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FAQs - VisaScreen
This is a very basic Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page which attempts to answer some of the more commonly asked questions. Just click a question to read the answer.
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 What is a VisaScreen?
A VisaScreen is a requirement imposed by the INS on nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, medical technologists, medical technicians and physician assistants seeking employment based-entry visa. This requirement is currently waived for temporary worker (H-1B) visa approved by July 26, 2004.
Source: www.placementauthority.com/faq.php
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What is VisaScreen
U.S. Immigration law now requires that healthcare professionals, other than physicians, complete a screening program in order to qualify for certain occupational visas. VisaScreen™, a program offered by The International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP), a division of CGFNS, enables healthcare professionals to meet this requirement by verifying and evaluating their credentials to ensure that they meet the government’s minimum eligibility standards. CGFNS is named in Federal law as a qualified provider of such a screening program.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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What does VisaScreen
VisaScreen™ does an educational review, licensure review, English language skills assessment and predictive examination for nurses. Applicants who successfully complete VisaScreen™ will receive a VisaScreen™ Certificate, which can be presented to a consular office or, in the case of adjustment of status, the Attorney General as part of a visa application.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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Who needs a VisaScreen and when?
At present only applicants for immigrant visa or those applying for adjustment of status to permanent resident are required to obtain VisaScreen certificate. It will be required for H-1B applicants beginning July 27, 2004.
The applicant needs to present a VisaScreen certificate to a consular office or, in the case of adjustment of status, the Attorney General as part of a visa application. VisaScreen is needed when appearing at the Consular interview -or the AOS if in the US. (The RN should proceed with the VisaScreen Application as soon as the I-140 application is filed.)
Source: www.placementauthority.com/faq.php
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Who administers the VisaScreen Process?
The International Commission on Health Care Professions (ICHP) a division of CGFNS, was launched in 1996 to administer the VisaScreen program for screening foreign healthcare workers seeking an occupational visa in the United States. VisaScreen enables healthcare professionals to meet the BCIS requirement by verifying and evaluating their academic credentials and English language proficiency.
Source: www.placementauthority.com/faq.php
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I hold a CGFNS certificate. Do I need to submit my academic credentials for VisaScreening process?
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If I am a registered nurse, do I need to complete the CGFNS Qualifying Exam and the NCLEX-RN examination?
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What are the VisaScreen
1. Complete the VisaScreen™ application.
2. Complete the enclosed forms to send to your nursing school(s). Academic transcripts must come directly from the nursing school(s).
3. Complete the enclosed forms to send to your licensing authority(ies). Validations of all licenses, past and present, must come directly from the licensing authorities.
4. You must successfully complete an English language proficiency test and have the scores directly forwarded to ICHP from the testing agency.
5. You must successfully pass either the CGFNS Qualifying Exam or the NCLEX-RN® examination if you are a nurse.
6. Enclose a copy of your high school diploma or equivalent.
7. Enclose the application fee.
You can apply for the VisaScreen™ Program in one of three ways:
• Request a copy of the VisaScreen™ Program Application from CGFNS by mail or phone.
• Apply online at http://www.cgfns.org/sections/app/applyOnline.shtml.
• Download VisaScreen™ Program Application from www.cgfns.org/sections/app/applib.shtml.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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Who is exempt from fulfilling the English language proficiency requirement?
Applicants may be exempt from the English language proficiency requirement if they meet all of the following criteria:
• Country of professional education was Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or the United States;
• Language of instruction was English; and
• Language of textbooks was English
Source: www.cgfns.org
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Who pays for the program?
The applicant typically pays for the VisaScreen™ program. The application fee can be paid by an international money order or certified bank check in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank and made payable to "ICHP," or by one of the following credit cards: Visa, Mastercard or Discover/Novus.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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Must I submit my original documents for review?
Yes and no. ICHP accepts clear and legible photocopies of secondary school documents for evaluation. However, ICHP will only accept original verification from issuing agencies. All validation of registration/licenses and the applicant’s professional school’s transcripts must come directly from the issuing authority to ICHP. In addition, since ICHP verifies credential authenticity, ICHP maintains the right to validate any documentation with the source agency.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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What do I do if my educational institution has closed?
