2003-2004 Immigration Requirement: "Visa Screen Certificate"

From E-News November 4, 2003

New mandatory regulations for U.S. healthcare workers who are not U.S. citizens

A new Health Care Worker Regulation that was passed into law in 1996 became a final regulation in September 2003. It requires those who are not a U.S. citizen or have legal permanent resident to obtain a VISA screen certificate from the "Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools" or CGFNS. This is required before the nurse can be employed in the United States to work as a registered nurse.

Registered nurses will not be admitted into the U.S. without this VISA screen certificate after July 26, 2004. One cannot obtain their TN VISA without a VISA screen certificate. After July 2004 the nurse must prove they are a nurse with an unrestricted license. This means that a RN on a temporary license cannot apply for the certificate. They must write the NCLEX and then apply for the certificate. They will not be able to work on the temporary license after July 2004. Please note nurses who have a green card are exempt from this entire process.

To apply for the certificate the RN must apply to CGFNS. You can download the application from http://www.cgfns.org/ or call 215-349-0026. The fee for the certificate is $325.00. The certificate is only valid for 5 years. The process for obtaining this certificate can take up to 6 months. Filling this out as soon as possible will hopefully expedite the process.

Please note that the NCLEX exam was established in 1980. IF you are a RN that sat for the "SBTPE" or the state board test pool examination, CGFNS will accept that documentation in lieu of NCLEX.

In January 2004 Bill 4994 sunsets. HB 4994 was introduced and passed during the 2001 -2002 legislative session which eliminated CGFNS for Michigan Canadian nurses. That means that starting in January 2004 the Michigan nurse will need to take CGFNS to be eligible to take NCLEX. The DMC lobbyist is diligently working with others from MDCIS, MHA, MSMS and MNA as well as with other hospital lobbyists for an extension to the bill. They hope to have an amendment to the existing bill to extend the sunset for 3 years until January 1, 2007. We at the DMC are confident that this will occur! We will maintain constant communication with our lobbyist in Lansing and will keep you posted as events unfold.

If you are a DMC nurse with a temporary nursing license, it is important that you sit for your NCLEX as soon as possible, preferably before January 2004. You can register to take NCLEX by registering on line at http://www.ncsbn.org/ Once you have been approved you have a 90 day window to sit for the test.

We continue to diligently work on these issues and will communicate with you whenever changes occur. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact your Hospital's Nurse Recruiter or Linda A. Filipczak, RN BSN MBA @ 248-603-4242.