U.S. Visa application Requirements for International Nurses

By: http://www.skybluecross.org/

Applying for International Registered Nurse’s (RN) Visa for working in United States, involves sponsoring her permanent residence. There are certain limitations which are mentioned below.


US permanent residence for the nurses in the US:

The RN can start working with the employer quickly if she is already in United States. Following requirements are essential:

• If the nurse is already in United States, she need to give RN licensing examination. Which is officially known as the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) in any state. This exam is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

• The employer will have to submit the immigrant visa petition to the related United States Citizenship and Immigration Service Center on behalf of the Nurse. It’s necessary for the RN to pass the CGFNS exam or the NCLEX exam, or be in possession of a full and unrestricted license as a registered nurse in the state of intended employment.

When the visa petition is submitted for permanent residence, the RN and any accompanying family members can also apply for adjustment of status to permanent residence, for work permits, or for travel permits. The RN must have VisaScreen certificate in order to apply for permanent residence. If the RN doesn’t have the VisaScreen certificate then he/she cannot obtain permanent residence.

US permanent for nurses living overseas:

For foreign nurses who are residing abroad needs following steps to complete before the nurse may be employed in the US:

• Diploma from nursing school in her native country

• The RN license in her country

• A full unrestricted license for practicing nursing in the state of intended employment , or possess a certificate issued by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), or must have passed the NCLEX-RN licensing examination but cannot obtain a license because she lacks a social security number.

Anyhow, states still require that foreign nurses pass the CGFNS examination before taking the state RN licensing (NCLEX) examination.

RNs along with physical therapists are listed as shortage, or “Schedule A”, occupations in regulations issued by the Department of Labor. The employer who wishes to hire a Foreign RN is exempt from having to submit a PERM application to the Department of Labor.

The process of immigrations starts when the employer submits an immigrant visa petition to the service center of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services having jurisdiction over the nurse’s place of intended employment. The petition must be having ETA-9089 form from Labor Department, by a posting notice, a prevailing wage determination and other various documents. It must be accompanied with a check for filing fees.

The approved visa petition is sent by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to the National Visa Center (NVC) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The nurse or her attorney will receive a fee bill in which it is mentioned to pay fees for the processing of the application. When the fees gets paid, the NVC will send a packet to the nurse or her attorney. Packet will be containing biographical information forms, which is required to be filled by the nurse and her family members, and a list of documents which must be submitted.

After completing those forms and documents the NR or her attorney will send them back to the NVC, which then schedule an appointment for an Immigrant Visa for the RN and her family at the US Consulate or Embassy where they will have their interviews for permanent residence. In interview, the government will examine various documents including as well as:

• Applications for Immigrant Visas

.Police Clearance

• F Birth Certificates

• Marriage Certificate, if any

• Divorce or Death Certificate of Spouse, if any

• Medical Examinations

• Valid Passports

• Recent Job Offer Letter or Employment Contract

• Photographs

• Government filing fees

• Financial information regarding employer

. VisaScreen Certificate

or VisaScreen Certificate there are two main requirements:

1. The RN’s education, license and training in her country are equivalent to education, licensure, and training in the U.S.

2. Appropriate level of competence in oral and written English for performing professional nursing in the U.S.

The only authorized organization who issue VisaScreen certificates to RNs is the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), its located at 3600 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-2651; telephone: (215) 349-8967; fax: (215) 349-0026; e-mail: support@cgfns.org

According to the Citizenship Immigration Service’s VisaScreen regulations whether the foreign-born RN is educated, licensed and trained in the US, she still needs a VisaScreen certificate.

Reference Source: www.uscis.gov/