VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment - CGFNS International, Inc. (2024)

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New!

To improve our VisaScreen® service and make it more convenient for our applicants, CGFNS has introduced a digital version of the VisaScreen® Certificate. The digital certificate is immediately accessible to both applicants and government authorities through a secure online platform.

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What is the VisaScreen® Service?

VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service is a comprehensive screening service for healthcare professionals seeking an occupational visa to work in the United States. Applicants who successfully complete VisaScreen® receive an official ICHP Certificate that satisfies U.S. federal screening requirements.

CGFNS International is approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to validate the credentials of nine foreign healthcare professions for occupational visas, of which CGFNS is the only organization to validate seven of those professions.

Please note that when we ask you on the application which visa category you are applying for, we are doing so as part of our data collection and research efforts. If you are seeking advice on which visa to apply for, we encourage you to consult with an attorney or other relevant expert, as CGFNS VisaScreen® is completely separate from the process that determines visa eligibility based on your profession or country of origin.

Who can order the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service?

  • Registered Nurses
  • Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurses
  • Physical Therapists only (not Physical Therapist Assistants)
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physician Assistants
  • Audiologists
  • Speech Language Pathologists
  • Clinical Laboratory Technicians / Medical Laboratory Technicians**
  • Clinical Laboratory Scientists / Medical Laboratory Technologists**

**CGFNS is an approved credentialing agency for only the above nine (9) occupations. Applicants whose entry to practice education in a specialty field such as Cardiovascular Perfusion, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Laboratory Safety, Cytology, Blood Banking, etc., do not fall within the technologist category. These occupations fall outside the purview of the certification requirement.

Purpose of the VisaScreen®?

Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (the IIRIRA) requires specific healthcare professionals to complete a screening program before they can receive either a permanent or temporary occupational visa, including Trade NAFTA status.

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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Required Documents for the VisaScreen® include the following:

Secondary School Information

Applicants must submit a photocopy of their secondary school diploma or external exam certificate for the highest level of secondary education they attained. Secondary school (high school) is the school attended between elementary school (primary school) and university, usually offering general, technical, vocational, or college-preparatory courses.

* This requirement is waived only if the applicant completed secondary education more than 10 years ago.

License / Registration / Diploma Information

Validations of all licenses / registrations / diplomas are required.

CGFNS validates all licenses, registrations, and diplomas obtained by an applicant for the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service, including those that are currently held or that have been held in the past by the applicant from all jurisdictions, both foreign and domestic. The signature of the validation authority must be dated within the last three years.

Nursing Knowledge for Registered Nurses Only

CGFNS will need evidence that you have passed either of two competency tests of nursing knowledge:

Professional Education Information

CGFNS will need to receive a complete academic record or transcript directly from each educational institution attended for the nursing profession being evaluated.

These documents must be in English and any translation to English must be done by the educational institution(s) that the applicant has attended/completed. If the educational institution(s) is unavailable to provide an English translation, then CGFNS can translate documents for an additional fee.

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PHOTO

To complete your VisaScreen® application, you will need to upload a passport-style photograph.

Technical Requirements

Your photograph must be:

JPG FILE TYPE

LESS THAN 5MB

SQUARE (51mm X 51mm)

IN FULL-COLOR

  • Sized such that the head is between 1″ (25mm) and 1 3/8″ (35mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
  • Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
  • Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
  • Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
  • With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
  • Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis:
    • Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
    • Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
    • Headphones, wireless hands-free devices or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
    • If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn for your photo.
    • Dark glasses or non-prescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (a medical certificate may be required)
    • Glare on glasses is not acceptable in your photo. Glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by removing the glasses or by turning off the camera flash.

Source:U.S. Department of State

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ENGLISH REQUIREMENT

NOTE: CGFNS does not accept the at-home versions of English Language Proficiency exams.

CGFNS International requires evidence of English-language competency for both spoken and written English as demonstrated through passing scores on one of the following approved exams:

  • Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exams)
  • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based Test)
  • TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
  • MET (Michigan English Test)
  • OET (Occupational English Test)
  • Pearson PTE Academic

The minimum required score varies depending on the profession of the applicant. Please refer to the table below to see the score for your profession

English Exam Score Requirements for VisaScreen®

Applicants for VisaScreen® must demonstrate oral and written competency of the English language as mandated by federal law. The English proficiency requirement varies by profession and is demonstrated by achieving a passing score in one of the tests listed below.

Exemption Due to English-based Professional Education

A VisaScreen® applicant may be exempt from taking an English language proficiency examination if they have completed an English-based professional education. To be exempted, an applicant must meet both of the following two criteria:

  • Entry-level professional education must have occurred in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Ireland or the United States; AND
  • English must have been the language of instruction, including the language of the textbooks.

Exemption for U.S. work experience – VisaScreen® Renewal Only

To be exempt from having to take an English language proficiency examination based on having worked in the United States, an applicant must meet the following three criteria:

  • Demonstrate employment in the United States for at least 27 months, including nine (9) months employment prior to the date of the renewal order.
  • The applicant must be employed in the profession for which they are seeking the VisaScreen® service.
  • The U.S. employer must sign and submit an employment summary on corporate letterhead.

