Canadian Nurse Recruitment for NAFTA Visa and Green Cards-by  Meladee M. Stankus, RN MS

The North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) TN Visa for professional occupational groups includes Registered Nurses.   Those eligible for this TN Visa must be a Canadian citizen and be the holder of the Visa Screen certificate and have passed the NCLEX® in one of the US states or territories.  In addition, before work start, the RN must hold a valid RN license in the state of the US employer and a valid US social security number.  The nurse applicant presents themselves to the US immigration at most Canadian US border sites, with the letter of hire from the US employer, written in the proper format, the CGFNS Visa Screen certificate and the valid US RN license.  With these documents, the TN Visa is issued that day and the nurse can travel from Canada to US with the TN and then apply for the social security number and the endorsement of the RN from the state of initial RN application to the state of the employer sponsor.  However, NIUSA recommends that the nurse apply for the endorsement application prior to departure due to the back logs at the boards of nursing and a “walk thru” is possible in some cases with some boards of nursing.   It is important to note that the qualified family members can accompany the TN visa holder, but do not qualify for work authorization on the nurse’s TN Visa.  The TN Visa is valid for one year.  The same procedure is used for each of the following years.  A nurse, who plans on permanent residency in the US, should consider adjustment to the Employment Based Immigrant Visa-EB3 (Green Card) for themselves and eligible family members.

NIUSA will assist Canadian nurses with both the TN Visa and the Employment Based Immigrant Visa (Green Card).  Those who are Canadian Citizens may be eligible for the very simple, a rapid TN Visa.  Those who are landed immigrants and do not have Canadian citizenship will need to use the EB3 for US work authorization.

Canadian Nurses-Interested in a US job commensurate with your skills and experience ?-email @meladee@nurseimmigrationusa.com    OR- call me at toll free  866 532 9274.

Note to some nurses-

Canadian nurses who have problems in obtaining their CGFNS Visa Screen Certificate have contacted NIUSA.  NIUSA strongly supports the ease of migration for both Canadian nurses and US nurses who wish to work in our two countries.  With the addition of the CGFNS Visa Screen as a requirement for the TN Visa this last July 2004, there have been reports of frustration and discouragement from some Canadian nurses.  For example, some nurses find that their transcripts are not approved by the CGFNS Visa Screen due to a deficiency in lecture/or clinical hours in one of the required areas…usually related to maternal and child nursing or psychiatric nursing.  Please contact NIUSA if you have been affected by such problems and wish to have assistance in order to pursue the TN Visa.