How to Qualify for the TN Visa as a Registered Nurse

Mexicans and Canadians planning to immigrate to the U.S. to work as registered nurses are in luck. They can immigrate to the U.S. via one of the easiest and fastest work visas to obtain – the TN visa.

The TN visa allows citizens of Mexico and Canada to travel to the U.S. to work temporarily in professional capacities. Interestingly, “Registered Nurses” are among the 60+ professionals eligible for the TN visa.

This guide on TN visas for registered nurses will outline the essential requirements individuals must meet to qualify for a TN visa in this profession.

Typical TN Visa Registered Nurse Job Duties

TN visa regulations do not specify the job duties of a TN visa registered nurse. As a result, TN visa adjudicating officers usually refer to the generally accepted job duties of registered nurses provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH).

The OOH defines a registered nurse as a healthcare professional who provides patient care, educates patients about different health conditions, and provides advice and emotional support to patients and their families. 

It lists specific duties for the registered nurse occupation as follows:

• Assess patient’s health conditions and needs
• Obtain, record, and update patients’ medical histories
• Help administer patients’ treatments and medicines
• Set up clear plans for patients’ care or refine existing plans
• Consult and collaborate with doctors regarding patients’ health and care
• Assist with performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results
• Educate patients and their families about how to manage their health, especially post-treatment

TN Visa Applicant Requirements For a Registered Nurse

To qualify for the registered nurse TN visa, applicants must meet certain educational, professional, and immigration requirements. 

Educational and Professional TN Visa Requirements for Registered Nurses

To obtain a TN visa as a registered nurse, applicants must provide evidence of having obtained the following:

• A valid state or provincial license OR
• Licenciatura degree

Registered nurses must have a professional nursing license issued by the state where they intend to work. The NAFTA handbook (p.136) specifically states, “in order to be admitted, the registered nurse must present a permanent state license, a temporary state license, or other temporary authorization to work as a registered nurse, issued by the state nursing board in the state of intended employment.”

In addition, TN registered nurses must obtain a Visa Screen (Visa Credential Assessments) from CGFNS International. CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) is commissioned by the Department of Homeland Security to validate the credentials of some foreign healthcare professions (which includes Registered Nurses) for occupational visas.  

Thus, the Visa Screen for foreign registered nurses certifies that a foreign professional meets the minimum requirements for education, nursing knowledge, licensure, and English proficiency to work as a registered nurse in the United States.

To issue the certification, CGFNS requires the following:

• A strong education that qualifies the individual for the registered nurse profession.
• A valid and unrestricted professional license(s).
• Nursing knowledge, demonstrated by passing either the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® or the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®).
• Evidence of English language competency in both speaking and writing, demonstrated by passing specific exams (like Cambridge English, TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, Occupational English Test, and Pearson PTE Academic).

NAFTA TN Visa Requirements for Registered Nurses

Additionally, applicants must meet the basic TN visa requirements to qualify for the TN visa.

These requirements are:

• The applicant must be a citizen of Canada or Mexico.
• The applicant must have a job offer from a U.S. employer for a qualifying nursing position.
• The job must be on the NAFTA Job List (in this case, “Registered Nurse” qualifies as a NAFTA job).
• The applicant must have the educational and professional qualifications for the job (indicated previously).
• The applicant must provide an employer letter stating details of the job, such as job title, job duties, engagement duration, and remuneration. 
• The job duties must be consistent with the generally accepted duties of registered nurses under the OOH.
• The job must be temporary (not exceeding three years).

VisaScreen, CGFNS, NCLEX-RN: What certifications and licenses should a registered nurse obtain? 

A TN visa registered nurse may need to obtain CGFNS, NCLEX-RN, and VisaScreen certification.

Certain healthcare professionals (including registered nurses) seeking an occupational visa (including the TN Visa) to work in the U.S. are required to obtain VisaScreen certification from the CGFNS. That is, a Canadian or Mexican-educated nurse must obtain VisaScreen certification to work as a registered nurse in the U.S.

However, to obtain VisaScreen certification, a registered nurse must provide evidence of nursing knowledge. A CGFNS certification or passing scores in NCLEX-RN satisfy the nursing knowledge requirement.

Also, registered nurses must take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain a license in the state where they wish to practice. However, in two-thirds of State Boards of Nursing, the NCLEX-RN requirements include CGFNS certification. That is, many states demand that individuals have CGFNS certification to be approved to take the NCLEX-RN exams required for licensure.

Application Process for a Registered Nurse

Applying for a TN visa as a registered nurse is the same as applying for a TN visa under any other occupational category. 

Canadian nationals may apply for the TN visa at a U.S. port of entry, by mail with USCIS, or at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad. 

Mexican nationals may only apply for the TN visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Mexico. 

Note: Unlike Mexican citizens, Canadian citizens are not required to obtain a TN visa stamp in their passport at a U.S. Consulate.

