To work in the United States, foreign nurses must obtain a visa issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. While this can sometimes be quite complicated, Visa Pro will guide you through every stage of this process.

The following is an overview of the H-1B visa, and permanent residency ("green card") application process. This will provide basic immigration information for foreign nurses who want to work in the United States and for employers who are interested in hiring a foreign Registered Nurse. However, this is not s legal advice or legal direction.

Types Of Visa

H-1B Visas

H-1B visas are available for professional workers with at least a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent work experience) who seek entry into the United States to work in a 'specialty occupation'.

A registered nurse may obtain an H-1B visa if he/she will be working in a supervisory or highly specialized capacity, and if the facility demonstrates that it requires all the nurses it employs to possess a bachelor's degree.

Schedule A Labor Certifications ("Green Card" Process)

The Department of Labor has determined that there are some job occupations that demonstrate shortage of workers. One of which is registered nursing. Nurses who have passed the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools Examination or possess an unrestricted license to practice nursing in the state in which they intend to work are eligible to seek a Schedule A labor certification.

The effect of the Schedule A classification is that the position is "pre-certified" and no application needs to be filed with the Department of Labor. Instead, the labor certification and the I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker can be filed together directly with the INS.

INS Processing Times

INS processing times for H-1B, TN and "green card" processing often depends on job location, INS workload and other governmental factors. Through the assistance of our immigration lawyers, Visa Pro will expeditiously process all immigration applications.