Digital VisaScreen®
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Effective December 1, 2024, CGFNS requires applicants who use the PTE Academic to meet the English language proficiency requirement to receive a 63 on the speaking section. The overall score of 55 and minimum score of 50 on the other sections have not changed. For more information about the rationale for this change, please view our letter to HRSA.
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:
Click the links below for more information on each topic: