What is CGFNS?

This page will highlight one of the most complicated and lengthy processes in starting your travel nurse journey as a Canadian, navigating the different services of CGFNS.

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VisaScreen: Visa Credentials Assessment

The first step in your Travel Nurse journey is receiving VisaScreen Certification from CGFNS. This program verifies your Canadian Nursing credentials to certify you can work as a Registered Nurse in the USA. You must have passed the Canadian NCLEX and be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario to obtain this.

You need to obtain your CGFNS Certification to start working with an agency so they can issue you a TN Visa at the border. Only reach out to agencies or look for jobs once you have completed the CGFNS VisaScreen portion and received your official certificate. An agency will not start working without this.

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Steps to Getting Started with CGFNS

1. Create an account: https://start.cgfns.org/applicants/
2. Purchase The VisaScreen: Visa Credentials Assessment- Cost as of March 2023 is $700 USD.
3. Complete Application.
4. Three documents are requested for you to complete:

Request for Secondary School Diploma/Examination Certificate
Request for Academic Records/Transcripts
Request for License/Registration/ Diploma

Example of the documents provided by CGFNS.

CGFNS auto populates the details of the first page of each document package. 

You must sign each document package and send it to each organization.

Below are details for each specific document package.

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Request for Secondary School Diploma/Examination Certificate

Upon graduation, you were given a physical copy of your High School Diploma (not transcript!). 

If you do not have this document, you must:

1. Call the School you attended and have them order/give you a copy.
2. If your school no longer exists, you must contact the School Board which your school was a part of ie. Toronto District School Board (TDSB) etc.
3. Fill out the application form above, attach a photo of your diploma, and upload it to the CGFNS portal. 

The High School Diploma document is the only document you will upload yourself. The rest will be sent directly from your University/College and Board of Nursing.

CGFNS will update the CGFNS Connect Portal when the document is received.

How to upload documents to the portal: 

1. Select the “My Messages” button on the top right of your account.
2. Select the “Contact Us” option.
3. Select the Visa Screen as your service and Other as your subject. 
4. Scroll down to the “Optional PDF attachment” section: Your order will be your Visa Screen, Ensure your attachment is under “Secondary School Diploma”, Choose file and click Submit.
5. Your Messages and receipts of conversations can be accessed under the “Correspondence” section of the Message Center. Visit this link whenever you receive an update email from CGFNS- this will be where they may send you important messages. 

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Request for Academic Records/Transcripts

You need a physical copy of your University/College Degree.

If you do not have one, contact your school to get a new one. It is crucial as it is required for your CGFNS portal and must be shown at the border to obtain your TN Visa. 

You must sign and send the provided document to the school you received your Bachelors of Nursing.

Contact the Student Services/Transcript Department and/or the Nursing Department and send them the request form via email/mail. Pay any associated fees for obtaining this information which varies from school to school.

This is the document you must send to your school (do not forget to sign and date the first page only) 

If you attended multiple schools to receive your BScN ie. Collaborative nursing programs such as Toronto Metropolitan/George Brown or McMaster/Mohawk College etc. You must call or email CGFNS for them to create a document for each school you attended.

This allows CGFNS to obtain all transcripts, course information and clinical hours required to process your application.

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Request for License/Registration/Diploma

Sign the document and contact your Board of Nursing to complete the application.

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) has made requesting proof of your license and NCLEX verification seamless.

1. Login to your CNO Account.
2. Click “Maintain Your Membership”
3. Select “Request Verification of Registration or View verification requests”
4. Click “Submit New Verification Request”
5. You will be able to upload the CGFNS Document directly through this portal.
6. Complete all steps and wait to hear back from the CNO

The cost per document requested is $16.95 CAD and wait times can vary from one business day to a few days depending on volumes.

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Uploading your Photo for your Certificate

The photo must be taken in colour on a white background, with minimal accessories and with your hair out of your face. 

To upload the image, go to “My Dashboard” and click on the gray square to the left and click “Upload applicant photo.” There is no need to attach any documents. 

The “Photo” part of your application document status will turn green once reviewed. 

English Proficiency Exam

The reviewers will automatically waive your English proficiency exam, given that you studied your nursing in English. 

This would not apply if you completed your education in Quebec and would be required to take an English exam. 

If required, these exams will cost roughly $300, and results will take approximately two weeks to be sent to CGFNS. 

VisaScreen Application Issued

Your documents will be highlighted in either Red, Orange or Green. Ensure you check your portal frequently, as CGFNS may require request more information.

When your documents are received, reviewed and then successfully certified, you will receive your VisaScreen Certificate notarized in the mail via courier. It is essential to keep this document safe as you will need the original to show a border agent when you get your TN Visa and whenever you need to renew or extend it. CGFNS only allows you to purchase one extra for $175 USD if you lose it.

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Other CGFNS Services

Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report

• Cost $450 USD
• Each state requires your academic information in the form of direct transcripts or other CGFNS services for licensing. If the state you are applying for needs a CES report, they take information from your VisaScreen and issue the State their report.
• They may request additional information from your University/College or Board of Nursing to complete the report.
• Once completed, they will send the report directly to the Board of Nursing for the state you applied.

Example of CES Report issued for Washington Board of Nursing

Certificate Verification Letter

• Cost $125 USD
• Certain states might request your VisaScreen for licensing and will not accept a copy of your original. 
• Purchasing this service allows CGFNS to directly send verification to the state you are applying for licensure. 
• You can find this in your Shopping Cart and click “Additional CGFNS Services”

Credentials Verification Service for New York State

• Cost $400 USD
• If you are looking to obtain your license for New York State, CGFNS offers to do some of the work required by gathering information from your VisaScreen Certification to send directly to New York State.
• This optional service is not required to get your New York State license. 
• We do not recommend using this service and instead gathering all required documents and mailing to New York State yourself.

Expedited Review

• Cost $625 USD for VisaScreen $400 USD for CES
• This service is for CES Professional Report applications.
• This service ensures that within 10 business days after all required documents your application will be processed and reviewed and any additional documents you need to provide.
• It does not guarantee you will be issued the report/certificate within 10 days.