Applying at a U.S. Port of Entry (POE) – Available for Canadians Only

Only Canadians can apply for a registered nurse TN visa at a Port of Entry. The Port of Entry application process involves presenting the required documentation to a U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry when requesting admission to the U.S. It does not require a prior application to be filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). 

The various Ports of Entry where Canadians can apply for the registered nurse TN visa are:

• At a land border crossing when entering the U.S. by land. See the TN Visa Expert Kits for a list of land border crossings where candidates can apply for the TN visa.
• At a pre-clearance center at certain international airports in Canada before boarding the plane and flying to the US.
• At the customs and immigration point at the U.S. airport after flying in.

The TN visa for Canadian registered nurse is adjudicated on the spot. Applicants hand their TN visa documentation to the CBP officers, who review them and make an approval or rejection decision right away. 

If the application is approved, the CBP officer will issue a paper I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which serves as the Canadian nurse’s official TN status documentation.  

Contact TN Visa Expert for help with preparing for the border interview!

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Applying by Mail – Available for Canadians Only

Another way for a Canadian national to apply for a TN Visa as a registered nurse is to file an application with USCIS. This involves completing and submitting Form I-129, along with your supporting documentation, and sending it via postal mail to the USCIS Vermont Service Center. 

Like the Port of Entry application, only Canadians can apply for the registered nurse TN visa by Mail. 

A USCIS officer will review the TN work visa application and either approve or deny the application. If the application is approved, USCIS will issue an approval notice, which the Canadian nurse must present to a CBP officer at a U.S. Port of Entry to be admitted to the U.S. in TN work visa status. The CBP officer will issue a paper I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which serves as the Canadian nurse’s official TN status documentation. 

USCIS Processing Time By Mail

When applying by mail, regular processing typically takes 3.5 months. However, premium processing service is available by filing Form I-907 with USCIS and paying the appropriate filing fee to receive a faster decision in 15 business days.

Applying at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate – Available for Both Canadian and Mexican Nationals

The third method to apply for the TN visa as a registered nurse is applying at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please note that while this option is available to Canadians, it is seldom used because Canadian citizens are not required to apply for a TN visa at a U.S. Consulate. 

Unlike Canadians, Mexican nationals can only apply for a TN visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country. They cannot apply at a Port of Entry oy by mail with USCIS. 

To apply for a TN visa, Mexican nationals must complete Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application) with the U.S. embassy or Consulate in Mexico. Next, they must schedule an in-person visa interview at the embassy or consulate. 

A Consular officer will review the TN work visa application at the interview and either approve or deny the application. If the application is approved, the Consular officer will issue a visa stamp in the Mexican nurse’s passport. 

The Mexican nurse can then use the TN visa to seek admission to the U.S. at a Port of Entry, and upon admission, an electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure Record will be created, which serves as the Mexican nurse’s official TN status documentation. 

Possible Issues With The TN Visa For ‘Specialty’ Nurses

In recent years, many specialty nurses and advanced practice nurses have been denied the TN Visa as registered nurses. There have even been reports of some nurses being denied when renewing their registered nurse TN visas.

In such cases, CBP officers have told nurses that they must apply for an H1-B visa, which is designed for individuals who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation.

As a result, some CBP officers may see specialty nurses and advanced practice nurses as “more specialized” than registered nurses and, therefore, require the H-1B visa designed for employment that is more specialized.

This issue is further complicated by the fact that the CGFNS Certification Program website, describes a registered nurse as a “first-level, general nurse.” This description suggests that an advanced practice nurse is no longer a “first-level” nurse and no longer qualifies as a registered nurse. In the same vein, some officers have argued that a specialized nurse is no longer a “general” nurse and therefore no longer qualifies as a registered nurse.

Overcoming These Issues

The simplest way an individual can overcome these issues is to work with the U.S. employer, and a qualified immigration professional to carefully assess the nurse’s job duties and ensure that the position being offered aligns with the duties of a registered nurse under the TN visa. Those who are seeking higher-level positions may be advised to seek an alternative visa type.

It may be advised for nurses with job titles such as “Nurse Anesthetists,” to change to a more suitable position such as “RN – Anesthetists.” Officers may see “Nurse Anesthetist” as a specialty occupation requiring an H-1B visa and, therefore, deny the individual the TN Visa. However, the duties of “RN – Anesthetists” better align with those of a registered nurse job qualifying for the TN visa.

Conclusion

There is a high demand for registered nurses in the United States, and Canadians and Mexicans can use the TN visa route to easily travel to the U.S. to work as registered nurses.

TN visa applicants applying as registered nurses need a State/ provincial license or a Licenciatura degree, a license issued by the state of intended employment, and a Visa Screen certificate from CGFNS International.

The TN visa for registered nurses has been facing more scrutiny recently, leading to more denials for both new applications and renewals. However, an experienced TN visa professional can help candidates navigate these challenges and be successful with their applications. This is where TN Visa Experts come in!

We provide essential tools and expert advice to help candidates successfully obtain their TN visas. Contact TN Visa Experts today to get closer to obtaining the registered nurse TN visa.

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