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. :)
Your family needs to have their petition submitted at the same time as yours, as your dependents or they will be waiting about two years to join you. So when you do get a job offer, and your petition is submitted by your employer, your immigration attorney will also do the paperwork for your immediate family.
if i have submitted their petition at the same time as mine, how long will it take before they are approved and join me in the US?is it advisable to have my own immigration attorney or is it better to have the employer's attorney?
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.
Hi, Suzanne! Can you suggest a jobsite with employers accepting even unregistered nurses (at least unregistered in the US) so that I can be petitioned for a green card while awaiting my CGFNS/NCLEX results. Thanks so much for your time and patience!
Hi, Suzanne! Can you suggest a jobsite with employers accepting even unregistered nurses (at least unregistered in the US) so that I can be petitioned for a green card while awaiting my CGFNS/NCLEX results. Thanks so much for your time and patience!
Hi :) Suzanne will be along later to respond, but thought I might be able to help :)
I was in a similar situation to you, but I just approached a hospital directly to apply for a position. I had to wait until I had passed NCLEX before the hospital would petition me. Once you have NCLEX you can just go ahead and apply for a postion to a facility who would be willing to hire foreign-educated nurses and petition for green card.
The petition cannot be submitted until the nurse has NCLEX, this applies to all US States. The CGFNS exam is not required by all States, so depending on where you want to work, CGFNS may not be a requirement.
Hi, Suzanne! Can you suggest a jobsite with employers accepting even unregistered nurses (at least unregistered in the US) so that I can be petitioned for a green card while awaiting my CGFNS/NCLEX results. Thanks so much for your time and patience!
They cannot accept you without documentation of a passing score, as that is required by immigration. There is no way to start anything without that.
Nothing can be submitted without attaching proof of passing one of those exams.
Hi :) Suzanne will be along later to respond, but thought I might be able to help :)
I was in a similar situation to you, but I just approached a hospital directly to apply for a position. I had to wait until I had passed NCLEX before the hospital would petition me. Once you have NCLEX you can just go ahead and apply for a postion to a facility who would be willing to hire foreign-educated nurses and petition for green card.
The petition cannot be submitted until the nurse has NCLEX, this applies to all US States. The CGFNS exam is not required by all States, so depending on where you want to work, CGFNS may not be a requirement.
They cannot accept you without documentation of a passing score, as that is required by immigration. There is no way to start anything without that.
Nothing can be submitted without attaching proof of passing one of those exams.
Where are you located now?
Thanks for the reply, Suzanne. I guess I have to pass my exams first:) . I have another set of questions re: submitting my visascreen the same time as I apply for NY NCLEX.Question #16 is asking for the passing in NCLEX. Of course I should check the NO box. It's just that, won't it affect the result of the visascreen? If, in case I eventually pass the NCLEX, what if the result gets in late for the visascreen ( I mean considering delays in processing/approval of applications,etc.). Will the Visascreen/CGFNS wait for the result of my exam? And how can I let them know that I am going to take the NCLEX soon? Should I attach another paper explaining that my I'm going to take NCLEX soon? whew! Sorry for bombarding you with these questions. Thanks again.
You have not passed it yet, and therefore do not have something for them to review. When you do pass, just notify ICHP by having NY submit for you.
The application that you submit for Visa Screen is good for two years. Most submit with their initial application as they still need to get the verifications from your nursing school, and any countries where you have had a lciense. That is what takes the longest. Not getting the results of an exam.
You are jumping too far ahead of yourself. Just take things one step at a time, that is why things are set up the way that they are. There is a reason behind each and every step.
whew! Sorry for bombarding you with these questions. Thanks again.
florencenightingale, BSN, RN
76 Posts
if i have submitted their petition at the same time as mine, how long will it take before they are approved and join me in the US?is it advisable to have my own immigration attorney or is it better to have the employer's attorney?