2005 News
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17 MARCH 2005
Deadline for Canadian and Mexican health care professionals to obtain ICHP VisaScreen® certificates is fast approaching
If you are a Canadian or Mexican health care professional (registered nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or medical technologist) working in the United States under Trade NAFTA status and were licensed and employed prior to 23 September 2003, the deadline for obtaining your ICHP VisaScreen® certificate is fast approaching. You are required by the Department of Homeland Security to have your ICHP VisaScreen® certificate by 26 July 2005.
This certification process includes an assessment of an applicant’s education to ensure that it is comparable to that of a U.S. graduate in the same profession; verification that all licenses are valid and unencumbered; successful completion of an English language proficiency examination and a test of oral and written English (unless exempt); and, in the cases of registered nurses, verification that the nurse has passed either the CGFNS Qualifying ExamSM or the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®).
The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, (CGFNS) is one of the organizations recognized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide this service. CGFNS administers this certification process through its division, the International Commission on Healthcare Professions, (ICHP). The CGFNS/ICHP process is called VisaScreen, and an ICHP VisaScreen® certificate is issued to the applicant upon successful completion of the review process.
If you have not applied for the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment, you can apply in one of three ways:
If you have applied to CGFNS/ICHP for an ICHP VisaScreen® certificate, you can check the status of your file, including documents received and any other outstanding requirements, by visiting CGFNS Connect Apply/Check Status. If you do not have access to the web, you can check the status of your application by calling our 24-hour Automated Voice Response System at +1 (215) 599 6200. You will need your CGFNS ID number and birth date in order to access the system.
Due to the deadlines set by Department of Homeland Security for the Trade NAFTA professional to present their ICHP VisaScreen® certificate, it is imperative that CGFNS/ICHP receive the required education form, transcripts and license validation as soon as possible. CGFNS/ICHP recommends applicants contact their nursing schools and licensing agencies to encourage them to promptly return the educational documents and license validation to CGFNS/ICHP.
We look forward to assisting in you in meeting this requirement.
