Visa Screen
UNDERSTANDING VISA SCREEN
What is a Visa Screen Certificate? Isn’t it the same as the CGFNS Certificate? These two are often referred to interchangeably in foreign nurse recruitment.
Although both certificates are issued by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), and both certification processes involve almost similar steps and require very similar information from the registered nurse, these two are distinct.
While CGFNS certificate is a requisite for a nurse to be able to take a state licensing examination in the US, the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN); Visa Screen certificate, on the other hand, is needed in order for a healthcare professional to get an immigrant visa for entry and ability for employment in the United States. It should also be noted that CGFNS certificate is among the components of a Visa Screen program.
Visa Screen certificate is a proof that the nursing credentials – education, training, license and experience of a non-US-educated nurse have met the US standards. It is required by federal law for all healthcare professionals, except physicians, seeking an employment-based permanent immigrant visa.
Specifically, Visa Screen requirement pertains to the following healthcare occupations: (1) Nurses including Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Licensed Vocational Nurses; (2) Occupational Therapists; (3) Physical Therapists; (4) Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists; (5) Medical Technologists/Clinical Laboratory Scientists; (6) Physician Assistants; and (7) Medical Technicians/Clinical Laboratory Technicians.
Visa Screen certificate is issued by the International Commission on Healthcare Professionals ICHP), a division of CGFNS. The Visa Screen program consists of an educational analysis, licensure validation, English language proficiency assessment and a review of CGFNS or NCLEX-RN examination results.
An applicant must obtain the Visa Screen Certificate after the immigration petition is filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Upon satisfaction of all the requirements, an applicant will be issued a Visa Screen certificate which he/she will present, together with the medical exam results to the US Embassy in Manila during visa application processing.
Below are some tips in obtaining Visa Screen certificate:
- You need to request original transcripts and licensure validations from your school and from the licensing authority, respectively.
- You must send to your school the nursing education form (from CGFNS), which the school must complete and send directly to CGFNS. You should contact your school and licensing authority to make sure they complete and send documents to CGFNS as soon as possible.
- To obtain validation of all past and current registration/licenses, you must send a request for validation of registration/license to the licensing authority in the Philippines. A license validation affirms that the applicant has completed all practice requirements and that the registration/licensure is authentic and has no encumbrances.
- You need not just the college diploma, but also your diploma of senior secondary (high school) education as well. If it’s not in English, you need a word-for-word English translation and a statement of accuracy signed by the translator.
- You should pass the test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. This confirms an applicant’s competency in oral and written English. The English exam is valid only for 2 years from the date of administration.
- You must also successfully pass either the CGFNS Qualifying Exam or NCLEX-RN exam as a proof of your nursing knowledge.
The Visa Screen Certificate is valid for five years only. This 5-year expiration date serves as an assurance that the non-US educated healthcare professionals still have the appropriate language and technical skills to perform the duties of their occupation in the United States.
You may check http://www.cgfns.org for more information about Visa Screen.
Click on the following topics:
Visa Backlog | Work, Live in US | Visa Screen | Visa Category | Time & Cost
Know the latest USCIS processing dates. Click here
