APRIL 6,
2004
EXPEDITED VISA
SCREENS FOR MICHIGAN NURSES
CGFNS has announced that Michigan
has been approved as an additional state for the 212r exemption
provided in section 343, the
so-called "certified statement" process. The process allows a CGFNS
to approve the Visa Screen in 35 days.
Any
nurse educated in one of the seven "exempt"
English-speaking countries -- Australia,
Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United
Kingdom, the U.S. and Trinidad & Tobago -- and is applying for entry
in one of the five approved states -- Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New
York and now Michigan -- will be eligible for expedited
processing of the visa screen.
CGFNS will need only a letter of verification of graduation with seal,
signature and statement that English was the language of instruction
from the school of nursing and a validation of licensure by Michigan
and passage of NCLEX.
The key is that CGFNS will not
need a transcript or validation of foreign licenses.
This allows for the expeditious processing.
In order to be eligible to request
this alternative procedure, the applicant must demonstrate that he or
she:
1) has a valid and unencumbered license as a
registered nurse in a State where the alien intends to be employed and
such State verifies that the foreign licenses of alien nurses are
authentic and unencumbered;
2) has passed the National Council Licensure
Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RNŽ examination);
3) is a graduate of a nursing program (a) in which the
language of instruction was English, (b) located in a country
designated by CGFNS within 30 days of the date of enactment of P.L.
106-95, based on CGFNS' assessment that the quality of nursing
education in that country, and the English language proficiency of
those who complete English-language-medium programs in that country,
justify the country's designation, and (c) which was in operation
before November 12, 1999, or is subsequently designated by CGFNS and
any equivalent credentialing organizations approved for the
credentialing of nurses under subsection 212(a)(5)(C).
