Visa Screen in Columbus, OH

Immigration Lawyers in Columbus Assessing Visa Credentials

Visa screen is an assessment of visa credentials for foreign health care employees who wish to work in the United States. The goal of Visa Screen is to comply with S343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (the IIRIRA) of 1996. IIRIRA requires specific health care professionals to complete a screening program prior to receiving a permanent or temporary occupational visa. This also includes Trade NAFTA status. 

Steps to the US Screening Process

There are four main steps to this screening process.

1. First, an assessment is taken of the foreign applicant's education to make sure that it compares to that of a United States graduate in the same profession. 
2. Second, there is a verification that all professional health care licenses that an applicant ever had are valid and are without restrictions. 
3. Third, an English language proficiency examination is taken. 
4. Fourth and finally, there is verification that the health care professional has passed the necessary examinations. Individuals who successfully complete the Visa Screen application are rewarded with a Visa Screen certificate. This certificate fulfills the federal screening requirements.

Contact Our Columbus Visa Screening Attorneys

If you are a foreign medical professional and require immigration representation, or if you are a healthcare provider in need of counsel, our lawyers are experienced in representing both individual and corporate clients in all facets of healthcare immigration processes.

Contact The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates at (888) 915-5057 for a consultation. We have offices in Columbus Ohio, Cleveland Ohio, Southfield Michigan and Washington, D.C.

Understanding the Visa Screen 

Essentially, the Visa Screen is intended for certain foreign health care professionals in particular. Those professionals who are educated outside of the United States and who are seeking temporary or permanent occupational visas or Trade NAFTA (TN) status include registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physician assistants, audiologists, clinical laboratory technicians (medical technicians), clinical laboratory scientists (medical laboratory technologists), speech-language pathologists, and licensed practical or vocational nurses.

However, Visa Screen is not intended for healthcare professionals coming to the United States to perform services in non-clinical health care occupations that do not provide patient care. Health care professionals who are indirectly involved in performing patient care have to obtain certification under S343, like the International Commission on Healthcare Professionals (ICHP)'s Visa Screen certificate.

Several countries are exempt from Visa Screen, including:

• Australia
• Barbados
• Canada
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Trinidad
• Tobago
• United Kingdom

Still, it is important to remember that if a foreign healthcare worker is obtaining permanent resident status because of a relationship to a United States citizen, no certification is necessary. These types of health care workers will not be subject to the requirements of S343 and therefore do not need a Visa Screen certificate.