Q: What are the minimum
requirements for a registered nurse to be sponsored
by a U.S. healthcare company?
A: In order to be
sponsored under an immigrant visa, an R.N. must have
a CGFNS certificate - either a CGFNS passage before
1998 or CGFNS passage after 1998 with TOEFL passage
- or have an unrestricted nursing license in the
intended state of employment.
Q: Which is better,
an H-1B or an Immigrant visa?
A: In the recent
history of nurse immigration, we have seen a
significant drop in the amount of H1-Bs being
approved for nurse/healthcare-related positions. The
reason for this is due to the rules of the H1-B. An
H1-B requires a specialty occupation. A specialty
occupation is defined as any occupation requiring a
Bachelor's degree or its equivalent. The reason this
is important is that registered nurses in the United
States normally only have completed an Associates
Degree which is equivalent to two years of nurse
education.
Thus, if one were to
sponsor someone as a registered nurse, the INS would
deny this petition based upon the fact that the
occupation of registered nurse does not require a
bachelor's degree. It does not matter if you as a
nurse have a bachelor's degree, it simply means that
the occupation does not require a bachelor's degree.
For instance, we may hire a secretary with a masters
degree but it does not mean that a secretary's
position requires a masters degree.
Because of this,
some healthcare employers were sponsoring nurses
utilizing different job titles such as director of
nursing, nurse educators, quality assurance
coordinators, in order to get nurses into the U.S.
In essence, these employers committed fraud when the
nurse they sponsored would arrive in the United
States and work as a regular Staff Nurse instead of
a Director of Nursing as they were contracted for
and approved by the INS.
After seeing
numerous H1-B petitions for nurses and related
occupations, the INS put out a directive to all
field offices last December 2002 which clearly
explained and outlined that unless a healthcare
facility could show a pattern of employment where
only Bachelor of Nursing degree holders were in fact
working in highly specialized nursing positions, a
healthcare H1-B petition involving a nurse would be
denied.
In conclusion, the
immigrant visa became the only good and legal option
to bring nurses to the United States. It has some
distinct advantages over the H1-B in that it allows
for permanent residence for you and your family
immediately upon arrival in the US and that your
spouse can work legally too. Therefore, Care
Advantage Inc only utilizes the Immigrant Visa for
processing the nurses we recruit from abroad.
Q: How much do I
get paid?
A: At the minimum,
you will always get paid the prevailing wage in the
particular location you will work. Prevailing wage
is the average wage for all nurses with
similar-based experience in that particular county
or city. As in all countries, wages differ by city
size and cost of living. The average wage in the
United States can be as low as $14.00 per hour for
an R.N. up to $30.00 or more per hour for very
experienced nurses in big cities.
Nurse rates also
vary based upon what type of facility you will work
in. Hospitals normally pay more than nursing homes
and board and care facilities. In short, the wage
rates can vary greatly and that's why your friend
may be paid much more or much less than you.
Q: Do I get paid as
much as American nurses?
A: As stated
previously, you will be paid at least the prevailing
wage for all nurses including American nurses in the
particular location you will work in.
Q: What's the
difference between working in Nursing Homes and
working in Hospitals?
A: One of the major
differences between working in a Nursing Home and
working in a hospital is the immediacy and length of
patient care.
In Skilled Nursing
Homes, the nurses take care of "chronic care"
patients who require maintenance and rehabilitative
care with long term care plans. The RN would assess
the patient, evaluate the care plan and delegate a
large portion of the direct care to others for
nutrition, skin integrity and rehabilitation
including some IV's and many NG and G tube feedings.
In a hospital
setting meanwhile, the nurses take care of "acute
patients" who require a great deal more diagnostic
testing by a medical team. It provides critical and
timely interventions for short stay patients with a
high acuity rating based on severity of illness and
utilization of services. These patients need pre-
and post-op care, Cardiac and Respiratory
monitoring, multiple IV's and beside procedures and
treatments by the Interdisciplinary Team.
Your employment in
either a nursing home or a hospital will depend on
your skills, experience and personal preference.
Q: What's a typical
work week for nurses in the U.S.?
A: U.S. hospitals
mostly utilize twelve-hour shifts. Nurses will
normally be expected to work at least three 12-hour
shifts per week. These 12-hours shifts are usually
from 7:00 am -7:00 pm and 7:00 pm - 7:00 am.
Nursing homes on the
other hand, mostly still use the eight-hour shift
method. You will be required to work at least five
8-hour shifts per week. These shifts normally are
7:00 am - 3:00 pm, 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm or 11:00 pm -
7:00 am.
Most facilities,
both hospitals and nursing homes, will pay you time
and a half for any hours worked over 40 hours in any
given work week. Nurses who work 50-60 hours a week
can make large amounts of money working overtime.
Q: How long will
the process take before I get to go to the U.S.?
A: This is largely
dependent upon your ability to study and pass all
the required exams. As soon as you pass these exams,
you can travel to the United States as an immigrant
within 8 to 9 months.
Q: Is there an age
limit?
A: U.S. law mandates
that employers cannot hire or fire candidates based
solely on age. Therefore, there is no age limit.
Q: If I have
pre-1998 CGFNS, do I need to take the TOEFL?
A: Even if those who
took the CGFNS before 1998 were not required to take
TOEFL to receive their CGFNS certificate, the
process to get an immigrant visa still requires most
nurses to passes TOEFL, TWE, TSE or IELTS.
Q: Which way is
better, take the NCLEX before I go to the US or
after I arrive in the U.S.?
A: There are
advantages and disadvantages either way.
An NCLEX before
arrival in the U.S. allows you to immediately begin
working and be paid as an R.N. However, it also may
add some time for you to get to the United States.
You can get a visa
to the United States quicker if you are not required
by your employer to take the NCLEX prior to arrival
in the U.S. This is due to the waiting time at Guam,
Saipan, Hong Kong and other sites where the NCLEX is
given. However, you will not be able to work and be
paid as an R.N. until you take and pass the NCLEX in
the United States.
Q: Do I have to pay
any fees?
Most nurses do not
have to pay anything for the benefits they receive
now or in the future. Benefits based on nurse
qualifications include:
-
FREE immigration processing and legal work
for you and your family
-
FREE airline ticket to the United States
-
FREE housing for at least one month.
-
FREE NCLEX and English reviews and exam fees
Q: What is the
length of my employment contract?
A: Normally between
two to three years dependent upon what your sponsor
requires.
Q: What about the
status of my family members?
A: Your family
members are also entitled to receive immigrant visas
at the same time you receive your immigrant visa.
Family members are defined as husband or wife and
children under the age of 21 at the time of visa
issuance. We do not charge you any attorney fees for
family members but you are responsible for any visa
fees and airline fares.
Your family members
do not have to travel with you at the same time you
do. They have up to 6 months after receiving their
visas to travel to the United States. This allows
you time to acclimatize to your surroundings and
work in the United States before having to deal with
family matters.
Q: Does an
immigrant visa entitle me to U.S. citizenship
immediately?
A: No. An immigrant
visa only gives you to obtain permanent residence in
the U.S. and receive a green card. Filing for U.S.
citizenship is another process. You and/or your
family members can file for U.S. citizenship after
five years of permanent residence in the U.S. After
gaining U.S. citizenship, you are then allowed to
sponsor and bring your parents to the U.S.
Q: What is a Visa
Screen certificate? Am I required to take English
Tests?
A: A Visa Screen
certificate or ICHP certificate is required in order
to receive an immigrant visa as a nurse. The Visa
Screen certificate is issued by the CGFNS in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. In order to
receive a visa screen certificate, you must:
1. have a CGFNS
certificate or an unrestricted license,
2. pass a series of
English exams (TOEFL, TWE, TSE or IELTS) unless you
received your nursing education in the U.S., Canada,
Britain or a few other designated countries.
3. have your nursing
education and license reviewed by the CGFNS.
Q: Are male nurses
hired in the U.S.?
A: Male nurses are
highly sought after and welcomed in the United
States.
Q: Should I be
worried about passing the NCLEX or TSE exam?
A: We realize that
the exam process for nurses can be particularly
difficult and painstaking. Care Advantage Inc will
work with you to make sure you are supported and are
able to pass each and every exam so that your
desires to come to the U.S. can become a reality. |
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