1. What are the U.S. licensure requirements and how much does it cost?
To work as a registered nurse in the U.S. you must obtain a license to practice. To receive a license you must pass the NCLEX-RN examination, which is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

To apply for the NCLEX-RN examination you must submit an application to the U.S. State Board of Nursing. The cost of the application is U.S.$250 and it usually takes 10 to 12 weeks to receive approval to test.

2. Is there any education assistance to help prepare me for U.S. nursing?
Yes, U.S. Links International has an outstanding RN Education Program. The program is designed to not only provide you with a study plan for the NCLEX-RN examination, but continuing education while you work through the Green Card process in your home country.

3. What does the NCLEX-RN examination entail?
The NCLEX-RN is a multiple-choice examination taken on a computer. The exam covers the five areas of nursing: medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics. All candidates are asked between 75 and 265 questions with the exact number of questions determined by the computer depending upon your previous answers. The maximum duration of the exam is five hours. The exam results are usually available within 2-3 weeks.

4. On the exam trip who pays for what?
U.S. Links International pays for the cost of round trip airfare and the hotel accommodations while you are on the exam trip. All other expenses, including hotel incidentals, are the nurse's responsibility.

5. What is a U.S. Permanent Residency Visa?
A permanent residency visa allows the holder to permanently reside and work in the U.S. This visa is more commonly referred to as a Green Card, which has carried over from the days when the visa was green in color. Visas issued since 1989 carry expiration dates of ten years from the date of issue.

6. Can my family live and work in the U.S.?
For married applicants, permanent residency visas are of particular value. Our Hospitals sponsor the nurse for a Green Card, and the nurse's spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21 will automatically be entitled to apply for a Green Card also. All Green Card holders are legally entitled to work in the U.S.

7. What are the costs associated with a Permanent Residency Visa and who pays what?
U.S. Links International finances the initial filing fee for the Green Card as well as handling the initial correspondence with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Once the INS approves the application for sponsorship for a Green Card the nurse is requested to attend an interview at a local U.S. Embassy. All expenses connected with the Green Card interview are the responsibility of the nurse. You should expect to pay U.S. $325 per visa applicant for the interview and application fee and approximately U.S. $100 for the U.S. Embassy medical exam.

8. What is Visa Screen and what are the requirements for certification?
Visa Screen is a screening program for healthcare professionals applying for occupational visas (such as a Green Card) to work in the U.S. It is one of the necessary steps in obtaining a U.S. visa. Applicants will be reviewed for their ability to meet standardized criteria in education, licensure, and English language proficiency. Nurses who have graduated from a college, university or a professional training school located in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States are exempt from the English language requirement. In addition, nurses will need to pass the NCLEX-RN examination. Upon successful completion of the Visa Screen program applicants will receive a Visa Screen certificate which should be submitted to the U.S. Embassy or Consular Office as part of an application for an occupational visa (such as a Green Card).

9. What are the costs for Visa Screen Certification?
U.S. Links International pays the costs associated with the Visa Screen application. These are valued at U.S. $500. The nurse is responsible for any charges connected with obtaining a second transcript of nurse training from his/her school of nursing and for all costs associated with the English language requirements.

10. How does the placement "match" work?
Determining the hospital where U.S. Links International nurses will be assigned involves bringing together both the staffing needs of the hospital and the preferences and skills of our nurses. We will generally not know which hospital will need your skills until several weeks before you receive your U.S. visa. During the exam trip U.S. Links International Placement Coordinator will discuss placement options with you. A plan of action will be implemented as you progress through the Green Card process. When a suitable "match" is identified, a telephone interview will take place between the nurse and a representative from the U.S. healthcare facility. If the interview is successful, U.S. Links International will give you a detailed job offer. We will then plan your employment start date and your travel date.

11. How much time will pass before I travel to the U.S.?
U.S. Links International has over 20 years of experience in placing healthcare professionals into U.S. assignments. It will take approximately 12 months from the time you are accepted into U.S. Links International sponsorship program until you actually travel to the U.S. This entails (a) about three months to receive your approval to take the NCLEX-RN (during these three months you must study for the exam); (b) 3-4 weeks to receive your U.S. nursing license after passing the exam; then (c) approximately six months to obtain your U.S. visa. Please note that your nursing exam and license are governed by the U.S. Board of Nursing and your visa is processed by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The timing of each event is not in the control of U.S. Links International and therefore we cannot significantly alter this waiting period. With U.S. Links International's assistance, you can help keep processing times to a minimum by carefully completing the required documents and submitting them in a timely fashion.

More questions? Please email your recruiter at  info@uslinksintl.com