Immigration Process

Canadian Candidates

Canadian citizens can qualify to work in the U.S. by obtaining the TN-1 Visa.  Nurses must have a VisaScreen certificate, a detailed job offer letter and a Canadian Passport in order to be issued the visa. Only Canadian citizens qualify for the TN-1 Visa.  In order to get a VisaScreen certificate, the nurse must complete the application process with CGFNS.  This includes verification of the current and original licensure, verification of academic records, and, in some cases, a passing score in English.  Most importantly, the nurse MUST pass the NCLEX or CGFNS to get a VisaScreen certificate.  Canadian Permanent Residents do not qualify for the TN-1 Visa.

Puerto Rican Candidates

Nurses from Puerto Rico do not need a visa to work in the United States.  Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, some boards of nursing will allow a nurse to get a 'License By Endorsement' without having to take the NCLEX exam.  Understand that you can ONLY work in those states once licensed.  If you want to work in a state that doesn't allow you to endorse directly, you must apply for a 'License By Exam,’ meet all the State Board requirements, and pass the NCLEX exam.  Once you have passed the NCLEX exam, you can endorse your license into any state.

All Other Foreign Candidates

In order to work in the U.S., nurses go through the Green Card process.  This process can only be started if the nurse has obtained either the CGFNS Certificate or passed the NCLEX exam.  To complete the process and be issued a visa, the nurse must also obtain a VisaScreen certificate, which requires a passing score on one of the English exams (IELTS or TOEFL IBT).

The Green Card process starts with the I-140 petition for an immigrant worker.  It can take up to 8 months for the I-140 petition to be approved.  Once the I-140 is approved, the National Visa Center (NVC) will receive the file and collect the Visa Application fees for each applicant and the DS-230 Part I forms.  The case is reviewed, forwarded to the local consulate and after some time the applicants will be scheduled for a visa interview.  Prior to the interview, all applicants must complete a physical exam by an approved physician, obtain Police Clearance Certificates for each applicant older than 16 years and have all ORIGINAL certificates and documents ready to be examined by the consular officer.  Once the visa is issued, the applicants will have 6 months to enter the USA and 'activate' their Permanent Resident Status.

CGFNS Requirements

• Verification that the nurse's education is similar to that of nurse educated in the U.S. 
• Verification of initial and current licensure as a Registered Nurse
• Passing Score on the CGFNS examination
• Passing Score on TOEFL or 6.5 overall for IELTS

VisaScreen Requirements

• Verification that the nurse's education is similar to that of nurse educated in the U.S. (including receipt and full transcripts)
• Verification of initial and current licensure as a Registered Nurse
• Passing Score on the CGFNS or NCLEX examination
• Passing Score on TOEFL IBT or 6.5 overall/7.0 speaking for IELTS

NCLEX requirements

Most boards of nursing require foreign educated nurses to complete either the CGFNS or VisaScreen requirements prior to giving the nurse permission to take the NCLEX.  Only a few states do not require CGFNS or VisaScreen, but understand that you will only be able to work in those states once licensed.  Even if you pass the NCLEX for one particular state, you still must meet the licensure endorsement requirements of the other states in which you want to work.  Taking the NCLEX instead of the CGFNS will limit your options as to which states you can work in, and the NCLEX does not replace the requirement of having to obtain a VisaScreen certificate.

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