Worst news for RNs from India, Philippines and China

kid80 · May 6, 2005

there are a lot of nurses that will start getting their visas finalized(hundreds are just waiting for there consulat interviews only) //others will follow in due course //please stop seeing the glass as empty when it is actually full now//nobody is foolish enough to resign before their visas are issued//THE MAIN THING IS THE WAY THE BILL HAS BEEN PASSED//AMERICAN CONGRESS HAVE GIVEN COGNISANCE TO THE DEMAND OF NURSES AND TAKEN APPROPRIATE STEPS //GOD BLESS AMERICA//THE SUPPORT FOR NURSES CUTS ACROSS PARTY LINES// any further shortages in visas numbers if any will be dealt with as the problems arise //before these VISAS FINISH THER IS GOING TO BE A TEMPORARY VISAS( option) IN PLACE FOR NURSES //SO THINGS ARE GOING TO SPEED UP NOT SLOW DOWN// look as the glass is full life seems rosier .never never loose hope because it is hope which sustains GOD BLESS SORRY FOR ATROCIOUS GRAMMAR AND MISTAKES IN A HURRY

nimishavarghese · May 6, 2005

Hi Kid,

I am also waiting for the consulate interview. But I haven't still received the packet 3. I have got the Chennai consulate number(MDR2004...) Will mine going to be on of the 1st attended cases? Apart from that what is the tmemporary visa u r talking about. COuld u tell me what categorey it is. Many of my friends want to avail it if possible. And if u could give ur email id it would be very helpful for me in future mailings.

All the best

Nimisha

suzanne4, RN · May 6, 2005

If you go with the temporary visa, and your documents have already been submitted, you go to the back of the line..........Only one set has action taken on it at a time.

And I am sorry to say that there have been quite a few nurses that have quit their jobs when they thought that the would have their interview shortly.

I have seen it happen too many times.........

There is quite a large amount of paperwork that has to be done to sponsor a nurse on a temporary basis, a full staff is required just to do this, so most facilities have opted out........

Also be aware that most hospitals in the US do not sponsor these temporary visas, it is actually quite hard to find one right away, chances are that it will not be who you singed your initial contract with.............then if you do not like them, and for some reason they do not like you, you are stuck. You only have so many days to find another sponsor, or you wil have to leave the country............that is why these temporary work permits are terrible for nurses, not helpful at all. You must also have the Visa Screen Certificate in hand to apply for these temporary visas.................

And be aware, that since it is a temporarty visa, the employer doesn't have to pay you what the others are getting paid..........

kid80 · May 7, 2005

I Am Talking About The Possibility Of Further Legislation For Getting Nurses In On Temporary Visas While They Wait For Their Green Cards To Come Up //if Somebody Quits On The Premise Of Its Wrong//quit Only Once All The Paper Work Is Thru//100 S Of Nurses Are Into The Consular Processing Step Just Waiting For The Visa Bulletin To Be Current //the Wait Is Now Over Fopr These And Shorter For Those To Follow//good Luck And Good Day //

suzanne4, RN · May 7, 2005

Not sure if you are aware of the history of temporary visas over here. The ones that begin with an "H." If you think that it is difficult to find a facility just to petition for a green card, then it will be almost impossible. There are actually very few facilitiesd\ in the US that will sponsor for a temporary visa, as the nurse only stays for two to three years and then must return home in most cases.........the ones that you will find are in areas that no American even wants to go to, the facility has to show documented proof concerning this. Most agencies that many of you have already signed with do not handle these temporary visas either, so you would have to start the process all over..............plus the facility is not required to pay you the same salary as they do when you are on a green card. Requirements are still the same, the nurse must actually have the Visa Screen Certificate in hand before they can have any documents processed for this...........

For the past two years there were none of these visas available for nurses and it has actually been a good thing for them, they get their permanent residency instead, and don't get taken advantage of...............equal money for equal hours worked, etc.

For some reason, you don't think that I am on the side of foreign nurses but this is what I have done as a full-time job the past few years, preparing nurses for coming to the US to work, but doing it properly and with the right education to our system, as well as proper documents.....I have only been back in the US since lasy July..............

