| Nurses (FOREIGN NURSES) |
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| Gateway Manpower & Consulting specializes in the foreign nurse. We are able to place the foreign nurse in a job here in the USA.
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| If you are a nurse, please visit our JOB OPENINGS FOR NURSES page, in order to see what is available. Thereafter, you may apply with our office. Once we receive your application, we will contact you and inform you about your application.
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| Do you qualify? |
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Nurse's Steps to Obtain a US Green Card
U.S. Permanent Residence (Green Card) for Foreign Nurses
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| Foreign Nurses that have passed the CGFNS exam or are certified as an NCLEX-RN, can qualify to obtain permanent residence, with our assistance, whether they are residing inside or outside the U.S. In addition, we can help foreign nurses find qualified employers to sponsor application for permanent residence. See Visa Screen Bulletin.
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| CGNFS or NCLEX-RN certified foreign nurses belong to the third preference group in employment-based immigration. This category requires employer sponsorship and means only the employer (hospital, nursing home etc.) may apply for permanent residence for foreign nurses. Unlike most of the employment-based immigration application, employers are exempted from filing labor certification, an often lengthy and cumbersome process with the U.S. Labor Department and State Employment Agency.
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| REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND QUALIFICATION
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Whether applying outside U.S. or within, the nurse must possess:
1. A diploma from a nursing school in her country
2. A license to practice nursing in her country
3. An unrestricted license in a state of intended employment, or a certification that she has passed either the U.S. licensing examination (NCLEX-RN) but cannot obtain the license for lack of a social security number, or she has passed the examination given by Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
4. Visa Screen Certificate (see below)
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| LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION
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| Please note majority of the states require foreign nurses to pass CGFNS before taking the NCLEX-RN. The following are the states with such requirement:
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| Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, |
| Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, |
| Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, |
| Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, |
| Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, |
| Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. |
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| LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT
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| Nurses who have passed the NCLEX-RN in states that do not require CGFNS may acquire the license of another state through endorsements. Each state's Board of Nursing has its web site that lists the requirement on endorsement.
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| HOW TO AVOID REQUIREMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND CGFNS EXAMINATION
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| Most states in the U.S. require nurses to present social security number in order to take NCLEX-RN. Some states allow foreign nurses to take the examination but will not grant license if the nurse cannot provide a social security number or individual tax ID. Since end of 2003, IRS (Internal Revenue Service) no longer issues tax ID without proof of tax return. This virtually shut the door to licensure for foreign nurses thereby to employment immigration since few employers are willing to sponsor a nurse who has no U.S. license.
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Currently, New York and New Hampshire do not require social security number or tax ID as requirement for licensure. Nor do they require CGFNS examination as required by majority of the states. Foreign nurses should present their credentials to CGFNS for certification/evaluation and, upon certification, become eligible for NCLEX and licensure.
As NCLEX-RN will be administered first time in Hong Kong, Korea, and England in 2005, the above method is crucial for nurses who are unable to enter U.S. for NCLEX. Please refer to the web sites of CGFNS, Nursing Board of New York , and New Hampshire for details.
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| NURSE IMMIGRATION PROCESS
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As a practical matter, a foreign nurse in the U.S. can start her immigration application and receive employment earlier than a nurse residing outside the U.S.
The application begins by an employer filing immigration petition (Form I-140) to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service, BCIS (former Immigration and Naturalization Service). The application should include documents listed above and other supporting documents as well as filing fee. To speed up the process, BCIS allows concurrent filing of application for adjustment of status (Form I-485) and employment authorization (Form I-765) for both the nurse and her spouse and unmarried children under 21. It may take at least over a year, depending on where the nurse resides, for the nurse to receive the approval of adjustment and later the green card. Concurrent filing of the above application will allow the nurse to receive employment authorization hence start to work while waiting for approval of the adjustment.
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For the nurse who lives outside the U.S., the process begins when the employer submits the immigration petition (I-140). Upon approval of the petition, BCIS will send the approval notice to National Visa Center (NVC). If there is no backlog for immigration quota, NVC will forward a packet of requested information to the nurse or her attorney. The nurse sends in the information to the American consulate and awaits appointment for physical examination, fingerprints, and interview. Upon successful completion of the interview, the nurse, her spouse, and minor children will receive their immigrant visas.
The requested information, for visa application and interview, by American consulate varies slightly from country to country. So does the interview procedure. This is particularly true after the event of September 11. Basically, the nurse is required to provide the following documents:
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| 1. Birth certificate |
| 2. Marriage certificate when applicable |
| 3. Divorce or death certificate of spouse when applicable |
| 4. Medical examination
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| 5. Proof of job offer |
| 6. Financial information of the employer |
| 7. Police clearance
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| 8. Application |
| 9. Application fees |
| 10. Valid passport |
| 11. Photographs |
| 12. Visa screen certificate
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| VISASCREEN CERTIFICATE (VSC) AND LICENSING
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| The VSC is issued to the nurse by International Commission on Health Professionals (ICHP) to certify that her education and license meets the U. S. standard; that she possesses the level of competency in oral and written English required to practice nursing; that she has passed the nursing examination given by CGFNS.
