No. At this time we do not sponsor international nurses for entry-level employment, either monetarily for legal fees or in providing paperwork necessary for an H1-B visa petition or a green card.

Please visit the United States Homeland Security websites for current VISA requirements.
Official Homeland Security Websites: https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/tn-nafta-professionals and https://www.cbp.gov/travel/canadian-and-mexican-citizens.

Yes, if they have maintained an active license with no disciplinary sanctions for at least five years immediately preceding the application for a Michigan license by endorsement. An application can be requested from the State of Michigan. An application can be requested from the State of Michigan, www.michigan.gov/lara

A TN non-immigrant 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:

• Canadian citizens usually do not need a visa as a NAFTA Professional, although a visa can be issued to qualified Canadian TN visa applicants upon request.
• A Canadian citizen without a TN visa can apply for TN nonimmigrant status at a U.S. port-of-entry. Learn about these requirements on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) websites. More information about TN nonimmigrant status is also available on the U.S. Embassy Ottawa website.

When is a NAFTA Professional (TN) visa required for a Canadian citizen? A Canadian without TN nonimmigrant status, who resides in a third country with a non-Canadian spouse and/or child(ren), and who plans to enter the United States as a NAFTA professional at the same time as the family member(s), will need a TN visa in order for the family members to be eligible to apply for derivative TD nonimmigrant visa(s).

Canadian Graduate Nurses and licensed nurses can request admission as a TN non-immigrant at a U.S. Port of Entry, and must have the following documents: Proof of job offer, valid Canadian passport, Visa Screen Certificate, and a Qualification Document (license or proof of education degree).

VISAScreen

The VISA Screen Service is a comprehensive screening program for health care professionals who are not US citizens and are seeking an occupational visa to work in the United States. The VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service requires specific health care professionals to complete a screening program before they can receive either a permanent or temporary occupational visa, including Trade NAFTA status. The screening program includes:

• An assessment of an applicant’s education to ensure that it is comparable to that of a U.S. graduate in the same profession
• A verification that all professional health care licenses that an applicant ever held are valid and without restrictions
• An English language proficiency examination
• For registered nurses only, a verification that the nurse has passed either the CGFNS Qualifying Exam®, NCLEX-RN® or for select years and provinces its predecessor, the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE).

Applicants who successfully complete VisaScreen® receive an official ICHP Certificate for the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service, which satisfies the United States Federal screening requirements.

The VISA screen application is $540.00

CGFNS Certification Program

U.S. immigration law requires foreign Registered Nurses that are not US Citizens seeking an occupational VISA to work in the US, to complete a CGFNS Certification program prior to receiving the VISA. The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) offers this federal certification program, and the International Commission on Healthcare Professions administers the VisaScreen. Once you have a successful completion results in the CGFNS Certification Program Certificate, it is valid for life.

The CGFNS Certification program includes:

• The CGFNS Qualifying Exam
• A credentials evaluation of secondary and nursing education, registration
• Demonstration of passing one of the accepted English language proficiency exams
• For more information: http://www.cgfns.org/services/certification-program/

After successful screening, the nurse is issued a Visa Screen Certificate, which can be presented at a border port of entry (Canadian citizens) or at the U.S. Consulate as part of a Visa application. The Certification Program application is $445.00 and includes the exam study guide, a credentials review and English language proficiency verification.

Michigan requires foreign nurses educated abroad to obtain the Visa Screen/CGFNS and Michigan NCLEX. The VisaScreen and CGFNS Certification Program evaluates the foreign nurse’s education, credentials and English language proficiency.

The requirements for obtaining a license to practice as a nurse differs in each U.S. state and may change without notice. Please contact the board of nursing in the state where you wish to practice to obtain the latest information and to verify current licensure requirements.

Michigan Board of Nursing www.michigan.gov/lara

CGFNS Certification Program www.cgfns.org

VisaScreen Services http://www.cgfns.org/services/visascreen/

An H-1B visa is a temporary work visa for professionals in specialty occupations, such as nursing. It is issued for a maximum of six years, sometimes in 3-year increments. A business immigration attorney should be used to file an H-1B petition.

The international nurse must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent international degree.

Additionally, the specialty position must require such a degree and 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 bachelor’s degree. It is possible for a nurse with an advanced practice degree or specialty certification to receive an H-1B visa for an advanced position.

UMHS employs nurses with a bachelor’s degree, associate degree or diploma in nursing in entry-level positions. We do not routinely sponsor nurses with H-1B status.

Student nurses with a F-1 visa can work in their field 20 hours per week maximum during the school year, and full time (40 hours) during vacations.

Please visit the website for UM Student Life International Center” for more information. https://internationalcenter.umich.edu/about/contact