Healthcare Exchange Program Frequently Asked Questions
- 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.
- 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.
Complete your nursing program, pass an English Language Proficiency exam (required prior to attempting NCLEX exam, also required by CGFNS and AZBN), and pass the NCLEX (required for CGFNS and AZBN).
The program typically places nurses in a healthcare experience that aligns with their expertise and preferences.
Yes, IAG will support your application for a TN Visa.
If you have questions about the Visa process, please email: healthcare@iagusa.org
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
Yes, you can bring a legal spouse and/or dependents on the TN Visa.
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).
You will notice that federal and state taxes will be taken out of your paycheck at a rate between 15-20% of your paycheck. Additionally, your paycheck may include a deduction for your medical insurance premium, depending on the type of insurance you select.
Be sure to read IAG’s orientation materials, including the Exchange Nurse Handbook and online FAQ, before you arrive in the United States. Detailed orientation materials will be provided upon acceptance to the program.
- 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) 4. 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
- 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.
It is important that you carefully plan a budget for your IAG program. As part of the application process, you will complete a Budget Exercise to calculate your expected income and expenses. Participating nurses should be aware that your nursing salary may not cover your total expenses -- including the cost of the program, travel, housing, transportation, and living expenses – so you should plan to bring additional personal funds. You should have at least $2,000 - $5,000 available to you when you arrive in the United States for settling costs, including transportation to your healthcare facility, housing deposits, food, and other personal expenses until you receive your first paycheck.
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:
Short-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 healthcare 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 nurse or local community member.
IAG can assist nurses 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. 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).