ICHP only accepts certain documentation from source agencies (such as transcripts and validations of registration/ licensure). If your school has closed or no longer operates, you will need to contact the organization or agency authorized to hold documentation for that institution (such as a ministry of health or the national, provincial or state licensing authority in your country of education). If you are uncertain about where to go, call the ICHP Customer Service Department.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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Do I need to have validations for all licenses I have ever held to complete my VisaScreen
Yes. CGFNS requires all VisaScreen™ applicants to provide validations of ALL licenses they have held, past and present. The validations must be sent directly to CGFNS from the issuing authority(ies).
Source: www.cgfns.org
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Can I provide a photocopy of my license instead of a validation?
No. CGFNS requires that official validations of licenses must be completed and sent directly from the issuing authorities.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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What do I do if the agency that issued my license is no longer in existence?
CGFNS only accepts validations of licensure from the source agency. If that agency has closed or no longer operates, you will need to contact the organization or agency authorized to hold documentation for that institution (such as a Ministry of Health or the national, provincial or state licensing authority in your country). If you are uncertain about where to go, contact the CGFNS Customer Service Department for assistance.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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What if my documents are not in English?
A certified word-for-word English translation, signed with a certification of authenticity by the translator, must accompany any credentials not in English. If you cannot furnish a translation of your documents, ICHP can provide an official translation of each document for an additional fee. ICHP will accept translations of documents submitted by source agencies (such as transcripts and validations) only from the issuing authorities. Otherwise, ICHP will translate documents for the appropriate fee.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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What is the difference between a CGFNS Certificate and the ICHP VisaScreen
The VisaScreen™ Certificate is a result of successful completion of the ICHP VisaScreen™ program, which meets all federal requirements of a screening program for healthcare professionals seeking certain occupational visas in the United States. The CGFNS Certificate is a result of successful completion of the CGFNS Certification Program, which is a program consisting of an educational and registration/licensure review, a qualifying examination of nursing knowledge, as well as an English language proficiency assessment, designed specifically for first-level, general (registered) nurses seeking licensure in the United States.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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Once a VisaScreen
The VisaScreen™ Certificate is issued directly to the applicant who successfully completed all of the requirements of the program. The applicant then presents it to a consular office or attorney general (when applicable) as part of a visa application.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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My VisaScreen
In January, 2004, CGFNS began to include the signatures of the organization's President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as an expiration date on VisaScreen™ Certificates. VisaScreen™ Certificates were first issued in conjunction with the issuing of three interim rules by the DHS on October 1998, April 1999, and in January 2001. Therefore VisaScreen™ Certificates issued during these periods and prior to January 2004 would not contain signatures or expiration dates, however will remain valid.
Some VisaScreen™ certificates may also include a photograph of the applicant (which CGFNS has included when a photo was available), but the majority of certificates do not. CGFNS has added these features with the aim of making the certificate more resistant to various forms of fraud.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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What are the passing scores for the English language proficiency examinations?
| | Option #1
| Option #2
| Option #3 | Option #4
| Healthcare Profession
| TOEFL
Test of
English
as a Foreign
Language | TWE
Test of
Written
English | TSE
Test of
Spoken
English | TOEIC
Test of
English
for
International
Communication
| TWE
Test of
Written
English
| TSE
Test of
Spoken
English
| IELTS
International
English Language
Testing Service
| IELTS
Spoken Band
| TOEFL iBT
Total & Speaking Section
| | Registered Nurse (RN) | 207 (540)
| 4.0 | 50 | 725 | 4.0 | 50 | 6.5 (Academic) | 7.0 | 83 / 26 | | Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) | 197 (530) | 4.0 | 50 | 700 | 4.0 | 50 | 6.0 (General) | 7.0 | 79 / 26 |
Scores written in parenthesis refer to minimum passing scores for the paper based version of the TOEFL examination.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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I am a nurse who holds a CGFNS Certificate. Do I still need to apply for the VisaScreen
Yes. The VisaScreen™ Certificate is required for all healthcare professionals (except physicians) who are seeking an immigrant visa or a change in status to permanent residency. One of the requirements of the VisaScreen™ program is that nurses must have passed either the CGFNS Qualifying Exam or the NCLEX-RN® examination. Since you already have the CGFNS Certificate, you will not have to take another nursing exam to obtain your visa, and your transcripts on file may be used for the educational evaluation element of the VisaScreen™ program.
Source: www.cgfns.org
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When is a VisaScreen Issued?
A VisaScreen certificate is issued by ICHP/CGFNS only after the RN has satisfied the required equivalency of education, licensure and training; and level of competence in written and oral English.
Source: www.placementauthority.com/faq.php
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