• CGFNS certification or United States RN licensure.
• Minimum of 3 years full time experience in an acute tertiary hospital setting.  Tertiary hospital setting must be at least 250 bed capacity.
• Good command of the English language.  Proof is score of 50 (Test of Spoken English) or IELTS overall board score of 7.0 and speaking module score of 7.0.  Interviewer completes face-to-face or phone interview assessment of verbal English skills.  Applicant must be able to comprehend the questions and able to express ideas clearly.
• Graduate of an accredited nursing school with a proven track record.
• BSN required (case by case exception).
• Three letters of reference from immediate supervisors with a rating of 'meet or 'exceed' job performance.  This must come from a nursing supervisor, not physicians, unless physician is considered the applicant's supervisor.
• Medical and Surgical Skill or critical care checklist rated 3 or 4 -- scale of 1 (low) to 4 (high).
• Average of 85% or above for all nursing and science subjects.
• At least 80% rating in the Local Board.

• Resume/CV
• Nursing diploma (or degree and transcript) - actual copies
• CGFNS certificate - actual copies
• Foreign nursing licensure - actual copies
• U.S. RN licensure (if available) - actual copies
• TOEFL and TSE scores or IELTS - actual copies
• Two professional references - actual copies
• Nursing certification(s) - actual copies
• VisaScreen certificate (if already obtained) - actual copies

• Meet the minimum eligibility requirements under U.S. immigration laws.
• Pass the interview screen either in person or via telephone.
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience in the area of nursing specialty.
• Have good command of the English language.

• Your birth certificate and one for each dependent
• Marriage certificate, if applicable

The application package is compiled and signed by senior Hopkins administration and legal counsel before submission to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

We will notify you by e-mail as soon as the papers are filed. You can also check your application status here with username and password provided to you by Nurse Recruitment.

What you must do at this step:

• Submit any additional documents and translated documents that may require notary public stamp as directed by legal counsel.

• Hopkins files most I-140 visa petitions within four months after the job offer—as long as all required documents are received and questionnaires fully completed.
• Your spouse and your children under 21 can be included in the petition.
• I-140 applications take about two to four months to decide.
• If you are already lawfully in the U.S., Hopkins can file your adjustment of status papers with the I-140 application—this must include the VisaScreen certificate.

Step 5: Visa Instruction Package
Once the U.S. State Department has approved your I-140 visa petition, you should receive the “Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants.” Complete these forms and return them to the office specified in the instructions.

Do not send directly to National Visa Center—this will delay the process. Everything must go through the designated legal counsel or through the Johns Hopkins International Nurse Recruitment Office.

Your case will then enter the queue for scheduling an interview.

What you must do at this step:

• Take NCLEX review class.
• Complete CES application and NCLEX application and send to JHH International Nurse Recruitment Office —JHH will submit the forms with payment.
• Inform Educational Testing Service and the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools that your CES report and your TSE scores are to go to the Maryland Board of Nursing (4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215-2254).
• Once the Board receives these and approves you as eligible, Pearson Professional Testing will send you your NCLEX bulletin.
• Complete the bulletin and return it to your international recruiter or you may make payment directly to Pearson—JHH will reimburse you.
• Once payment is received, Pearson will issue your Authorization to Test (ATT).
• Schedule and take your NCLEX exam (for applicants residing in the Philippines or departing from Manila, contact SEAPCI for assistance with airfare and hotel accommodation to take NCLEX in Asia).

• Most interview appointments take place three to four months after the case is decided.
• Cases requiring appointments outside the U.S. can take eight months.
• If you get married after submitting this package, contact your U.S. consulate as soon as you know the wedding date for instructions on how to add your fiancé/spouse (and any new dependents) to your application as a family member.

Step 6: Visa Appointment Package
The “Appointment Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants” confirms your visa interview appointment and instructs you and any previously identified family members on completing the required medical examinations.

What you must do at this step:

• Let us know your interview date as soon as possible so we can send you a job offer letter to be presented at your visa interview.
• According to new laws, you must bring your VisaScreen certificate and proof that you passed your NCLEX to the interview.

• Johns Hopkins Hospital candidates residing in the Philippines or Philippine nationals working abroad and planning to depart for the U.S. from Manila should contact SEAPCI for arrangement and instructions.
• JHH candidates from other countries should contact International Recruitment.
• Johns Hopkins Bayview candidates should contact Terry Bennett.

• Follow up on the status of your VisaScreen, CES and NCLEX
• VisaScreen: +1.215.349.8767; support@ichp.org
• CES: +1.215.599.6200; support@cgfns.org
• Endorsement of license: cherylesmith@dhmh.state.md.us
• Please copy us on your inquiries to and responses received from these agencies so we can better monitor what may be required to assure efficient processing of your license and visa application.
• Notify USCIS, CGFNS and MBON of change of address and/or marital status
• Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
  Failure of U.S. non-citizens to inform the BCIS within ten days of any and all changes of address is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. The BCIS may also deport any alien who fails to provide notification of any address change.  You can notify the BCIS by downloading or completing online form AR-11.  Please contact the BCIS with any questions.
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
  3600 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2665; fax: +1.215.349.0026; www.cgfns.org
• Maryland Board of Nursing
  4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215-2254; fax: +1.410.358.3530; www.mbon.org