Getting back

After an extended period of time, I am finally able to write again on this blog. To those who've been generously clicking their way to this site from time to time, I offer you my gratitude and also, my apologies for not living up to your expectations and updating more often. Even after being on hiatus, this site still gets a couple of messages, mostly from people needing information about NCLEX test applications and job opportunities, and also from a few people who've stopped by just to say, they appreciate this site. To everyone, thank you for viewing this blog.

I would say that I have been overwhelmed by work, whether online or offline, in these recent times. These are difficult times so we all have to our own share of work. The fun part about work though, is it ends everyday. Of course you start work again the next day, but it doesn't consume you 24 hours a day. I should have spent part of that free time writing here, but I have been having so much fun "having fun outside the Internet world" that I've completely neglected this blog.

I have fun keeping this blog up, too. So, I will try to upload more information here when I can. I seek your patience if I am too slow at times in answering questions but I will try my best to get the information needed.

*****Personal Note******

Times are bleak, but things are getting done everyday. I realize that I sound so cryptic, I just don't want to come off as too negative. Opportunities still abound for nurses, whether at home or abroad. But like all else, it takes a certain waiting period. While waiting, some people turn to different jobs or take training programs to hone their skills and buff up their resumes.

Legislation in the US continues to move and opportunities abound for nurses in Canada, Middle East and other parts of the world. Although, it takes a little bit of time for you to realize that goal, don't stop aspiring for it.

Nurses' immigration bill, HR 5924, moves up to full committee voting

The proposed immigration bill for nurses and physical therapist, or HR 5924, has been reported to be out of the subcommittee level in the US House of Representatives' Judicial Subcommittee. The bill is now up for full Judicial committee voting, likely in August, experts claim.

New immigrant visas for nurses proposed

A new proposed legislation in the US. House of Representatives seeks to give up to 20,000 visas per year to nurses and physical therapists up to September 2011.

The proposal, HR 5924 or the Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act, would waive the quota for these two occupations, also known as Schedule A jobs, up to 2011 but a maximum of 20,000 visas can only be approved every year. Immediate family members of primary visa beneficiaries, however, would not be counted against the 20,000 yearly cap.

Based on the new proposal, the US immigration department must make a decision on I-140 petitions within 30 days of receipt.

Also being proposed is the allocation of a Grant Fee, where beneficiaries of the new visa allocations must pay $1,500 which will go to a fund to help US nursing schools. Visa applicants must also provide legal proof that they do not owe money that was used to finance their education in their home country, such as student loans, for example.

Click here to see the full text of this proposed legislation.

** Personal note:
We're almost back. We've been unable to post new entries for quite sometime because we've had to relocate to a new place. We'll talk about that pretty soon. Although we're not yet quite settled, we'll try to post here from time, albeit not as much as we used to before. In the meantime, let me thank everyone who've been sending their messages and visiting this blog regularly even though we haven't been able to post new entries.

Bear with me

I recently moved so please bear with me for a while. I'll answer questions posted here as soon as I can and post new information as well pretty soon.

Thanks.

US immigration updates

The quest for new nurse visas continues to be a steep uphill climb, while the U.S. is struggling out of a quagmire of a possible recession, brought about by the credit and housing crisis. Add to the mix the heated race for the presidency and you've got a very tough environment for legislators espousing immigration-related laws. We remain hopeful that something will be done this year before the presidential elections consume the entire US political landscape.

Some of the good news that have come out recently include the advancement of the EB3 Visa to Jan. 1, 2005. We blogged about this a while back. Another good news coming in is a proposal from Sen. Kent Conrad to extend the J-1 waiver program for physicians serving in underserved areas. Aside from an extension, the bill also seeks a cap exemption for doctors. If this bill moves forward, many are hoping that an equivalent provision for nurse visas are included in the final version.

At this time, we can only hope that efforts to enact this bill will be fruitful.