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RN State Licensing Boards: Contact Information And Web Sites
NCLEX Examination
The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
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| LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT
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Unless the nurse received her nursing instruction in the U.S. United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada, she needs to show her language proficiency by taking one of the following examinations: TOEFL (test of English as foreign language) IELTS (International English Language Testing Service), and TOEIC (Test of English in International Communications).
The passing scores for the nurse to be certified by CGFNS:
TOEFL: paper based 540; computer based 207; TSE (test of spoken English) 50; TWE (test of written English) 4.0
IELTS: written (academic module)6.5; spoken band 7.0
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| ENGLISH EXAMINATIONS FOR FOREIGN RNs
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International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
About The Test of Spoken English (TSE)
FAQs About The Test of Spoken English (TSE)
About The Test of Written English (TWE)
Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
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Contact Info: Gateway Manpower & Resources Services
3250 Wilshire Blvd. #1900Los Angeles, Ca. 90010
www.gatewaymc.com
(213) 386-8688
Fax: (213) 404-0905
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| Step by step process to obtain Immigration Visa for Foreign Nurses outside the US:
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GatewayMC in cooperation with the Law Offices of Susana Ragos Chung provides you with all the immigration assistance you will need to process the foreign nurse application for immigrant visa. Once the selection process of the hospital is finished, GatewayMC will coordinate with the Law Offices of Susana Ragos Chung on the documentation process of your application. It is important to note however, that to be qualified to work as a nurse in a hospital in the US, the foreign nurse applicant must have:
1) graduated from an accredited nursing school;
2) experience of at least two (2) years in a hospital setting;
3) full unrestricted license from the home country and;
4) passed the CGFNS.
Filing of I-140:
The initial step in processing the immigration papers is the filing of the I-140 petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). The foreign nurse applicant must fill all the immigration forms and submit the following: (NEED COPIES)
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| 1. Birth certificate |
| 2. Marriage certificate when applicable |
| 3. Divorce or death certificate of spouse when applicable |
| 4. Medical examination
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| 5. Proof of job offer |
| 6. Financial information of the employer |
| 7. Police clearance
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| 8. Application |
| 9. Application fees |
| 10. Valid passport |
| 11. Photographs |
| 12. Visa screen certificate
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Processing time for I-140 petition usually takes six (6) to eight (8) months if filed properly and completely in the service center having jurisdiction over the place of employment or in the service center covering the region where the hospital is located.
Visa Screen Certificate:
It is not necessary for foreign nurses to have the visa screen prior to filing of I-140 petition. However, before the immigrant visa can be issued, the foreign nurse must have been issued the Visa Screen Certificate. The Visa Screen is a screening program required by the US government for foreign healthcare professionals (except physicians) who want to get permanent occupational visa. The Visa Screen certificate evaluates the nurse’s education and licensing credentials, English language proficiency skills and your nursing knowledge.
Upon successful completion of all parts of the Visa Screen Program, the foreign nurse can obtain the Visa Screen Certificate which must be presented to USCIS and at the final consular interview.
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National Visa Center:
Upon approval of the I-140 petition, the case will be elevated to the National Visa Center (NVC) for visa allocation. If all documentations are completed, NVC will endorse the case to the US Consular office in your home country.
Generally within three (3) months, the foreign nurse applicant will receive a notice for medical exams followed by a notice for interview at the US consular office
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Interview at the US Consular Office:
Gateway MC and The Law Offices of Susana Ragos Chung will help you prepare for the interview at the Consulate Office, additionally, Gateway will provide you with a review on how the interview will be conducted and what documents you need to bring. We will be helping and assisting you in every way possible to get your immigrant visa.
As soon as you get your immigrant visa, you are now ready to your new journey to explore the nursing opportunities in the US. GatewayMC will always be available every step of the way throughout the whole process, to make sure the transition into your new life is as easy and comfortable as possible.
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Program Timeline for the Nurse:
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Step 1: Join GatewayMC (1 day to 4 weeks)
 Complete application packet (click here for an application)
Complete and submit credentials
Interview by and meet the Associate
Sign GatewayMC contract |
Step 2: Screening and selection by Employer (1 day to 4 weeks)
Schedule interview with employer
Complete hiring packet
Sign Employer’s contract
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Step 3: Complete Nursing Examinations (1 day to 12 months)
Apply for exams dates
Review for the exams
Passed CGFNS or NCLEX and (TOEFL,TSE,TWE) or (IELTS)
Sign GatewayMC contract |
Step 4: Filing of Immigration Documents (1 day to 18 months)
Prepare immigration documents
Apply for Legal Permanent Residence (Green Card)
Progress to National Visa Center (NVC) for validation
Obtain Visa Screen Certificate
Receive Approval Notice |
Step 5: US Embassy (1 day to 2 months)
Complete requirements
Undergo Medical examinations
Visa Interview
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Step 6: Arrival in the US (1 day to 7 days)
Meet & Greet day
Get Social Security Number
Welcome to your new home - acculturation and transition support
Facility visit and orientation
First day on the job |
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Gateway Manpower and Consulting Service is focused on finding the right job for you (applicant/medical professional). With our resources in almost every aspect of the healthcare business, you (applicant/medical professional) can be assured that you (applicant/medical professional)r career opportunities will never run dry with us.
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