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Foreign Nurse Employment Frequently Asked Questions
- Does UMHS Department of Nursing sponsor foreign
nurses for H1-B visas or green cards?
- What is the process for foreign nurses to become
employed in the state of Michigan?
- Can foreign nurses issued a license in another
state have their licenses automatically endorsed in
Michigan?
- What is a TN non-immigrant visa?
- What is a Visa Screen Certificate?
- What are Michigan’s licensure
requirements if I received my nursing education
in a country other
than Canada?
- Do I need a Visa Screen Certificate if I am a Canadian
citizen and work in the US?
- What is an H-1B visa?
- What employment options do student nurses with
an F-1 visa have?
- Does the International Center on campus process
green card applications?
- No, at this time we do not routinely sponsor foreign
nurses for entry level employment either monetarily
for legal fees or in providing paperwork necessary
for either an H1-B visa petition or green card.
- Foreign nurses educated outside of Canada or Mexico
need to take the CGFNS (Commission
on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) test
and the NCLEX test to obtain a Michigan nursing license.
They also need a Visa Screen Certificate, as required
by US Immigration Law. It can take several months
to obtain this certificate. The certificate is valid
for 5 yrs.
- Yes, if they have maintained an active license
with no disciplinary sanctions for at least 5 years
immediately preceding the application for a Michigan
license, by endorsement. An application can be requested
from the State of Michigan at: www.michigan.gov/healthlicense.
- A TN visa refers to the Trade NAFTA occupational
visa issued temporarily for one year to Canadian
citizens and Mexican nationals. The following conditions
apply for Canadian citizens. The TN visa can be renewed
annually an indefinite number of times in one-year
increments, as long as the nurse’s intention
is to remain in the US temporarily. Canadian graduate
nurses and licensed nurses can request admission
as a TN non-immigrant at a Port of Entry to the US
after applying for a Visa Screen Certificate first.
A letter of intent to employ a Canadian nurse is
a necessary prerequisite before a Visa Screen certificate
is issued. It should include the job title and description
of proposed duties, salary, a statement that the
employment is temporary and the employee has the
necessary credentials or license. There is also a
fee of around $50.
The following conditions apply to Mexican nationals. TN Visas are limited to
one year. Mexican nationals must apply for a TN visa directly at a US consulate
in Mexico, not at the border.
- Since 1996, US immigration law requires foreign
nurses and other healthcare professionals to complete
a screening program prior to receiving an occupational
visa.
The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) was named as an
organization qualified to offer this federal screening program. A new division,
the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP) was created to
administer the Visa Screen. Screening includes an assessment of the nurse’s
education, demonstrated by earning a CGFNS certificate or passing the NCLEX,
to ensure his/her education is comparable to a US graduate. In addition, it includes
licensure validation and English language proficiency, if applicable. After successful
screening, the nurse is issued a Visa Screen Certificate which can be presented
to a border port of entry (Canadian citizens) or the US consulate as part of
a visa application. The cost is around $400.
- Michigan requires foreign nurses educated abroad,
to take the CGFNS and NCLEX before applying for a
visa. The CGFNS test is a three part program, which
evaluates
the foreign nurse’s education, a one-day qualifying exam of nursing knowledge
and an English language proficiency exam. It is offered three times a year in
the US. Foreign nurses educated in the US also need a Visa Screen Certificate.
The Visa Screen Certificate is valid for 5 years.
- Yes, Canadian citizens working in the US need a
Visa Screen Certificate and a TN (Trade NAFTA) visa
to work in the US. Canadian educated nurses will
not have to take the CGFNS test but will have to
take the NCLEX before a Visa Screen Certificate is
issued.
Canadian citizens working in the US, under the TN visa, prior to 9/23/03 have
through 9/30/05 to obtain a Visa Screen Certificate.
- An H-1B visa is a temporary work visa for professionals
in specialty occupations such as nurses. It is issued
for a maximum of 6 years, sometimes in 3 year increments.
A business immigration attorney should be used to
file an H-1B petition. The foreign nurse must have
a Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited
college or university, or a foreign degree equivalent.
Second, the specialty position must commonly require
such a degree. Third, the employer must normally
require a bachelor’s degree as a minimum requirement
for the position. Lastly, the nurse must have the
state license required for the position. It is difficult
for nurses to obtain the H-1B visa since most entry
level nursing positions do NOT require a Baccalaureate
degree. It could be possible for a nurse with an
advanced practice degree or specialty certification
to be issued an H-1B visa for an advanced position.
UMHS employs an entry level nurse with a Bachelor’s
degree, Associate degree or diploma in nursing. We
do not routinely sponsor nurses with H-1B status or
for green cards either monetarily for legal fees or
provide the paperwork necessary for employment.
- Student nurses can work in their field 20 hrs/wk
maximum and full-time during vacations. Students
may apply at the International Center for Optional
Practical Training (OPT) before graduation, to allow
them to work in their field for an additional 12
months after graduation.
- The UM campus International Center (734-936-4180)
does not process green card applications on behalf
of nurses, but if UMHS did agree to sponsorship for
a green card, an outside business immigration attorney
may be retained. Foreign nurses with current green
cards (immigrant with permanent residency) can be
hired just like any US citizen. A Visa Screen certificate
is not required. The green card must be renewed every
10 yrs.
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