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My wife's sister and mother are both in the medical profession in Ukraine. We would like both of them to come to the USA to live in the future. ... the mother is a maybe but the sister a definite possibility... My wife's sister has worked as a xray tech and also assists doctors when they perform operations.

I have heard many times that there is shortage of nurses in the USA. I often seen nurses from foreign lands at hospitals and doctor offices. I am aware she would have to pass some type of certificaton test...  Here is the question!!!!!!!!!   Is there any special program or INS allowance that would assist my wife's sister to come to the USA to work as a nurse... that would make it easier for her to get a work visa or something so that she could come here to ease this shortage which has been described sometimes as a "crisis".  Anyone that has any info or perhaps could ask somebody at their work about such a program would be greatly appreciated... thanks,
Keith

... in response to a question for anyone in the medical fie..., posted by keithandkatya on Jun 4, 2002

for foreign nurses.  They must pass TOFEL and they must pass a US equivlency exam administered by the Foreign Graduates of Nursing Schools Commission (or something to that effect).  It ain't easy but it is doable.  They must have graduated from a nursing school with equivlent training as their credentials are evaluated before being allowed to take the equivlency exam.  I believe its an H-1B visa and its good for three years and they have to be sponsored by a place of employment.

... in response to a question for anyone in the medical fie..., posted by keithandkatya on Jun 4, 2002

See the thread entitled "Getting a Nurse to the US" in this archive:

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/asian/archive00088/

There's some good info there.

-- Jeff S.

... in response to a question for anyone in the medical fie..., posted by keithandkatya on Jun 4, 2002

I do not have any knowledge of a US program but I do know that the UK recruits nurses, teachers and is just beginning to recruit policemen from foreign countries.

The primary qualification is English language skills.

An amusing related story is that a school district in the English Midlands recruited some high school teachers from St. Petersburg.  The school authorities were concerned that there would be language problems or student prejudice against the Russian teachers.  At the end of the semester, there had been zero problems, the school authorities asked the students for their evaluations of the imported teachers.  The students said they particularly enjoyed the new teachers English.  It was clearer and more precise than their old teachers.  Thank you BBC.

I am sure you would prefer to have your sister in law here in America with you but a move to the UK might be a step in the right direction.