NYrnTX · May 9, 2005

I dont think anyone here or outside US is assuming that they will get GC within days after President Bush signs on the bill.

The main reason why we all are excited is, now the doors are re-opened. Its just a question when we will reach at the front of the queue. For the last 5 months, the doors were closed, and we were disappointed and anxious to see when it will get re-opened.

I think, for everyone, there is something positive than being pessimistic about it:

(1) For Nurses who have NCLEX/CGFNS and are already in USA on Dependant visa/Visitor visa and could not file their papers before Dec 30 2004

I think they are the immediate beneficiary of the law. They were NOT eligible to apply for GC (even if they have all exams completed and had an employer ready to file for them) till now. The moment Priority Dates (PD) becomes current, they are eligible to apply for AOS (I 485). This is a GREAT thing. Since Application for the AOS is the pre requisite to apply for EAD ( I 765), this law will make them eligible to apply for AOS and EAD. Since all Service centers (except CA) are approving EAD application (With or without Visa screen certificate, VS is only required later when they look at your I 485) within 30 days, these nurses can start working very soon.

(2)For Nurses who have NCLEX/CGFNS and are already in USA on Dependant visa/Visitor visa and could file their papers before Dec 30 2004

This group where I belong, are gonna see their GC approval soon (within 30-90 days ?) once the PD becomes current. Since the New Visa numbers, 50,000, are allotted only for nurses, ( and other EB3 categories are still in retrogressed mode), AOS /consulate officers are not swamped with work load now. Henceforth, SCHEDULE A applications are the only EB3 applications coming to their desk ( and very few Non- Sched. A applications filed before June 2002) and decision will be faster.

(3) For Nurses who have NCLEX/CGFNS and are outside USA and could not file their papers before Dec 30 2004

Their agency/employer can file their papers (DS 230) now and can speed up their immigration journey. Count on the number of months it would take for the dream come true.

(4)For Nurses who have NCLEX/CGFNS and are outside USA and could file their papers before Dec 30 2004

They will be getting Interview calls soon because of the reasons mentioned (2) above. If you know that your I 140 is already approved, start packing :)

The fact that additional 50,000 Visas are allotted only for Schedule A (read nurses) means that, Congress is very much concerned about the RN shortage in US. And, if the lobbysts were smart enough to put the Visa re-capture ammendment in the 'must pass' appropritations bill than relying on the Tom Lantos bill, its common sense to assume that same folks can persuade USCIS to give their officers an internal memo asking them to speed up Schedule A applications.

Please remember that, it would take some time (after PD becomes current) to sort out issues (like How exactly they distinguish the processing of Schedule A and Non Schedule A) related to this. The rumour in the immigration ciricles is that they might add another row in the visa bulletin for Schedule A EB3 category. As we know, they already have a special row in the Processing Dates bulletin (This bulletin is different to Visa bulletin) for Nurse applications.

(Priority Date, -PD-, and Processing Date, -PD-, are two entirely different things but people happen to get confused between the same short form).

We have reached this far. Sure, we'll get there. :yelclap:

Keep our spirits high and lets be optimistic.

suzanne4, RN · May 9, 2005

I agree with you one hundred percent, but I just had a contract e-mailed to me tonight by one of my students in Thailand, and this large company, stated that the nurse would have a green card in four months.............. :rolleyes: what were they thinking?????

Or an H1-B in six weeks....................neither time frame is even in the ballpark. But of course, nothing was written about the nurse needing a Visa Screen Certificate even for the H1-B visa...and that in six weeks?

And if the nurse cancels the contract for any reason, he/she owes the company $15,000 US. And it is a three year contract...what if a parent gets sick overseas? or anything else?

jenspec · May 9, 2005

I am just wondering about the allocation of the 50,000 visas which will be shared by the 3 countries under retrogression. In the 50,000 visas the rest of the family members as direct relative of the applicants will also be receiving the visa so that means it will be short lived. I'm thinking the applicants who will greatly benefit from the bill will most likely be the ones who are already in their last stages of immigration process, the ones who are for interview (Packet IV) . I am thinking that retrogression will still come by next year or any near future after the 50,000 visas being provided has been consumed. So the passing of the bill is just a bandage, a temporary solution to the nursing shortage in the United States.

