VisaScreen® 212(r) Certified Statement
About the statement and who is eligible
The 212(r) Certified Statement is an alternative, abbreviated VisaScreen® process that exempts certain nurses from the English language proficiency and educational comparability requirements. Section 212(r) of IIRIRA authorizes CGFNS to issue Certified Statements to foreign-educated nurse who meet these criteria:
- Educated in one of the listed exempt countries: Australia, Barbados, Canada (including only the following approved Quebec schools: McGill University and Dawson College in Montreal, Vanier College in St Laurent, John Abbot College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, and Heritage College in Gatineau), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad/Tobago, the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) or the United States.
- The nursing school must be on the list that CGFNS established in 1999 after its education review of the countries listed in number 1. Any school founded after November 1999 must be reviewed and accepted by CGFNS/ICHP.
- An approved nursing school in one of the countries listed in number 1 provides graduation verification to CGFNS/ICHP stating that the language of instruction and the textbooks was in English. The verification must carry the official school seal and signatures. CGFNS/ICHP does not require full transcripts.
- Passed NCLEX-RN®
- Currently licensed to practice in one of five states: Florida, Georgia, New York, Illinois and Michigan. CGFNS/ICHP must receive a license validation from that state board of nursing.
How to apply
Apply online at https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/intro.jsp or complete the application in the VisaScreen® Application Handbook from http://www.cgfns.org/sections/apply/download.shtml, marking the 212(r) Certified Statement box “For which VisaScreen® category are you applying?”. You must also indicate in which U.S. state(s) you are currently licensed. If completing the paper form, mail to CGFNS International with the appropriate fee. Send your Request for Academic Records and Validation of Registration/License to the proper schools and licensing authorities. School transcripts and records, and all past and current license validation, must come directly from the schools and licensing authorities to CGFNS International.
