Visa Screen Overview
Visa screening program verifies that the education of an alien healthcare
worker seeking job in the United States is equivalent to that of his/her US
educated counter part
An overview of visa screen certification:
U.S. immigration law now requires that healthcare
professionals (except
physicians) qualified outside the United States complete
a screening program
in order to qualify for certain US working visas.
VisaScreen™, also known
as Visa Credentials Assessment, enables healthcare workers to meet this
requirement by verifying and evaluating their credentials to ensure compliance
with the government's minimum eligibility standards.
VisaScreen™ program is administrated by the International Commission on
Healthcare Professions (ICHP), which is a division of CGFNS (Commission on
Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools). Candidates who successfully complete this
program receive a
VisaScreen™ Certificate. This certification
authenticates that the foreign national’s education, license, training, and
experience are comparable to that of a US healthcare professional.
Visa screen certificate can be presented to a consulate office, or in the case
of
Adjustment of Status, the Attorney General, as part of application process of
an occupational visa. The visa screening program normally involves licensure
verification, educational credentialing, English language proficiency testing
(TOEFL, TSE, TWE), and a predictive exam (CGFNS Certificate).
The healthcare professionals who are required to obtain a
VisaScreen™
Certificate before they can get an immigrant visa or permanent residence (“
green card”) include occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses,
speech-language pathologists, medical technicians (or clinical laboratory
technicians), medical technologists (or clinical laboratory scientists), and
physician assistants.
To satisfy all federal screening requirements, a VisaScreen™ evaluation
includes:
Educational Review:
To make sure that the candidate’s education:
- Meets all appropriate, statutory and regulatory requirements for the
occupation the applicant intends to practice.
- Is equivalent to that of a U.S. graduate seeking licensure.
Licensure Review:
To assess initial and current licenses, provided directly to ICHP by the
issuing/validating institution, to confirm the applicant has completed all
practice requirements and has no encumbrances.
English Language Skills Assessment:
To confirm that the applicant has reached a level of competency in oral and
written English by submitting passing scores on a test approved by the U.S.
Departments of Health and Human Services and Education.
(Take a look at the passing scores you will need to obtain -
English Passing Scores)
Predictive Examination for Nurses:
Aliens who wish to practice as nurses must present a CGFNS Certificate or a
passing score on the U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN.
(See CGFNS Overview in helpful information.)
Healthcare workers other than nurses do not need the NCLEX exam or CGFNS
Certificate.
Immspec.com can help you get your visa screen certificate!
Our service involves:
- Assistance in completing Application in a timely manner.
- Assistance in gathering required supporting documents for English exams,
licensure, CGFNS, etc.
- Help in sending application, filing fee and supporting documents to the
right place at the right time.
- Help in application for TWE and TSE if needed (TOEFL is usually completed
at the CGFNS stage.)
- Guidance on importance of beginning this step early in the process, but
not too early.
For additional information including fees for our services, please call
[(918) 258-6092] or complete the form on our contact
page. We will provide you a
FREE initial consultation; tell us your specific requirements and we will get
back in touch with you right away.
