Yet another UK to USA RN

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Good day all

I need some advice.

I'm a UK trained RN and i've been working the past 1.5 years in acute ortho trauma in Scotland. I'm moving in May (all being well my visa interview is on 3rd April!!) to Oregon to marry my fiance.

I have started the process with CGFNS to get my education evaluated from my university and endorsement from NMC (i don't know if i even need this to be honest but it gave me the option) however i'm now starting to get extremely irritated with the lack of guidance. The NMC advised me i need to have an application open with OSBN before paying for them to release any information.

So i gathered the paperwork to create an application with OSBN but i need a social security number before they will accept it. So i can't do that until i move...

Can CGFNS still send their evaluation of my transcripts over to OSBN so i can get a move on with getting things evaluated and i maybe have a hope of sitting the NCLEX this side of 2020? Even though i don't have an application open?

Any advice would be appreciated,

Yours, a fed up and confused nurse

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

CGFNS can send documents to the state but until you have submitted a application to the state they will not look at it and may even dispose of said documents if application isn't submitted within a certain timeframe. Have you tried talking to the state BON?

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Specializes in ICU.

Hi whakoworld, I would start the process with a BON , like Texas that doesn't require a SSN then endorse later. At least that way you can start the process and be a few steps ahead by the time you move to the US. Hope this helps.

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*posted by mistake*

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Hi whakoworld, I would start the process with a BON , like Texas that doesn't require a SSN then endorse later. At least that way you can start the process and be a few steps ahead by the time you move to the US. Hope this helps.

Oh now that's an idea.

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CGFNS can send documents to the state but until you have submitted a application to the state they will not look at it and may even dispose of said documents if application isn't submitted within a certain timeframe. Have you tried talking to the state BON?

Yeah I've asked them several times but all i get are extremely unhelpful stock answers about the process. Supremely frustrating. How do foreign educated nurses who are waiting on work visas even do this process if they need a SSN? This is what I don't get. I don't mind waiting until i am living there to recommence the application but I don't like wasted time.

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Specializes in Acute and Critical Care.
Yeah I've asked them several times but all i get are extremely unhelpful stock answers about the process. Supremely frustrating. How do foreign educated nurses who are waiting on work visas even do this process if they need a SSN? This is what I don't get. I don't mind waiting until i am living there to recommence the application but I don't like wasted time.

Foreign nurses waiting for their work visa do as ICunursey suggested. Just know that Texas is not the only option where you can get a license without an SSN. There are some lists of these states online but it's best if you check the up-to-date information on a specific BON's website.

For example, I applied and received my license from Colorado. I'm currently waiting for my EB-3 visa to get processed and as soon as I find out which state I'll be assigned to, I'll endorse my license in that state.

If Oregon BON won't make any exceptions in your case, apply with another state so you can get started with all the paperwork and complete the NCLEX. My experience is that the CGFNS process took about 4 months from the day the first documents were sent, and after the CES report was issued, it took about a month to get the ATT and another to schedule the NCLEX (the latter dependent on my work schedule as I had to travel to London).

Good luck, and try to remain patient!

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Foreign nurses waiting for their work visa do as ICunursey suggested. Just know that Texas is not the only option where you can get a license without an SSN. There are some lists of these states online but it's best if you check the up-to-date information on a specific BON's website.

For example, I applied and received my license from Colorado. I'm currently waiting for my EB-3 visa to get processed and as soon as I find out which state I'll be assigned to, I'll endorse my license in that state.

If Oregon BON won't make any exceptions in your case, apply with another state so you can get started with all the paperwork and complete the NCLEX. My experience is that the CGFNS process took about 4 months from the day the first documents were sent, and after the CES report was issued, it took about a month to get the ATT and another to schedule the NCLEX (the latter dependent on my work schedule as I had to travel to London).

Good luck, and try to remain patient!

Thank you for this, sounds like it might be what i need to look at doing. Considering I'll be moving mid may, do you think that will throw a spanner in the works to move into a different state mid application?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Yeah I've asked them several times but all i get are extremely unhelpful stock answers about the process. Supremely frustrating. How do foreign educated nurses who are waiting on work visas even do this process if they need a SSN? This is what I don't get. I don't mind waiting until i am living there to recommence the application but I don't like wasted time.

Some states that require US SSN will allow foreign graduates to submit application they just wont issue a license until the SSN is submitted once in the US with a valid visa allowing them to live and work.

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Hi everyone, This thread has been really helpful. I am also trying to navigate this process but didn't want to start a new discussion as my question is in addition to some of the above questions.I am a UK RGN and RSCN qualified nurse with a US citizen military husband. I just wanted to check that i am correct in thinking that i can apply to any state and just endorse the license once I get to the USA, as until we are ready to move we will not know where we are going too

For the CGFNS- is completing the exam essential to the process or is that an provide a higher level of verification?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You do not need CGFNS exam except for a small handful of states. Most states require CES report from CGFNS

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Q1) Is there an easy place to find exactly how many hours required by each state for mental health/ gynae?

Q2) What did one of the earlier posts mean by 'endorsing license " in a different state?

Q3) in relation to immigration visas Which of the 5 categories are we as nurses?

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