Registered nurses who live in British Columbia can work in the United States by obtaining a license and following these immigration steps.
Are you a Canadian RN looking for work near Bellingham, Washington? If so, there is a great opportunity for full-time or part-time employment at Christian Health Care Center — right across the border in Whatcom County.
To begin working as a cross-border RN, you will need to work through two separate processes: licensing and immigration.
The licensing process ensures that you have the status necessary to act as a nurse in Washington state, and the immigration process allows you to legally enter the United States for the purposes of work. The licensing info listed here is specific to Washington.
Licensing: The requirements for registered nurses from British Columbia, Canada, to become licensed for the first time in Washington state are as follows:
- Have your transcripts reviewed and approved. If you are applying for a license by examination, you must acquire an education evaluation of transcripts. According to the Washington State Department of Health, nurses who graduated from schools outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated in a course-by-course evaluation. Three organizations are approved by the Nursing Commission to conduct this evaluation: the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, the Educational Records Evaluation Service, and the International Education Research Foundation. Nurses going through CGFNS would need the Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report. If you are applying for a license by endorsement, you must provide an official copy of your transcripts to the Nursing Commission. Transcripts must be sent directly from the nursing education program, another U.S. board of nursing, or one of the approved evaluation service providers.
- Pass the NCLEX. Because the NCLEX is now being offered in Canada, many Canadian RNs already will have met this requirement.
- Apply for a United States social security number. The law requires nursing license applicants to provide social security numbers, but it is possible to receive a license without one (for example, if you have an individual taxpayer identification number instead).
- Pass an FBI background check. After your application is received, the Nursing Commission will mail you a fingerprint packet to complete and submit to the Department of Health.
More information on the process is available on the license application form, which is available here.
NOTE: Canadian RNs educated in Quebec would also need to take and pass an English proficiency exam. Registered nurses from all other Canadian provinces, including British Columbia, are exempt from this requirement.
Immigration:
British Columbia citizens with a passport who are registered nurses (and licensed in WA) are eligible to work in health care organizations near Bellingham, including Christian Health Care Center in Lynden.
Canadian nurses need to establish eligibility to enter the United States for work. To do this, nurses need to show at the border a job offer from an American employer, proof of Canadian citizenship and an evaluation of their credentials. The letter from the prospective employer, such as Christian Health Care Center, must explain the professional capacity of the work in the United States, the purpose of the employment, the length of stay, and the nurse’s educational qualifications.
This eligibility is established at a Class A port of entry. You can find a Washington state list here. At the port of entry, the offer letter, background documentation and passport are presented. The government charges a nominal fee to process information. Once approved, initial TN status can last for up to three years. Staying longer in the U.S. requires repeating the process at an eligible point of entry or filing for an extension.
Because Christian Health Care Center is in Lynden, Washington, commuting from the Lower Mainland of B.C. can be a breeze, especially if you have a NEXUS card. Lynden is a rural community in Washington state, just south of Aldergrove and Abbotsford, British Columbia.
To successfully become allowed to work as a registered nurse in the United States, a nurse who lives in British Columbia would need to pass through the following steps:
- Acquire a VisaScreen certificate from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. VisaScreen is a comprehensive screening service for nurses (and other health care professionals) seeking a visa to work in the United States. A VisaScreen certificate satisfies U.S. federal screening requirements.
- Find an employer in Whatcom County, such as Christian Health Care Center, and secure a letter granting employment. The letter should also state the professional capacity in which you will work in the United States, the purpose of your employment, your length of stay and your educational qualifications. Learn more.
- Apply for TN Visa status at the U.S. border with Canada. To do this, nurses need to have with them the job offer from an American employer, proof of Canadian citizenship and the VisaScreen certificate.
- Optional but recommended: Apply for a NEXUS pass. The NEXUS program provides expedited entry into the U.S. for pre-screened travelers.
Nonprofit mission, patient-centered, faith-based.
CHCC operates a health care campus — including skilled health care and rehabilitation — just five miles from the Lynden/Aldergrove Border Crossing and 10 miles from the Sumas/Huntingdon Border Crossing. We have been an important part of the community since 1956 and we’re often looking for friendly, compassionate individuals to join our professional nursing team.
RNs at CHCC currently have an option to work either 8- or 12-hour shifts. Working three 12-hour shifts per week is a great way for nurses who cross-border commute or split their time between Washington state and the Lower Mainland of B.C.
If you are a Canadian RN looking for work near Bellingham, WA, please take a look at our current employment opportunities and apply online or contact our human resources department to learn more. Remember, to work in Washington state, you need to acquire a state license and proceed through the immigration process to get a TN Visa.
Find the work you’ve been looking for in Whatcom County!