This is just a thought.

suzanne4, RN · May 9, 2005

The nursing shortage has been going on for years and will continue to do so..

Back when I went to school, my first salary as an RN was $8.49 per hour...I could have made $2 more per hour wokring at the supermarket as a cashier.

This retrogression is not just limited to nursing, there have been so many applications from the PIC countries for green cards that the slots for those countries have been filled, by nurses asd well as technical (IT) people, etc.

Many IT jobs from the US have also gone over to these countries, so some senators are not real quick when it comes to passing any of these bills.

If your goal is to work in the US, just begin getting your exams and documents together, by the time that most are done with everything, all things will be in place. There is no such thing as anything done quickyly.

jenspec · May 10, 2005

I know that the nursing shortage has been going on for many years in the United States. Nursing profession is not a very glamorous job it takes a lot of hard work and patience. I myself is taking years before i can even make it out there, I am a nurse here in the Philippines already on my last stage of immigration process when the retrogression set in. i have every requirement ready and i'm still here so my patience is really being challenge here. I guess a lot of us nurses here in the Philippines and the rest of the countries stricken by the retrogression is getting impatient simply because of the job situation in our country, who wouldn't dream of making it out there when you're only earning as low as $120 in a month. Please dont get me wrong that we would grab any opportunity even the lowest salary offered in the US would be fine, that the migration of nurses from third world countries cause such setback on nursing situation in the US, that's what I've been reading on previous posts here. We are just individuals trying to live and attain a level of security in life just like the rest of the nurses in the US. Being able to pass all the hurdles from securing a license and settling in to live there is not just a walk in the park. But of course once we are settled there we are sure that we will work so hard in uplifting the profession that gives us the means to live.

suzanne4, RN · May 10, 2005

Since you do not know much about me, I returned to the US this past July after setting up the first school of its type in SE Asia for preparing nurses and doctors for working or training in the US. I have spent many years overseas.

You are doing things the correct way, and I applaud you for that. It is just that there are many who want a quick fix, and will grab at anything.....working as a NA in the US aqt $7 per hour may seem like alot, but when you factor in the cost of living over here, such as $6 for a burger, coke, and fries.....you would definitely have difficulties in making ends meet each month and I do not want to see anyone have that happen.

Also with many of the contracts out there now, read the fine print in them, if you need to cancel for any reason or the agency cancels you, you have ot pay them back a sum of about $15,000 US. It would take over 10 years of work in Thailand or the Philippines to cover this...................

There are contracts also floating around SE Asia promising a green card within four months in one contract and six months in the other. We all know that it isn't going to happen like that yet people keep siging these contracts and getting taken advantage of. I am just trying to stop this. If I can help just one person avoid this, then I am happy........... :wink2: :wink2:

jenspec · May 10, 2005

Since you do not know much about me, I returned to the US this past July after setting up the first school of its type in SE Asia for preparing nurses and doctors for working or training in the US. I have spent many years overseas.
You are doing things the correct way, and I applaud you for that. It is just that there are many who want a quick fix, and will grab at anything.....working as a NA in the US aqt $7 per hour may seem like alot, but when you factor in the cost of living over here, such as $6 for a burger, coke, and fries.....you would definitely have difficulties in making ends meet each month and I do not want to see anyone have that happen.
Also with many of the contracts out there now, read the fine print in them, if you need to cancel for any reason or the agency cancels you, you have ot pay them back a sum of about $15,000 US. It would take over 10 years of work in Thailand or the Philippines to cover this...................
There are contracts also floating around SE Asia promising a green card within four months in one contract and six months in the other. We all know that it isn't going to happen like that yet people keep siging these contracts and getting taken advantage of. I am just trying to stop this. If I can help just one person avoid this, then I am happy........... :wink2: :wink2:

thanks suzanne

I hope that no nurse would be into those kind of situation because it will be such a great mistake for them to go through. I think education is really the best way to inform nurses regarding the issues involve in moving from one country to the other. Best of luck on your endeavor towards helping foreign nurses.