The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) recently announced that the new redesigned NPTE-i (formerly NPTE-YRLY) for Physical Therapists will be offered twice in 2011 for PT candidates –  May and December 2011.  Registration opens on November 1, 2010 with FSBPT.   For a detailed schedule visit the FSBPT website.

The exam will be given in all 50 states, along with the District of Columbia,  Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The NPTE-i is expected to be quite similar to the regular NPTE, and the  registration fee will remain the same as the NPTE registration fee, which is currently at $370.00.

It was also announced earlier in the month that the PTA NPTE testing restrictions will be removed for graduates of Egypt, India, Pakistan and the Philippines effective November 1, 2010.

In revisiting its previous decision, the FSBPT Board of Directors concluded that there is not a sufficiently high level of forensic irregularity to justify any further temporary suspension of graduates from Egypt, India, Pakistan and the Philippines from sitting for the PTA NPTE.

VisaScreen® renewal:

VisaScreen® certificate holders who have not obtained a permanent U.S. visa are required to renew their certificates within five years of the issue date. VisaScreen® renewal certificate applicants should begin the process six months before their current certificate expires. The renewal fee is
$250 USD. The renewal application is available for download at www.cgfns.org/files/pdf/apps/VisaScreenReApp.pdf or applicants may apply online through CGFNS Connect.

Expedited Review Service:

Service for VisaScreen® to include applicants who have an offer for employment, in addition to those who have a Request for Evidence or a deportation deadline regarding their U.S. visa application.

VisaScreen® applicants are eligible for this Expedited Review Service only I they have met the criteria of Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform Immigrant Responsibility Act; we have received all required documents and we have received a copy of their Request for Evidence, deportation deadline or offer for employment accompanied by a completed CGFNS Expedited Review Service form.

To apply for the Expedited Review Service, eligible VisaScreen® applicants will need to call CGFNS Customer Service between the hours of 8am and Noon, U.S. Eastern Time, to receive instructions. (see contact info below)

We will need the items requested above with an online credit card payment of $500. CGFNS will then perform the necessary review within five business days and, if all requirements have been successfully met, issue a VisaScreen® certificate via UPS next day air. Applicants who are ineligible for a VisaScreen® certificate based on the review will be notified. Fees for the Expedited Review Service are not refundable.

CGNS increases prices on its services:

CGFNS International announced on 21 December 2009 a new pricing structure for core services and several ancillary services.  Applications for the Certification Program, the Credentials Evaluation Service, the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment program, the Credential Verification Service for New York State and ancillary services received on or after 1 January 2010 will be charged according to the new fee schedule.

The updated 2010 fees can be found here.

Contact Information:

CGFNS Customer Service* +1 (215) 349 8767
Automated Voice Response Telephone System +1 (215) 599 6200
Appointments* +1 (215) 222 8454
Mailing address Suite 400, 3600 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651
CGFNS Web site http://www.cgfns.org
CGFNS Connect https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/intro.jsp
Apply/Check Status https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/intro.jsp
Email https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/processContactUs.do

As of October 25, 2009, approximately 52,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions and approximately 20,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption had been filed. Seven months into this fiscal year and there are still H-1B visas available – but not for long!

Any H1-B petitions filed on behalf of a foreign national with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H1-B cap of 65,000. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.

The H-1B Petition is still a valid option for professionals with degrees in IT, Engineering, those in science and the arts, as well as many healthcare workers including PTs, OTs, Physicians, Pharmacists,  AHPs, and some nurses.

When considering Nurses for H-1B Visas, these are the threshold issues and key questions:

For Nurses:

1. The nurse must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (a BSN), and

2. The position must normally require a Bachelors Degree.

For the Employer:

A. The hospital is offering the nurse a position as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), a Certified Nurse Practitioner (APRN-certified) or positions in Critical care where the nurse holds certification;

B. If the nurse will be working in an Administrative position ordinarily associated with a Bachelors Degree, such as Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager;

C. If the nurse will be working in one of these specialties: peri-operative, school health, occupational health, rehabilitation nursing, emergency room nursing, critical care, operating room, oncology and pediatrics. And the hospital will attest that these roles are only offered to those with Bachelors Degrees. Some magnet hospitals have the BSN as its standards, and these make great destination hospitals for RN H-1Bs.

Contact Immigration Solutions if you are seeking representation to assist you with your H-1B case filings.  We have a professional team ready to handle your casework with reasonable and fair fees.  We specialize in IT, Engineering and Healthcare immigration, amongst other business sectors – both in the US and Canada.

There’s been a rift going on for several months in re degree requirements when USCIS wandered off the reservation and decided that all PTs and OTs required master’s degrees for H-1B classification regardless of state licensing requirements.  The issue has finally been resolved:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6468237/Velarde-healthcare-memo-5-20-09-_USCIS_