America does not want immigrants? Canada says ‘ Welcome!’

THE soon-to-be-expiring first term of United States President Donald Trump is littered with regulations aimed at reducing and slowing, if not totally stopping, immigrants from coming to America.

“America First. Buy American. Hire Americans,” and keep the immigrants out are the most potent weapons of mass hysteria in Trump’s 2016 campaign and the 2020 reelection bid.

Hoping to pass laws in his first two years in office — with a Republican majority in the Senate — Trump tried, but lost. The Democrats gained a huge majority in the House of Representatives, throwing out any hope for legislation during his first term.

So, Mr. Trump ruled by tweets, followed by briefings from the White House explaining what the President really meant. Then from the inner sanctum of the Trump official, biological and extended families come recommendations that come out as proclamations.

The President has used his office to the hilt to keep his promise to keep America White and Right.

Despite a majority in the House and dissenting Republicans in the Senate, the Democratic Party appeared unable to rein in the White House occupant, as executive orders seeking to reduce, slow down and stop immigrants from coming to the US come pouring down from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Even the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) became a Trump ally.

Using the pandemic and the resulting unemployment of tens of millions of Americans (without acknowledging the missteps that led to the US having the highest number of Covid- 19 cases and deaths worldwide), Trump’s issued two proclamations to stop the immigrant tide.

The first was on Proclamation 10014 on April 22, which ordered a 60-day ban on immigrants to protect American workers who, at the margin between employment and unemployment, are likely to bear the burden of excess labor supply disproportionately — by incoming immigrants.

A second proclamation on June 23 extended the ban on immigrants and added the suspension of the issuance of work visas.

One of the sectors immediately and severely affected by the two proclamations were health care immigrant applicants from the Philippines, specifically registered nurses (RNs).

Even if a Philippine nurse or health care worker has an approved petition, so long as she or he remains outside the US, without a valid immigrant visa, said RN would have to wait till after Dec. 31, 2020 to find out if a consular interview is coming.

Canada expresses relief and thanks for the restrictive policies of the Trump administration. For RNs particularly pursuing a career in Canada has emerged as the viable and attractive alternative.

Without a qualified family member, specifically a US citizen or green card holder spouse, a Filipino RN would have to go through a complex, circuitous, expensive and longer route to practice his or her profession.

Canada’s Express Entry, Provincial Nomination Programs, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project and even the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot pathways are better alternatives than the single EB3 option that the US offers.

How to practice as an RN in Canada

The Canadian Nurses Association explains that there is no national nursing license in Canada. Rather, the regulatory bodies of each province and territory are responsible for overseeing the actions of their members. (

“These bodies protect the interests of the public by ensuring that safe practice standards are being upheld. They are responsible for outlining expectations for nurses in their jurisdictions, fielding complaints from the public, supporting safe nursing practice and regulating licensure.”

While the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) is the entrylevel exam for all of Canada, an internationally educated nurse (IEN) must still meet certain requirements from the province of intended practice. Filipino nurses are among the highest test takers in both countries.

Candidates and passing rates, US and Canada

In 2019, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing published the results of the NCLEXRN in four quarters.

While there are fewer NCLEXRN takers in Canada, the percentage of those who passed was higher than the RN-takers in the US — for all takers in 2018, the passing rate was 44.7 percent. RNs from the Philippines had a slightly higher passing rate percentage for 2018 — 47.7 percent.

In 2019, the passing percentage for all takers in Canada was 59.0 percent. RN from the Philippines had a higher passing rate for Canada NCLEX takers — 67.8 percent, but lower than the previous year (72.9 percent).

Take note that having passed the US NCLEX does not mean eligibility to be registered in any of Canada’s provinces as an RN. You need to take the NCLEX-RN Canada, but only after you have your credentials assessed by National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) in Canada (

Registration as an IEN in Canada

As earlier stated, all IENs must pass the NCLEX- RN exam. In addition, each province has specific requirements for an IEN to complete registration and subsequently practice the profession. There is no national registration/ licensure process for nurses in Canada. Each province has its own regulatory body and assessment process.

The following steps apply to all IEN applicants seeking registration and practice as an RN in Canada. Certain specific requirements for a province are included:

Apply to the NNAS, pay the assessment fees. NNAS confirms your identity and evaluates your nursing education, qualification, licensure in the country of practice and English/language proficiency, An advisory report is sent to the province where you intend to practice or register.

Create an account and apply for registration after being advised of eligibility for assessment by the provincial regulatory authority.

Provincial registration body (school or college of nursing) assesses your application.

The IEN is referred to the specific provincial service provider to evaluate competency to practice since evaluation of education alone is not sufficient. In British Columbia, the IEN is referred to the Nursing Community Assessment Service.

Regulatory authorities for RN in Canada usually require 1,125 nursing practice in the last five years or 450 hours in the most recent year of practice ( e. g., Saskatchewan Alberta-and Nova Scotia). In lieu of the minimum practice hours, an IEN may provide evidence of having graduated from an approved nursing education program, or completed an approved nursing reentry program.

Manitoba has specific instructions for Filipino nurse applicants who wrote the June 2006 licensure examination in the Philippines. Such applicants must provide proof of having successfully completed the special voluntary examination, which was authorized by the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment, Parts 3 and 5. is the achievement of a score of 75 percent or better on these sections. If an applicant has not written the special voluntary examination or cannot provide proof of such, they may not be considered as an applicant for registration.

Receive authorization/ interim registration approval, interim registration or temporary class to practice until applicant successfully passes the RN exam.

Schedule your exam appointment.

Receive your exam results

Pay for practicing registration. English language proficiency is common among all regulatory authorities for IENs, e. g., the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals, Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association and College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba: There are two approved language text exams — the Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment Services (Celban) and the International English Language Testing System. (Ielts).

Celban: Speaking, 8; reading, 8; writing, 7; and listening, 10.

Ielts: Speaking, 7; reading, 6.5; writing, 7; and listening, 7.5

The application for registration differs (check RN regulatory body for latest fees):

– Alberta: Currently, application fee is $169.05. Fee increased in 2020 to $173.25. Further assessment of competence is currently $391.65, to increase to $401.10 in 2020. – British Columbia: $575. If competency assessment is required (which almost always is the case for Philippine RNs), the competency assessment fee is $2,000. – Manitoba: $483 application fee and Clinical Competence Assessment assessment of $336.

– New Brunswick: $460-application fee.

– Ontario: $339-application fee – Saskatchewan: $ 150- registration fee and $350 for competency assessment.

Confirm your registration status

Start your RN practice in Canada

Migration is like a love affair. Reciprocity is essential. A Filipino immigrant might love the US. But does the US love him or her back?

If not, the Maple Nation offers a sweet alternative.