VisaScreen® renewal:

VisaScreen® certificate holders who have not obtained a permanent U.S. visa are required to renew their certificates within five years of the issue date. VisaScreen® renewal certificate applicants should begin the process six months before their current certificate expires. The renewal fee is
$250 USD. The renewal application is available for download at www.cgfns.org/files/pdf/apps/VisaScreenReApp.pdf or applicants may apply online through CGFNS Connect.

Expedited Review Service:

Service for VisaScreen® to include applicants who have an offer for employment, in addition to those who have a Request for Evidence or a deportation deadline regarding their U.S. visa application.

VisaScreen® applicants are eligible for this Expedited Review Service only I they have met the criteria of Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform Immigrant Responsibility Act; we have received all required documents and we have received a copy of their Request for Evidence, deportation deadline or offer for employment accompanied by a completed CGFNS Expedited Review Service form.

To apply for the Expedited Review Service, eligible VisaScreen® applicants will need to call CGFNS Customer Service between the hours of 8am and Noon, U.S. Eastern Time, to receive instructions. (see contact info below)

We will need the items requested above with an online credit card payment of $500. CGFNS will then perform the necessary review within five business days and, if all requirements have been successfully met, issue a VisaScreen® certificate via UPS next day air. Applicants who are ineligible for a VisaScreen® certificate based on the review will be notified. Fees for the Expedited Review Service are not refundable.

CGNS increases prices on its services:

CGFNS International announced on 21 December 2009 a new pricing structure for core services and several ancillary services.  Applications for the Certification Program, the Credentials Evaluation Service, the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment program, the Credential Verification Service for New York State and ancillary services received on or after 1 January 2010 will be charged according to the new fee schedule.

The updated 2010 fees can be found here.

Contact Information:

CGFNS Customer Service* +1 (215) 349 8767
Automated Voice Response Telephone System +1 (215) 599 6200
Appointments* +1 (215) 222 8454
Mailing address Suite 400, 3600 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651
CGFNS Web site http://www.cgfns.org
CGFNS Connect https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/intro.jsp
Apply/Check Status https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/intro.jsp
Email https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/processContactUs.do

As of October 25, 2009, approximately 52,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions and approximately 20,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption had been filed. Seven months into this fiscal year and there are still H-1B visas available – but not for long!

Any H1-B petitions filed on behalf of a foreign national with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H1-B cap of 65,000. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.

The H-1B Petition is still a valid option for professionals with degrees in IT, Engineering, those in science and the arts, as well as many healthcare workers including PTs, OTs, Physicians, Pharmacists,  AHPs, and some nurses.

When considering Nurses for H-1B Visas, these are the threshold issues and key questions:

For Nurses:

1. The nurse must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (a BSN), and

2. The position must normally require a Bachelors Degree.

For the Employer:

A. The hospital is offering the nurse a position as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), a Certified Nurse Practitioner (APRN-certified) or positions in Critical care where the nurse holds certification;

B. If the nurse will be working in an Administrative position ordinarily associated with a Bachelors Degree, such as Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager;

C. If the nurse will be working in one of these specialties: peri-operative, school health, occupational health, rehabilitation nursing, emergency room nursing, critical care, operating room, oncology and pediatrics. And the hospital will attest that these roles are only offered to those with Bachelors Degrees. Some magnet hospitals have the BSN as its standards, and these make great destination hospitals for RN H-1Bs.

Contact Immigration Solutions if you are seeking representation to assist you with your H-1B case filings.  We have a professional team ready to handle your casework with reasonable and fair fees.  We specialize in IT, Engineering and Healthcare immigration, amongst other business sectors – both in the US and Canada.

There’s been a rift going on for several months in re degree requirements when USCIS wandered off the reservation and decided that all PTs and OTs required master’s degrees for H-1B classification regardless of state licensing requirements.  The issue has finally been resolved:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6468237/Velarde-healthcare-memo-5-20-09-_USCIS_

With the immigrant visa (“green card”) annual quota being severely backlogged thereby resulting in a long and unpredictable waiting list and H-1B visas generally being unavailable for nurses, the search continues for nurses and physical therapists for faster ways to enter the United States to commence employment in their professions. Fortunately, under the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”), nurses and physical therapists who are citizens of Canada and Mexico have a possible solution. The TN classification or visa pursuant to NAFTA is quicker and easier than the green card process, is not subject to annual quotas and is not subject to prevailing wage and other labor condition application (“LCA”) requirements.A registered nurse requires a state/provincial license or Licenciatura Degree. A physical therapist requires a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree or a state/provincial license. In addition to the above credentials, the applicant must present a Canadian or Mexican passport and a letter from the prospective employer in the U.S. that contains a job description and the anticipated length of stay and salary. A VisaScreen certificate is required in all cases. All TN non-immigrants are subject to the laws of the state of intended employment regarding professional licenses, but will not need to acquire the relevant license prior to admission to the U.S. However, the nurse or physical therapist must obtain the appropriate professional license from the state of intended employment prior to commencing employment.

A Canadian citizen may present the application package, described above, directly to an immigration officer at a U.S. port of entry at the time of entry. The immigration officer will make the determination as to whether the applicant is admissible as a TN. No prior petition approval is required. No visa is required from a U.S. consulate either. Upon admission to the U.S., the Canadian citizen will be issued a Form I-94 for a period not exceeding 1-year, which will be marked “multiple entry” and can be used for future entries to the US during its validity.

A Mexican citizen submits the application package described above directly to a U.S. consulate as part of an application for a TN visa. The consul makes the determination as to whether the applicant is eligible for a TN visa. Upon admission to the U.S., the applicant will be given a “multiple entry” Form I-94 for a period not exceeding 1 year.

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of the TN can be issued TD status or TD visas to accompany or follow to join the TN. A TD dependant is not permitted to work in the U.S. but may attend school.

TN classification or a TN visa requires non-immigrant intent. As long as nonimmigrant intent continues to exist, the TN classification or TN visa can be extended in 1-year increments.

Obtaining permanent resident (“green card”) status for a TN can be challenging. Because of the strict non-immigrant intent requirement of a TN, the limited validity period of 1-year for a TN and the lengthy immigrant visa-quota waiting period, there generally is not enough time to complete the green card process before it becomes necessary to extend the TN for another year. If the green card process is started for a TN, there very likely will be problems extending the TN and/or re-entering the U.S. after travel abroad. TN physical therapists may be able to resolve this issue by changing status to H-1B (a dual intent status) before starting the green card process. Unfortunately, H-1B status is generally not available to registered nurses. Future legislation may address the quota issues and help resolve this issue.