Immigration Options for International Nurses

There are several immigration options to consider if you’re an international nurse interested in working in the United States. Conexus MedStaff enables nurses from around the world to achieve their goal of living and working in the U.S., by helping secure Green Cards that offer permanent residency. In this article you’ll find information about the types of visas that are available to international nurses, and how we can support your version of the American dream as a nurse recruitment agency.

U.S. immigration offers several options tailored to healthcare professionals, allowing nurses to find the best route based on their qualifications and career goals. Here’s a brief overview of three immigration options available to nurses: the EB-3 visa (also known as a Green Card for nurses), H-1B visa, and TN visa.

EB-3 Green Card for nurses

The EB-3 visa is for international nurses who want permanent residency in the U.S. Conexus works to secure EB-3 visas for all international nurses who work with us. This visa is designed for skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers who have a job offer from a U.S. employer. Nurses qualify under the “skilled worker” category, provided they meet certain requirements, such as holding a degree and having an active nursing license.

The first step towards obtaining an EB-3 visa is for the nurse’s sponsoring employer in the USA to file an I-140 petition with USCIS. If you choose to work with Conexus, we become your sponsoring employer and file the I-140 petition on your behalf. Once your I-140 petition is filed and you have your Priority Date, consular processing or adjustment of status begins.

Though processing times may vary due to circumstances such as retrogression, the EB-3 visa offers a direct path to a Green Card.

H-1B visa for nurses

The H-1B visa is primarily for specialized occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher. Because demand often exceeds the annual cap of 85,000 H-1B visas, there is often a lottery to determine which applicants receive a visa.

There are pros and cons to the H-1B visa. While it can offer a faster route into the U.S. than the EB-3 visa if you are selected in the visa lottery, it is not a permanent residency visa and needs to be renewed typically every three years. It does, however, allow you to work in the U.S. while Conexus processes your EB-3 visa. It’s important to note that unlike the EB-3 visa, any dependents an international nurse may have on an H-1B visa will not be able to work.

TN visa for Canadian and Mexican nurses

The TN visa is a temporary work visa available under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It allows Canadian and Mexican citizens to work in the U.S. in certain professional occupations, including nursing.

Because the application process is straightforward in comparison to alternative visas for international nurses, the TN visa can be issued quickly. This provides eligible international nurses a fast way into the United States.

Similar to an H-1B visa, the TN visa is valid for up to three years and can be renewed as necessary. International nurses can choose to work an extended contract period with Conexus while waiting for their Green Card to be issued.

Conexus has expert teams specialized in U.S. immigration processes for international nurses. As a nurse recruiter with over a decade of experience, our expertise has helped nurses from around the world to build a life and career they love in the United States as permanent residents.