Information on CGFNS and VisaScreen
(CGFNS website)The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) is an immigration-neutral, nonprofit organization and is an internationally recognized authority on credentials evaluation pertaining to the education, registration, and licensure of nurses and other healthcare professionals worldwide. CGFNS protects the public by ensuring that nurses and other healthcare professionals educated in countries other than the United States are eligible and qualified to meet licensure, immigration and other practice requirements in the United States
Two programs offered by CGFNS are required by the majority of the U.S. Boards of Nursing in order to obtain registration/licensure as a nurse in the United States. They are the CGFNS Certification Program (CP) and the CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service (CES). A third program, CGFNS Credentials Verification Service (CVS) for New York State, independently collects and verifies the authenticity of an applicant’s educational and licensure/registration credentials. Once verified, the credentials are forwarded to the New York State Education Department to be evaluated as part of the applicant’s licensure application. A fourth program--VisaScreen™--satisfies the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requirement for healthcare professionals seeking a temporary or permanent occupational visa in order to work in the U.S., or are working in the U.S. under Trade NAFTA status.
The Certification Program (CP) is designed specifically for first-level, general nurses educated outside the United States who wish to pursue a career in the U.S. as registered nurses. The program is comprised of three parts: a credentials review of the nurse’s education, registration and licensure; the CGFNS Qualifying Exam testing nursing knowledge; and an English language proficiency exam. After successfully completing all three parts of the Certification Program, an applicant is awarded a CGFNS Certificate.
The Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) analyzes international credentials in terms of how they compare with U.S. standards and expectations of multiple types and levels of healthcare professionals educated outside of the U.S., or with an international educational background. This objective evaluation carefully assesses documents received from source agencies, verifying and appraising an applicants educational and registration/licensure credentials. The resulting report serves as a valuable tool for regulatory/licensing agencies, specialty certification authorities, academic institutions, immigration attorneys, prospective employers and others. The service provides two levels of report from which to choose.
The New York State Education Department requires that foreign-educated registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants obtain independent verification of the authenticity of their credentials from a State Education Department approved credentials verification service. In 2001, CGFNS, a world leader in evaluation of international healthcare credentials, was authorized by the New York State Education Department to conduct the verification of educational transcripts and licenses of healthcare professionals who apply for initial licensure or endorsement in New York.
The International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP), another division of CGFNS, administers VisaScreen™: Visa Credentials Assessment. U.S. immigration law requires that healthcare professionals, other than physicians, complete a screening program in order to qualify for certain occupational visas. VisaScreen™ enables healthcare professionals to meet this requirement by verifying and evaluating their credentials to ensure that they meet the government’s minimum eligibility standards. Applicants who successfully complete VisaScreen™ receive a VisaScreen™ Certificate.
