What is VisaScreen^® and why do I need it?

U.S. Immigration law now requires that health care professionals, other than physicians, complete a screening program in order to qualify for certain occupational visas. VisaScreen^® certificates issued by the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP), a division of CGFNS, enable health care professionals to demonstrate to consular and immigration officials that their credentials meet the U.S. government’s eligibility standards for health care professionals educated outside the United States. CGFNS is named in the law as an authorized credentialing organization.

What does VisaScreen^® review?

VisaScreen^® for physical therapists is an educational review, licensure review, English language skills assessment and supervised clinical experience assessment. Applicants who successfully complete VisaScreen^® will receive a VisaScreen^® Certificate, which can be presented to a consular office or immigration officer when the applicant applies for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status.

How do I apply for VisaScreen^®?

To apply for VisaScreen^®, please refer to http://www.cgfns.org/sections/programs/vs/ on the CGFNS International Web site.

Once a VisaScreen^® certificate is issued, who receives the original document?

The VisaScreen^® certificate is issued directly to the applicant who successfully completed all of the requirements of the program. The applicant then presents it to a consular officer when applying for an immigrant visa, or to an immigration officer when applying for adjustment of status.

I am from a foreign country, but graduated from a U.S. college. Do I still need to apply for VisaScreen^®?

Yes. Although your professional education was completed in the United States, the purpose of the VisaScreen^® program is to provide a screening program that meets all federal requirements for health care professionals who are not U.S. citizens seeking an occupational visa in the United States, irrespective of where the professional education was completed.