US Visa Sponsorships For Nurses
Registered nurses from the Philippines looking to practice in the United States must first work to secure their legal status abroad. This will allow them to find a job; a job offer is required for a nurse to apply for a non-immigrant (temporary) visa to work in the US, which means someone has to petition for the application. The entire process can become complicated and confusing, which is why we set out to create this guide to help you.
The EB-3 Visa
The EB-3 visa is a third preference employment-based green card given to skilled, professional, or other workers. It is the best option for US RN sponsorship.
Typically, one’s schooling (a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the US or a foreign equivalent), nursing license, NCLEX-RN results, and English proficiency exam results are thoroughly reviewed. These must be up to par with the conditions set in order to acquire a CGFNS International VisaScreen® certificate. This certificate is an indicator to US Immigration that you may be sponsored on the EB-3 Visa.
The H1-B Visa
This type of visa is a non-immigrant type that allows US companies to hire foreign nationals in specialty occupations on a contractual period. This means that an H1-B Visa is required of Filipino nurses by the Immigration and Nationality Act.
A petition will only be granted if the occupation in question is deemed specialized according to eligibility conditions. For nurses, this specifically means that one must have at least a bachelor’s degree or higher – general RN or LPN do not normally qualify for this visa.
Visa Sponsorship
Some US companies look outside of the country for potential employees to fill spots in their firms for a variety of reasons. Regardless of these, there are companies willing to assist foreign nationals in acquiring their visas to work for them in the United States.
This said, for a nurse eager to work in the US, look for companies that are recruiting in large numbers and who are repeatedly posting the same jobs on hiring platforms. These employers may be more inclined to go through the immgiration procedure, which can become very tedious and expensive, to fill their positions. In addition, employers who have a history of hiring foreign nurses are more likely to recruit you, too. Bringing in international labor may even be a priority for that company or corporation. It is a matter of finding these firms and applying. Read and research about every employer thoroughly.
Ask friends, peers, or colleagues who are already in the US working as nurses about their experiences; they may even be able to help you and refer you.
Filipino nurses who are interested in this route should keep in mind that the road is long and there may be lots of processes and hurdles to overcome – it is up to you to weigh the risks and rewards and determine if this is the path you would like your career to take.