ICHP VisaScreen™: Visa Credentials Assessment The final rule implementing Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 became effective on September 23, 2003 although was extended bu US Immigraton until July 26, 2005 for Canadian Nurses. This rule requires that Canadian nurses entering the United States to work under Trade NAFTA or applying for a temporary or permanent occupational visa must obtain a VisaScreen™ Certificate. A VisaScreen™ Certificate is issued after a complete evaluation of the nurse's credentials to verify that he or she meets the minimum federal requirements. The International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP™), a division of CGFNS, administers this screening process, which is called the "VisaScreen™: Visa Credentials Assessment". The VisaScreen™ program consists of following parts:
For the purpose of the VisaScreen™ requirements, successful completion of the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) that was administered in Canada is an acceptable alternative to the NCLEX-RN®. Except for the graduates of nursing schools in Quebec, Canadian nurses are exempt from the English language proficiency examination requirement, if their nursing instruction and text books were in English. If you are not exempt from the English language proficiency examinations you will need to successfully pass one of the following English exams: TOEFL plus TWE and TSE, or TOEIC plus TWE and TSE, or IELTS. Contact the following organizations for further information on the English proficiency examinations:
You can apply for the VisaScreen™ Program in one of three ways:
After reading the entire packet, complete the application form and send it, along with other requested documentation and full payment, to ICHP. The current fee for the ICHP VisaScreen™: Visa Credentials Assessment is $448.00 USD (fees subject to change).This will give you a certificate valid for 5 years, after which a renewal certificate is available, valid for another 5 years, for another fee of $200.00 USD. Complete the first portion of the “Request for Academic Records” form and send it to your professional school(s) in order that your school sends it, as well as your full academic records, directly to ICHP. NOTE: if you are a CGFNS Certificate Holder, or have ever been approved to sit for a CGFNS® Qualifying Examination, please contact CGFNS and verify whether or not your full academic records are on file from your application for the CGFNS Certification Program; as program requirements differ between the Certification Program and VisaScreen, depending upon what CGFNS may have on file from your school, you may or may not be required to have your transcripts sent to ICHP as part of your VisaScreen application. Complete the first portion of the “Request for Validation of Registration/License” form and send it to the licensing authority in your country of education (country in which you were initially registered/licensed) and to every other licensing authority where you have ever held a registration/license (whether expired, inactive, etc.), AND currently hold a license. If your diploma gives you the right to practice in your country, your nursing school or the Ministry of Health must also validate your diploma to ICHP. For Registered Nurses Only: Complete the first portion of a “Request for Validation of Registration/License” form and send it to the licensing authority in the U. S. jurisdiction where you passed the NCLEX-RN® examination (if applicable). Be advised that ICHP is unable to accept any transcript or licensure documentation sent by email, fax or via the Internet. All documentation must be a hard copy sent by mail/courier to ICHP. You must apply directly with the appropriate administering institutions in order to schedule an examination date for the required English proficiency examinations. All English scores must be sent directly to CGFNS from the examining institution; CGFNS will NOT accept an official score report submitted by the applicant or any third party. If you choose to take the TOEFL Exam, when filling out the ETS application, be sure to reference institution code 9988, which will identify you as an ICHP candidate and will ensure that your test results will be forwarded for inclusion in your ICHP file. You will be contacted by ICHP by mail regarding the status of your application and the need for any outstanding documentation. Upon successful completion of all parts of the VisaScreen Program, you will obtain the VisaScreen Certificate, which will be mailed directly to you, and which you must present to the BCIS at your final consular interview. You can request additional help regarding the ICHP VisaScreen™: Visa Credentials Assessment by visiting the CGFNS website at http://www.cgfns.org or by writing to:
You may also call the CGFNS Customer Service Department at (215) 349-8767 ext 476, fax your inquiries to (215) 349-0026 or (215) 662-0425, Phone lines are generally open between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. Monday through Thursday, and 9 A.M. through 4:30 P.M. on Friday (ET). The Customer Service lines are not open evenings, weekends, or on U.S. holidays; however, recorded information on all programs and voice mail is available after business hours. The CGFNS Automated Voice Response System can be reached at (215) 599-6200 for 24 hour/day, 7 day/week applicant file status updates. |
 |
Types of
visas for Nurses
1. A Permanent
(immigrant) visa, also known as a "green card."
2. A Temporary
(non-immigrant) visa, of which there are three types: H-1B,H-1C and TN (Trade
NAFTA).
Each visa category has its
own numeric quota and length of renewal and stay. The
term "green card" is known all
over the world; however, it is not an official name. The
offical name is Alien
Registration Receipt Card. Many people believe, mistakenly,
that green cards are work
permits. Although that is one of its features, identifying
the holder as a permanent
resident of the U.S. is its main function. A green card
holder is required to make the
U.S. their permanent home, if they do not, they risk
losing the card. Green Cards are valid for only 10 years abd then must be renewed
unless you have taken out US citizenship during that time
More information on the CGFNS and VisaScreen site at the FAQ page of the CGFNS