Timeline and Options for VisaScreen for a TN Visa

[JJAT 0]

My girlfriend and I are making a move to the US and she is having some issues with her TN visa - specifically with her VisaScreen. She is an RN (registered nurse) from Canada and has completed her US NCLEX exam, already has her NY state license, and a letter of offer/employment to work for a private medical clinic. 

 

We were unaware she needed a VisaScreen until we reached the border, at which point she was refused entry and had to head back home to complete this step. It has been 3 weeks since she has started the VisaScreen process and finally all documents have arrived to CGFNS ( the commission issuing the VisaScreen). When we called them today to verify that documents have arrived so we could proceed with the expediting of the processing (normally up to 10 weeks, but expediting could speed it up to 5 days - with no guarantee of approval) they informed us that it could take an additional 25 days minimum to verify and input the documents before expediting is even an option (on top of the 10 weeks of processing). 

 

We were wondering if anyone else has gone through this process? If so, did it indeed take that long to input the documents and was there any way to shorten this 25 day period? Furthermore, would hiring an immigration lawyer help this process along at all? If so, are there any firms that anyone could recommend from past experiences?  The company she is going to be working for is a small clinic, so they do not have any legal services to offer nor are they sponsoring her/paying for any of the fees. 

 

Thank you in advance.