- INA sponsors nurses on a TN Visa for qualified nurse applicants from Mexico and Canada.
- Comprehensive nursing exchange program in the United States.
- Ongoing support with the TN IAG application, Visa approval process, and Nursing degree evaluation.
- We offer an NCLEX Prep course through Kaplan.
- Placement in an IAG approved medical facility (hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehab hospitals, and assisted living communities).
- Ongoing nursing professional development program.
- Post-arrival support.
Your program includes:
- Professional training – This international bilingual on-the-job training will further enhance your qualifications and expertise in nursing. Career Advancement: The skills and knowledge gained through professional development opportunities can boost your healthcare career, making you a more effective nurse and increasing your potential for leadership roles within the healthcare sector.
- Professional development – Bi-monthly Webinar Series covering topics topic such as quality measures, basic professional hygiene, reviews of medications, and updates on the latest regulations in healthcare. These webinars provide continuing education credit.
- Networking events – Participants have access to networking events where they can connect with various hospitals and hospital personnel to network about future employment opportunities.
- Cultural exchange – The program promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. You will learn about the culture of the United States.
- Personal growth -You can expect to grow both professionally and personally as you gain understanding of U.S. culture, society, and nursing practices. Immersive environments provide the opportunity to improve English language skills. You will return to your home country with increased knowledge of the United States and the U.S. healthcare system. In addition, the experience can provide both professional direction and personal understanding.
If you have questions about the Visa process, please email: [email protected]
To participate in the IAG program, you must apply for a TN visa. IAG always recommends that you review the website of your local embassy or consulate to ensure accurate information specific to your home country. For more information on applying for a TN visa, see the U.S. Department of State’s website here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/visas-canadian mexican-nafta-professional-workers.html.
If you have questions about the Visa process, please email: [email protected]
- Obtain a job offer from IAG
- Gather supporting documentation required for all applications
- Apply to CGFNS (It is required for the TN Visa and AZBN Licensure)
- Submit online Arizona Fingerprint Clearance application (if applicable – complete online at Gemalto)
- Submit DS-160 Form (TN Visa)
- Schedule in-person interview at US Embassy or Consulate
- Once TN Visa interview is scheduled, begin AZBN application
- Submit completed AZBN application
As part of the IAG nursing program, it is important that participating nurses follow the program rules:
- Within 7 days of arrival in the United States, submit an Arrival Report to IAG to confirm your safe arrival and report your housing address.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date healthcare facility and housing address and contact information. Report to IAG any address or email/ phone change within 10 days of any change.
- Follow the rules, policies and procedures of the healthcare facility. Maintain the minimum medical insurance coverage required by Department of State regulations and IAG.
- Important Note – It is extremely important to inform IAG when you arrive to your host community and if you make any address changes, as IAG is required by U.S. government regulation to report your location in the SEVIS system. Failure to follow these important rules and regulations of the program may result in program termination, requiring an immediate return to your home country.
Costs that participants will likely incur while in the U. S. include:
- AZBN Application: $150
- NCLEX: $150 (covered by IAG)
- CGFNS VisaScreen Certificate (also part of TN Visa process): $700 (additional $650 for 10-day expedited) (covered by IAG)
- Fingerprinting: $67.00
- Application Processing Fee: $160
- Background Check DPS Fee: $22.00
- AZBN Credit Card Fee: $3.00
- IELTS (sample of English Proficiency Exam, also required for CGFNS): $230 • Personal expenses – mobile phone, travel, savings, entertainment Medical insurance premiums or out-of-pocket expenses not covered by medical insurance policy
- Taxes (estimated 15-20% of your paycheck)
- *Food
*See budget exercise for estimates/ranges for these costs: Sample Budget Exercise
The average cost of food per month for one person ranges from $200 to $500, depending on age. However, these national averages vary based on where you live and the quality of your food purchases. Here’s a monthly grocery budget for the average family:
Monthly Food Budget + Grocery CalculatorShort-term Housing Arrangement
Before arriving in the United States, it is important that you make a short-term housing arrangement so that you have a safe place to stay while you search for a more permanent housing solution.
You can make a hotel reservation online through hotels.com or orbitz.com
IAG can provide assistance with securing short-term housing.
Long-term Housing Arrangements
We recommend talking with your teacher, co-workers, or supervisors for suggestions on affordable, and safe housing options in your work area.
To reduce housing expenses, you may want to consider sharing an apartment, or home with another teacher or local community member.
IAG can assist exchange teachers in locating and securing reasonable housing options.
Housing costs in the United States vary, but you should expect to pay 20-40% of your take-home salary in rent.
You also typically have to pay separately for utilities, such as electricity, heat, air-conditioning, water, garbage, and internet.
Most apartments or rental homes require a move-in deposit, typically “first and last month’s rent” (meaning two months’ of rent) when securing the apartment.
Most will require a lease, which is a contract typically of one year to pay rent to the landlord. For additional information on cost of living/living expenses, please review the ‘Financial Considerations’ section on our Teacher’s page.
Here are a few resources:
Public transportation in the United States may be more limited than in your home country.
Most larger cities in the United States will have a public bus system and some have public train/subway/rail systems. Other smaller cities or towns do not have a public transportation system and are more reliant on cars as the primary means of transportation.
Purchasing a bicycle or walking are also possibilities, but you should consider the climate of the season in your host community.
We recommend that you carefully consider transportation options that are reasonably available when you secure housing.
IAG is available to assist you if you have any problems securing transportation options on an ongoing basis.
Here is information on Lyft and Uber in case you need transportation and others are not available to assist.
Your salary will be commensurate with nurses from the U.S. with the same level of education and years of experience. Each healthcare facility typically has a plan or “wage schedule” that outlines the salary for every employee – IAG will provide this information to you upon placement at a healthcare facility. You will receive a paycheck directly from IAG, based on bi-weekly pay schedule (1st and 15th of each month).