Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the required documents a nurse needs to apply for a job?

  To initiate your employment based permanent visa or temporary working visa, we need the following documents from you:

  1. 2 copies of CGFNS certificate or US NCLEX-RN license
  2. 2 copies of Nursing diploma
  3. 2 copies of Nursing License
  4. 2 copies Your Transcript of record (if available)
  5. 2 copies of Resume
  6. 2 photos

  
  If you are from Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, you could bypass the CGFNS by flying to take the NCLEX-RN exam directly at Guam, Hawaii, Florida or any cities in the US.

  If you are from other countries that are difficult to obtain a tourist visa to enter the United States, then CGFNS is the right approach.

• What is the type of visa that UCI processes for nurses to enter the U.S.?

  Normally, we process the employment based permanent visa (Green card) for our recruited nurses. The process will take about nine months, except for nurses from India or China who have much longer waiting periods.
  
  We also process the H-1B working visa on individual basis. We require nurses to have an NCLEX-RN license before applying for H-1B visa.
  
  We also work on the new H-1C visa. Again, we require nurses to have an NCLEX-RN license before applying for H-1C visa too.

• What is the visa screen certificate?

  Visa screen is a new requirement from the U.S. Immigration. It became effective September 1998. Nurses from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are exempt from this English exam requirement. Nurses from other countries are required to take the English exam. There are two choices of the English exam to choose from. One is the MELAB and the other one is ETS (TOEFL, TWE and TSE). The MELAB exam is available only in USA and Canada. Please check the list of countries that offer the TOEFL, TWE and TSE.
  This visa screen certificate is required at the last stage during the personal interview with the U.S. consulate in your country.

  http://www.cgfns.org/ICHP/343UPDAT.HTM

  http://www.ets.org

  http://www.usvisanews.com/faq-nurses.html

  Also, nurses are required to complete a visa screen certificate by taking either MELAB or the ETS (TOEFL, TWE, and TSE)
   

• Can I start working right away after I arrive in the U.S.?

  If you have already passed the NCLEX-RN license, you can start working immediately upon arriving in the U.S. If you have CGFNS, you will need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam before you are allowed to work as a register nurse. However, you may be allowed to work on other capacities. This is up to healthcare facility that is your employer.

• Can I include my spouse and children in the visa petition?

  In the employment based, immigrant visa petition, the nurse applicant can also include the spouse and children under 21 years old.

• How long would it take for me to get a visa to enter the U.S.?

  The current priority date for all the nationalities except India and China are up to date. This means that there is no waiting period. Typically, the entire process will take about nine months from start to finish pending upon your ability to come up with the visa screen certificate.

• What does FPGEE exam stand for?

  FPGEE stands for "Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Exam"

• Where can I obtain information on the FPGEE exam?

  You can call (847) 698-6227 to request an application for the exam or fax a request at (847) 698-6238.

• What are the required documents to apply for the FPGEE exam?

  Please visit http://www.nabp.net  and click "Competency assessment" and then click FPGEE to view in full detail the requirements.

• How often is the FPGEE exam available?

  The FPGEE exam will be available on the computer on November 1, 2000. This means that you can register and take the exam any time in any major U.S. city.

• What type of working experience is necessary to qualify for these positions?

  Right now, we prefer pharmacists with hospital experience, but we will also entertain candidates with retail experience too.

• What are the qualifications to obtain an H-1B visa?

  You will need to achieve the following score:

  1. Completion of FPGEE;   score of 75 or more
  2. Completion of TSE;        score of 50 or better
  3. Completion of TOEFL;   score of 540 (paper based)

• Where can I find an application for the Florida R.T. License?

  You can contact any one of our offices for a copy of Florida RT license application or you can print one from http://www.doh.state.fl.us. Select "Radiation Control" from the pull-down menu and then choose Radiologic Technology program. The application form can be printed from this web site.

• How often is the A.R.R.T. exam available?

  The exam is computerized and can be taken at any U.S. major city including Guam all year round.

• What are the requirements to apply for H-1B visa for a R.T.?

  A Bachelor of Science degree in R.T. and Florida's A.R.R.T. license is required. We also accept applications from candidates with a B.S. degree in Radiology with experience in other areas, such as Nuclear Medicine, MRI, CT, etc.