Government charges depend on whether the case is presented at the port of entry or filed on Form I-129 by the employer, and the current amounts are in the USCIS fee schedule. State licensing, credential verification and professional fees are separate and often larger.
Budget the licence before the border
The immigration cost is the smaller part of this move. A port-of-entry TN application carries a modest admission charge, while an employer's Form I-129 petition carries USCIS filing fees set out in the G-1055 fee schedule; check the current figures rather than relying on a colleague's memory from a previous year. The New York licensing process, any English-proficiency or examination requirement the board imposes, credential verification services and a lawyer's review of the employer letter are separate items, and hospitals differ on which they reimburse.
Ask the recruiter for a written list of what the employer pays, what it advances against repayment, and what the nurse pays herself. A retention clause tying reimbursement to a minimum period of service is common; read its terms as an employment contract, not as an immigration condition. Keep receipts for every item because a later extension or a change of employer will raise the same expenses again.
Separate one-time proof costs from recurring employment costs before accepting reimbursement terms. Hypothetical example: a Canadian entomologist must obtain certified academic records and a professional translation for a research appointment. The records, delivery charges, and any legal review are personal outlays even if the employer pays the admission fee.
Ask which items are reimbursed if the start date moves or the offer ends early; that written answer prevents a later dispute from becoming an immigration decision.