2001 News
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22 JANUARY 2001
Immigration and Naturalization Service authorizes CGFNS to issue ICHP VisaScreen® certificates to four more professions
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) published an interim rule on 16 January 2001, stating that the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) may evaluate and certify the credentials of foreign-educated speech language pathologists and audiologists, medical technologists (also known as clinical laboratory scientists), physician assistants and medical technicians (also known as clinical laboratory technicians) who are seeking an immigrant "permanent" visa, or adjustment of status to permanent residency.
The rule, which takes effect on 16 March 2001, supplements earlier rules in which INS designated CGFNS to issue certificates to nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists under section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996.
All certificates will be issued through the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP), a division of CGFNS. CGFNS established ICHP in 1996 and created the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment to conduct the certification of foreign-educated health care professions mandated in section 343. The VisaScreen® certification program comprises an educational analysis, licensure validation, English language proficiency assessment, and in the case of nurses, an exam of nursing knowledge. Once the applicant has successfully completed all elements of the program, the applicant is awarded an ICHP VisaScreen® certificate, which can be presented to a consular officer or, in the case of adjustment of status the Immigration and Naturalization Service, as part of a visa application.
