2004 News
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28 APRIL 2004
CGFNS designates Trinidad and Tobago as 212(r) countries under
the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act
The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) announced that it has added Trinidad and Tobago to the list of English exempt countries under Section 212(r) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. Nurses from countries who qualify under Section 212(r) are eligible for this alternative screening of their professional credentials if they wish to immigrate to the United States.
Effective 1 April 2004, Trinidad and Tobago has joined Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom as 212(r) designated countries. 212(r) status exempts nurses from English language proficiency examinations and qualifies them to receive a Certified Statement from CGFNS as an alternative process in lieu of a VisaScreen™ certificate.
CGFNS, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization was designated by the U.S. Congress in 1996 to manage a health care worker visa certification program. In response, CGFNS established a VisaScreen™ program to assess credentials of foreign health care workers and provide the government-required visa certificate now mandated by new Department of Homeland Security rules. CGFNS has been given the authority to designate countries eligible for the exemption under Section 212(r) if the quality of nursing education in that country and the English language proficiency of those who complete such programs is sufficient.
Related to this announcement, CGFNS has designated the state of Michigan as a state that qualifies under Section 212(r). The nurse who qualifies under Section 212(r) must hold a license by examination and not by endorsement in Michigan and four other states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois and New York.
To qualify for the Certified Statement, foreign educated nurses from a Section 212(r) designated country must hold a valid and unrestricted license in the state where he or she intends to be employed; the state must verify that the license is valid and unencumbered; pass the NCLEX-RN® exam; and have graduated from a nursing program in which the language of instruction was conducted in English.
“The ability to designate English exempt countries under Section 212(r) enables CGFNS to more efficiently serve the needs of foreign educated nurses seeking U.S.-based employment, while still maintaining the vigorous and high standards for nursing care and practice that we are charged to protect,” said CGFNS Chief Executive Officer Barbara L. Nichols.
