Hey everyone,

I am a F1 visa holder and living in FL for last 3 years. My wife, who is a nurse, wants to work. But F2 cannot get SSN and Florida state requires SSN to apply for nursing license. The only option to get SSN is to change my visa to J1 and J2 can apply for SSN. If I change to J1, will I still be eligible for OPT? Can J2 visa holder apply for permanent residency after she gets job? I am on university assistantship. Will I have to return back to Nepal after I complete my study? Your suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

If you want your wife get Nursing license, apply from another state like California that does not require SSN.

Instead of changing your status, why don't you change the status of your wife to F1 then H1. First change to F1, apply for SSN, ask the employer to sponser for H1..

Simple as that

Write me an email with current status. Has your wife already passed CGFNS certificate? Or, Has she already passed NCLEX-RN exam? First make sure your wife has at least one of these two things accomplished while on F2 status.

If one of these applies to your wife, SSN is not a problem. Your wife can find a sponsoring employer and can apply directly for Green Card instead of changing status as non-immigrant. However, wife must have VisaScreen Certificate in hand before her green card is approved. I hope you are familiar with VisaScreen certificate process by this time.

I will tell you the process in detail when you write. [Click on my name and send email via Sajha email system.]

Oh, yes, If your wife hasn't applied for CGFNS certificate and Florida Board of RN doesn't accept application without SSN, then Madhav's suggestion is the best option for you.

California Board of Nursing accepts the application for licensure by examination without SSN. Believe me some Nepali nurses have passed NCLEX-RN for CABN from Hong Kong. However, the board doesn't issue permanent license without a SSN.

Once your wife passes the NCLEX-RN test, any hospital in California can sponsor for a Green Card. CA board of Nursing supplies a letter addressed to INS which states that the applicant meets all the licensing requirement except SSN. INS approves EAD and I-140. Once your wife gets EAD, she applies for SSN, gets the CA permanent license and completes the visascreen certificate process. There you go... your green card is approved in 9-12 months (The assumption is your wife has completes the requirement of VisaScreen certificate in time including all the English proficiency requirement). While all these processes take time, you will have finished your degree and ready to go on 1 year OPT in California.

California is the best place for foreign nurses to work.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Harris, I am going to write an email to you.

BengaliTiger,

Please check your email. I guess we have met a couple of times before.

Hey Harris,

I still haven't got mail from you. Seems like something happened to the mail. Can you send it again. Sorry for the trouble. Send CC to "nepaliwildlife@hotmail.com" too.

Thanks