Working in the US ----- PLEASE READ FIRST

World International

Published

Steps that need to be taken if you need to apply for the green card.:

1. Apply to a state Board of Nursing for licensure by examination. Follow the requirements that are listed on the application. Some states will require a credentials verification, please be aware of that. Once your credentials have been accepted, they will send you a letter stating that you meet all requirements for licensure except the NCLEX-RN exam. Once you have received this letter, you can go ahead and pay the fee for the exam to Pearson-Vue. This can be done on their website: http://www.pearsonvue.com.

The charge for taking the exam in the US is $200 US, and for the overseas centers is $350 US. The overseas centers require that you phone them to schedule your appointment at this time. See the website listed for Pearson-Vue to obtain their phone numbers.

2. Finger print cards can be done at any police station unless otherwise stated by that particular Board of Nursing. If they are needed, I would have two sets completed.

3. Visa Screen Certificate is handled by CGFNS and can be downloaded from their website at http://www.CGFNS.org. This is required of all nurses who are applying for a green card on their own. If you are married to a nurse who will also be working, currently just one person needs the Certificate as the other will be on a spousal visa. However, this is subject to change.

4. English exams are required if you are not from an exempt country.

Approved exams are TOEFL, TWE, and TSE or the IELTS series with the academic branch and the speaking section.

5. Any forms that require a notary can be done at the U.S. Embassy where you are living. There is a fee for this. Last time that I checked, the charge was about $35 US per signature required.

6. For those of you wishing to go the New York route, they require a special credentials verification, called a CVS, also done thru CGFNS. They can use the same submitted documents for the Visa Screen Certificate. But you do not submit the documents and are unable to do so. CGFNS is required to obtain all needed documents for this, you just submit the applications and pay the fee and they do the rest.

Hope that this helps clear up many questions that keep popping up. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, Suzanne4, I am confused about no.6 you mentioned above. I am the one who has been going through the New York route. I did send my application to CGFNS for New York verification, then, CGFNS sent my report up to the New York State, finally, New York State informed me that my education has been approved. Now, I am working on NCLEX now and planning to start applying my visascreen certificate as you said I'd better start it as soon as possible. But I wonder to whom I need to submit my applicatoin, CGFNS or N.Y.?? Since I have already submit a lot of documents for CVS, what other documents I need to submit? Another question is I used to be a nurse in my country, but never registered since my country did have the registered system while I was a nurse. So do you think I will meet all the requirement for visascreen certificate? I remember somebody told me I have to hold a nurse license in my country for the visascreen certificate. If not, I will never get it even though I pass all the exam they require, is that ture?? Thanks a lot! And have a nice day!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The Visa Screen application goes to CGFNS...................

You are not required to be a licensed nurse in your home country to become a licensed nurse in the US.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Excellent information, Suzanne. I am sure this will help many!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
is required of all nurses who are applying for a green card on their own

I know that's sounds kinnda stupid, but after all this time I'm REALY confused what I need, what I don't need and what I can do.. so sorry, if I'm totaly clueless.

I got my Credential Evaluation, my NCLEX-RN (for FL) and my Visa Screen.

Now, after all I've been through, do I need an employer who applies for my GC or can I go to the local Ambassy on my own w/o an employer and apply for a GC?!

please help!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I know that's sounds kinnda stupid, but after all this time I'm REALY confused what I need, what I don't need and what I can do.. so sorry, if I'm totaly clueless.

I got my Credential Evaluation, my NCLEX-RN (for FL) and my Visa Screen.

Now, after all I've been through, do I need an employer who applies for my GC or can I go to the local Ambassy on my own w/o an employer and apply for a GC?!

please help!!!

you can not apply on your own it has to be done with an employer

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I know that's sounds kinnda stupid, but after all this time I'm REALY confused what I need, what I don't need and what I can do.. so sorry, if I'm totaly clueless.

I got my Credential Evaluation, my NCLEX-RN (for FL) and my Visa Screen.

Now, after all I've been through, do I need an employer who applies for my GC or can I go to the local Ambassy on my own w/o an employer and apply for a GC?!

please help!!!

As stated above, a green card is issued to you, but you must be petitioned for it by an employer. Nothing can be done beyond what you have done until you actually have an employer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I knew it would be a stupid question :rolleyes:

but thx for your patient replies :flowersfo

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I knew it would be a stupid question :rolleyes:

but thx for your patient replies :flowersfo

nothing is ever stupid, I always recommend asking questions only way to learn :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi all! I've been reading your posts and I'd like to thank everyone here for giving sound advice for everyone else here.

I'm an RN in the Philippines, just passed the IELTS, then applied for licensure in CA (not recommended by Suzanne) before I discovered this forum. I already applied for registration to PearsonVUE, and I'm currently waiting for my ATT. My question's probably asked a million times, yet I searched all similar threads and stickies and no posts hold similar queries, and so I humbly ask:

1. If in case I pass the NCLEX, how will I get a social security number and my hard license? My problem is MONEY, and I feel that I would be denied of a B1 tourist visa. Are there any employers who could petition me even if I only hold a letter of passing the NCLEX? Even for a temporary work visa (H1 or EB3)? I would go for it, and apply for my green card once I'm there.

I really don't get it, how can they hire me if I can't get there and get my SS# and hard license??? I already passed the NCLEX after all.

2. If this is not possible, can I apply for NY licensure (recommended by Suzanne) even if I already applied to PearsonVUE through CA eligibility?

Thank you very much and I'd really appreciate your reply. Please help me. :o

God Bless to everyone :):)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Welcome to Allnurses.com..............

As soon as you have passed NCLEX, you will be eligible to begin the immigration process. You do not need to have the license in hand. You will not get a license number until you actually have a SSN#, and you will not get that until you have your petition underway. Kind of a Catch-22, as we say over here.

Where would you like to work? In California? Type of unit?

You can apply for a job before you even come to the US, and that is done all of the time.

Just work towards passing the NCLEX exam the first time, if you need articles and information, please send me your e-mail address by pm and I will send them when I do my next mailing. Do not post it here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you very much for bringing light to this.

I wish to work in California, most of my relatives are already there in Northern California, in Sacramento and Antioch. I am very much willing to work in any type of unit, I work here in the Philippines as a staff nurse in a small hospital, so I was pretty much assigned to all in-patient units. I know I should be focused to one, so I want to be assigned to ICU when I transfer to a bigger hospital and eventually to California.

BTW, if in case I pass the NCLEX, maybe you could recommend me to some employers you know? :) I read in your posts that it's great to be in Stanford.

Thank you again!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment