondly if GHILBERT is around you may be able to take me in the right direction. If all plans go well I will apply to Vermont BON re NCLEX exam. I have been conversing with HCL international recruiters as this is new to me. Is working with these guys who have been very helpful so far is a good thing? Do you have any feedback on this?. I am looking at a 2 year assignment to start with in L&D in Magnet Status Hospital:nurse:. I am unable to work as a CNM unless i take apply to Philly Uni or others to complete the masters course and national exam in midwifery. Catch 22 is that you have to be working in the US as a Nurse for 12 months first.

Any suggestions from Aussies who have done the hard yards and arrived?

thanks

Sally (Sydney OZ)

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Any assistance please in allnurses land re previous post?

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Specializes in CTICU.

I don't know what you're asking for specifically?

Get an educational equivalency report to show that your education is the same as a US bachelor degree for the E3 requirements. You should be fine with your undergrad + postgrad.

This is different than meeting requirements for bachelor degree with CES report - that's up to CGFNS. Mine was fine and I did it '94-96. Only you know if you have the required psych, peds, obgyn etc.

You do not need a recruiting firm. Do you have to pay them? What's in it for them? All hospitals hire directly, although some are in hiring freeze right now as the economy recovers.

If you'd be willing to work at the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital rather than Penn, let me know.

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Thanks for the reply Ghilbert

I am dealing with a UK based international recruitment company but have no contractual attachments to them as yet. I guess your right many large hospitals have their own recruiting arms like The Johnson Medical Hospitals, Penn Hospital. At the moment I have to do all the work now with CGFNS, NCLEX etc myself and then they help find a job with satisfies E3 requirements. Because of the economic problems in the U.S not many of the recruiters wan't to know you but I am looking at entry in 2012-2013 with many years of experience. The recruiters demand a $15000 fee from the hospital which is why they are probably struggling now considering there is plenty of jobs posted on hospital sites now but the hospitals are not desperate enough to blow $15K for a foreign nurse.

I will be looking to work in L&D with a magnet status hospital were most require a BSN for employment in L&D. Being a qualified midwife in Oz L&D is my only option at this stage unless you recommend others specialties. I am looking to the East Coast area with 'four seasons' of weather so to speak for the kids and a city NOT to big, smaller than Sydney is a must. Probably from Nth Carolina north to Maine and West to your area avoiding NY. Will keep posting questions along the way no doubt.

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Specializes in CTICU.

You are severely limiting your choices by going to only Magnet hospitals - you don't need to for the E3. All you need to do it show that your position requires a bachelor degree.

I don't know if you read what I asked about Children's in Pittsburgh, but to use that for an example, if you search jobs there are positions for "staff nurse" and then positions for "professional nurse - BSN" or worded something like that.

I have exited and entered the US at least 10 times since I started working on E3 status several years ago and I always carry all my visa/job paperwork, and I have never had a problem at immigration. Granted, I work in a very specialized area, but my hospital is not a Magnet facility and it is my position itself that requires the BSN as described in the position description.

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Hi Ghilbert

Understood regarding the specialty position requiring a bachelor degree to meet E3 conditions. With L&D positions many only 'prefer' a BSN degree where as many Magnet Hospitals most require a BSN degree as a minimum, Penn Hosp etc. At this stage I am awaiting the painfully long process of CGFNS equivalency report obviously requiring an equivalent of a BSN or no E3. I see you used a different company for your equivalency qualifications report. Do they apply the same standard principles when assessing your degree's and diplomas as CGFNS?.

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Specializes in CTICU.

As I mentioned before, I think, the CGFNS evaluation does NOT determine if you are eligible for an E3 (as in, bachelor degre equivalent). It is a hurdle required for licensure purposes. You can use whoever you want to show that you have an Aussie bachelor degree + experience which = 4yr US bachelor degree in terms of what you can take to the consulate for your interview. In fact, I was never even asked during my visa interview if I had a US nursing license or for the equivalency report.. they just wanted the offer letter and job description from the hospital, and the approved LCA.

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Thanks,

I will wait and see what CGFNS respond with. I covered all the usual areas in training that US BONS's have issues with so it should be a smooth but slow transition to get approval to take NCLEX through Vermont BON. I understand the E3 requirements and they are straight forward for immigration. Only need CGFNS to equate my transcipts to a BSN as that is what I will need for hospital positions. Once I move register with the BON I will no doubt post again regarding which hospitals and States to apply for L&D jobs. I have not committed to an agency yet and the more a learn along the way using forums like this the better. I am thinking an agency will be less attractive to employers at the moment with their large fees and many large hospitals have their own recruitment people.

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Hi Grantsally1 & Ghilbert,

I am an RN from Brisbane who worked in the Operating Room. Have recently passed the NCLEX and am currently in the process of finalizing the paperwork to be registered with Hawaii BON (although I will only be issued a conditional license until I have a work visa). I am planning on getting the E3 but have never realized that general nurses don't actually qualify for the visa until I read some of your posts on the forum! I am pretty worried and confused.

I have a Diploma in Nursing (EEN) with credits transferred onto Bachelor of Nursing (2 years degree). As I've only ever worked in the OR, this is the area where I would apply for jobs. Would you guys know if the OR would be considered specialized enough for the E3? Grantsally- how was your experience with getting all the paperwork together as an L&D nurse?

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Hi Candabeth. The most difficult part will be landing a job. A lot of Rn positions only require an associates degree however that is slowly changing some states faster than others. You will have to look at university and magnet status hospitals which require a percentage of Bsn employees. The visa will not be an issue, finding a job over others may be. Unless you have a specialty and or experience it may be tough going. I don't want to put you off but just spelling the facts as is now. Good luck.

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