For additional information on English language proficiency examinations, please visit:

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FEES

View Fee Chart Here

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VisaScreen® Frequently Asked Questions

Click the links below for more information on each topic:

VisaScreen® Renewal
VisaScreen® Expedited Review Service
212(r) Certified Statement: An Alternative to VisaScreen® Certification for RN’s Who Meet Certain Criteria
Academic records request forms for professions requiring VisaScreen®
Additional VisaScreen® Requirements for Registered Nurses
Additional VisaScreen® Information for Physical Therapists
Additional VisaScreen® Information for Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Clinical Laboratory Scientists
Applying for VisaScreen®: VisaScreen Credentials Assessment
VisaScreen® Streamlined Process for Those Educated in the United States
VisaScreen® ICHP Certificate Verification Letter
VisaScreen® Reprocess of an expired order
VisaScreen® Certification Renewal for Applicants Previously Certified by FCCPT
VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment - CGFNS International, Inc. (2024)

FAQs

What is the passing score for the CGFNS exam? ›

The exam is 165 items, the passing mark is 411.

How long does CGFNS take to review a Visa screen? ›

We recommend calling CGFNS often to check up on the Visa Screen process. CGFNS often takes 4-6 months to review Visa Screen applications, so expediting is usually worth it (a few hundred dollars).

What is the passing score for the PTE visa screen? ›

The PTE VisaScreen® requirements are a score of 50 for Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing and 55 overall. The exam is two hours, and results are provided within two days.

What is the passing score for CGFNS ielts? ›

Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores: TOEFL iBT: Listening — 21; Reading — 19; Speaking — 26; Writing — 19; Overall score of at least 84. IELTS: Listening – 6; Speaking — 6; Reading – 6; Overall score of at least 6.5.

Which state does not require CGFNS? ›

New Mexico. New Mexico does not require CGFNS certification.

Can I take NCLEX without CGFNS? ›

The CGFNS Qualifying Exam® is a requirement by some state boards before you can sit for the NCLEX-RN, but it serves as an excellent predictor for how any nurse will do on that exam. Taking the Qualifying Exam may help gauge your readiness before committing to the licensure exam.

What happens after CGFNS review? ›

When successfully completed, applicants receive the CGFNS Certification Program Certificate. They can request CGFNS to send an official verification to the state board of their choice. The document will serve official requirement to take the NCLEX® exam. The CGFNS Certification Program Certificate is valid for life.

How many years is a visa screen valid? ›

After five years, the certificate will expire and you may need to be recertified if you have not obtained U.S. citizenship, a permanent visa (Green Card), or wish to renew a temporary occupational visa, including Trade NAFTA status, to continue working in the United States.

What is the combined score for ielts VisaScreen? ›

An overall score of 6.5 and a 7 in the speaking section are required to pass the exam. The exam results are valid for two years. NOTE: CGFNS does not accept the at-home versions of English Language Proficiency exams.

Is 50 a good score in PTE? ›

As mentioned earlier, PTE 50 corresponds to Band 6 in IELTS, signifying an intermediate level of English proficiency. Therefore, as long as you can understand everyday conversations and familiar topics, scoring a 50 should not be challenging.

What is 72 in PTE score? ›

PTE SCORING
IELTS BandsPTE ScoresPTE Scores (Proposed)
7.573-786-83
7.065-7266-75
6.558-6456-65
6.050-5746-55
6 more rows
May 8, 2024

What is the minimum PTE score for USA? ›

You can register for the PTE exam online on the official portal of Pearson PTE. The minimum PTE Score Requirement for Bachelors in USA is around 50–60. However, several universities have their own cut-off scores. To compare with IELTS, if your score in PTE is 80, it is equivalent to band 8 in IELTS.

How many questions are on the CGFNS exam? ›

Format. The CGFNS Qualifying Exam® is a computer-based examination delivered through the Kryterion testing network. Each examination consists of 165 multiple-choice items (150 scored questions/15 unscored pretest questions).

How do I get a CGFNS visa screen certificate? ›

In order to obtain a CGFNS Certificate, applicants must successfully complete CGFNS' Certification Program, a three-part program, comprised of a credentials review, a one-day Qualifying Exam of nursing knowledge and an English language proficiency exam.

What score do you need to pass the nursing exam? ›

A candidate that asks, how many questions do you need to pass NCLEX, will not receive a definite answer. Candidates must answer at least 75 questions in the five available hours or fail the test. The maximum number of questions in both exams is 145. Therefore, test-takers typically answer between 75 and 145.

What percentage is required to pass NCLEX? ›

There are three pass or fail rules for the NCLEX: 95% rule: if the computer determines that you passed 95% of the questions answered at the minimum questions mark, then your test will end.

What is the passing score for ielts exam for nurses in the US? ›

In order to work as a nurse in the USA, you will need an overall IELTS band score of 6.5, with a 7 in Speaking. In the Reading and Listening tests, candidates read or listen to short extracts and answer questions. There are a range of question types, such as multiple choice, short answer and information matching.

What is a passing score on the CNE exam? ›

To pass the exam, you need to show a high level of mastery in meeting the NLN Nurse Educator Competencies. The passing score is not shared by NLN.

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