International Nurse FAQ
You don’t need a US passport for a free ticket to the American dream.
In order to work as an RN in the US, you must hold a current nursing license in the country where you have citizenship or where you are residing, a passport, a valid New York RN license, a permanent visa and a contract of employment.
We will guide you in obtaining all of the above at absolutely no cost to you, until you will finally be an RN working in the New York prestigious hospitals.
• How do I apply for required exams?
• Assistance with CGFNS
• NCLEX review program
• NCLEX examination
• State licensing application
• All exam fees reimbursed
• Quick immigration processing
• Preparation and submission of all immigration paperwork
• The advantage of a permanent resident ovisa (I140) above a working visa (H1)
• Complete green card sponsorship for you and your family.
• Free relocation flight to the US
• Housing assistance upon arrival
• Cultural orientation program to living and working in the US
How do I apply for the required exams?
The applications needed to apply for the required exams can be obtained from Gotham Companies. You must fill out the application forms and send the appropriate fees for the exam to be taken. Gotham Companies will assist you in making arrangements for all the exams.
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Assistance with CGFNS
You should apply for the CGFNS exam as soon as possible. Here at Gotham Companies we are committed to support you completely and treat you as a family member. We will guide you in passing CGFNS. This will be your first milestone towards your visa procedure. Gotham Companies will provide you with the CGFNS exam application and assist you in completing it. You will then send in the completed application and the appropriate fees for the exam to be taken.
Once your application has been reviewed and approved by CGFNS, you will receive the necessary review material to prepare for the exam and ensure you with a passing grade. You will then be scheduled for the exam. Gotham Companies will assist you in making arrangements for all the exams. Once you will pass the exam, you will receive a CGFNS certificate. This certificate allows a petition to be filed for your visa to work in the US. However, you must still pass the NCLEX exam. Please note that the NCLEX-RN exam supersedes the CGFNS, therefore there is no need to take the CGFNS if you have already passed the NCLEX. The CGFNS fulfills the requirements of the initial immigration application, but it is not a valid license to be a registered nurse in the US.
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NCLEX review program
The NCLEX-RN examination is a computerized test, which takes approximately two to five hours and consists of a range of questions in number from 75 to 265. In order to prepare for this examination you will have to study NCLEX review material. You must set aside time to study at length prior to taking the test. Here at Gotham Companies we are committed to support you completely and treat you as a family member. We will provide you with NCLEX review information. We will guide you in reviewing and in passing NCLEX, which is the test that will enable you to practice in the US. This will be your first milestone towards your visa procedure.
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NCLEX examination
You should apply for the National Council License Examination (NCLEX) as soon as possible. Once the New York State Board of Licensing will approve your profile, based on your CVS (Credential Verification Service), they will issue your ATT (Authorization To Test) which allows you to take the NCLEX exam. At that point, you should schedule a date for the exam. This can be done while your INS paperwork is being approved. The NCLEX exam is designed to test your knowledge of the clinical and critical thinking skills essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry level. This exam is given in the United States, the US territories (American Samoa, Guam, Saipan, The Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), Hong Kong, Korea, and London. All jurisdictions give the same exam thus allowing licensure endorsement from one state board to another. It is a computerized test consisiting of 300 questions and takes approximately two to five hours. For applicants that are CGFNS certificate holders this certificate allows a petition to be filed for your visa to work in the US however, you must still pass the NCLEX exam to work as a Registered Nurse in the United States.
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State licensing application
You will apply to the New York State Board of Nursing for permission to take NCLEX and receive a valid RN license. Gotham Companies will provide you with the appropriate application and assist you in completing it. Your country’s board of nursing will verify your current nursing license to the New York State Board of Nursing through the CVS (Credential Verification Service). Once your application has been reviewed and your education is deemed equivalent to the New York education requirements, you must take and pass the National Council license Examination for Registered Nurses. When you pass the NCLEX exam, your NY RN license will be issued to you within days.
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All exam fees reimbursed
Gotham Companies will reimburse all fees for CGFNS, English examinations, NCLEX, and nursing license in NY. Reimbursement will be 90 days after your first working assignment.
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Quick immigration processing -
Gotham Companies begins processing your application the day we receive it. It is carefully reviewed to establish your timetable for the immigration process. The immigration process and a final Immigration and Naturalization decision regarding the issuance of a permanent visa can take approximately three months to one year. The length of time for the immigration process will vary depending upon what exams you have already completed. The success of the immigration process depends entirely on your full cooperation in completing all the required paperwork involved and successfully passing all required tests.
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Preparation and submission of all immigration paperwork -
Gotham Companies retains the very best attorneys in the field of immigration who will file for the permanent visa (green card) for our dear nurses willing to relocate on our program. They will process all the paperwork for you to be a permanent resident in the US. They will file for your petition to the INS, with Gotham Companies as your sponsor. These attorneys are well connected with all official institutions to make this process smooth, quick and uneventful
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The advantage of a permanent resident visa (I140) above a working visa (H1)
The H1B or H1C visa is a work permit that is valid for three years only. The H1 visas are available only in certain work areas. The RN must be in supervisory position or work in hospital that meets certain restrictions to qualify for the H1 visa temporary employment. Your spouse and family are not able to work in the United States. Therefore, Gotham Companies believes that a permanent visa (I140) is the best choice for foreign nurses. It allows the nurse to immigrate with spouse and children and remain working in the United States. It grants you and your family the liberty to remain in the US with unlimited working opportunities and an ever-prosperous future.
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Complete ‘green card’ sponsorship for you and your family -
Gotham Companies Agency petitions for a permanent visa (I140) for the nurse applicant and also for your spouse and children (under the age of 21). Gotham Companies will serve as your sponsor and our attorney's will file for the petition for you and your family.
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Free relocation flight to the US
Once your petition will be filed and approved, your visa and green card will be issued.
Gotham Companies will then pay your relocation flight to NY and finally welcome you at the airport. Welcome abroad!
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Housing assistance on arrival
Upon arrival we will provide you with housing assistance. You should live close to your assigned hospital.
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Cultural orientation program to living and working in the US
Remember it is our commitment to make this relocation experience a most pleasant and rewarding one. Upon arrival we will welcome you at the airport and provide you with housing and a full cultural orientation program to NY living. We look forward to develop a long lasting and productive relationship and greeting you with all the benefits that come when joining the Gotham Companies family.
Immigration News Update
Effective January 1, 2005, the United States Department of State, in their recent visa bulletin, announced that the priority dates for Employment Based petitions for nationals from India, Mainland China, and the Philippines are being retrogressed to January 1, 2002. This means, that any individual who submitted a petition to the USCIS on or before January 1, 2002 will be scheduled for interviews at the consulates once their cases are ready for scheduling. Any cases filed thereafter will be processed based upon the monthly release of new processing dates by the State Department. Based on the above, it appears there will be a three-year backlog. However, the State Department may or may not move up the processing dates more than one month at a time. The Visa Bulletin can be located online by going to www. travel.state.gov.
