The shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) in the U.S. continues to expand as the COVID-19 crisis drags on.  With more than half a million RNs anticipated to retire by 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for 1.1 million new RNs for expansion and replacement of retirees.

U.S. nursing schools have not been able to keep up with the demand for RNs.  Now, with millions of baby boomers retiring, the shortage continues to get worse. Fortunately, there are hundreds of thousands of foreign-born RNs working abroad who are seeking to immigrate to the U.S. We hope that this article will assist hospitals and other healthcare providers in obtaining work visas and green cards for foreign-born RNs.

In order for a foreign-born RN to be sponsored for a green card or a temporary work visa by an employer in the U.S., she/he must first:

1. Have a college degree in nursing, usually a B.S.N.
2. Have a license to work abroad as an RN
3. Pass one of the following English Language Examinations:
  ● International English Language Testing Service (IELTS)
  ● Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Exemptions:  RNs who received their degrees in the U.S., Canada (except for Quebec Province), Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the United Kingdom are exempt from having to take an English Exam.

4. Pass the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX).  NCLEX examinations are currently administered in the U.S., Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines and Taiwan.

5. The RN will need to get a VisaScreen Certificate before she can receive a green card or a temporary work visa. However, an employer may choose to sponsor an RN for a green card or work visa even before she has passed the English Exam or received a VisaScreen Certificate. The RN can apply for a VisaScreen Certificate from either of the following organizations:

  ● Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
  ● Josef Silny and Associates

A VisaScreen Certificate means that the RN’s education and English language skills have been evaluated and found acceptable in order to work as an RN in the U.S.  Please see English Exams and the VisaScreen.

Since few RNs qualify for temporary work visas, U.S. employers need to sponsor most foreign-born RNs directly for green cards

The good news is that the number of green cards through employment has more than doubled this fiscal year (October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022) from 140,000 to 290,000. While it can take years to get green cards for RNs born in India or mainland China due to per-country backlogs, there are currently no backlogs for nurses born in other countries.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. All information contained in this newsletter is generalized. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.