There are many ways a foreign nurse can enter the U.S. First level registered nurses may enter the U.S. on lawful permanent resident (LPR) or green card status. LPR status allows a nurse and his or her family to permanently enter the U.S. through a sponsor after meeting certain requirements. Generally, these include an evaluation of the nurse’s academic credentials and license by a designated credentialing organization (such as the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools - CGFNS) and successful completion of an English language proficiency test.

Some registered nurses who have advanced practice certifications, management skills, or practice in a nursing specialty area may be able to enter the U.S. on the H1B Visa.

The H1C Visa allows a nurse to enter on a temporary work visa for employment by hospitals or employers that are pre-qualified by the U.S. as having a special need for nurses that is greater than the general need across the country. However, this category is limited to only 500 nurses each year for the pre-qualified hospitals or health care facilities and so is restrictive.

Those RNs who are already in the U.S. may now file for LPR status and receive work authorization within approximately 90 days of filing the I-140 petition and adjustment application based on a sponsor.

In addition, each nurse must satisfy the requirements of the state board of nursing for the state in which s/he intends to practice. Additional criteria may vary on a state-by-state analysis.

What We Can Do For You : At the Murthy Law Firm, we consult with nurses, hospital administrators, contracting agencies, and others to discuss case strategies, help determine the most appropriate options, and provide guidance on the paperwork to file in order to obtain the status most suitable under the circumstances for the nurse or the program. We also outline critical pre-filing strategies that will help assure prompt, efficient filing and processing. We at the Murthy Law Firm are familiar with the services of the CGFNS, the requirements for VisaScreen, state licensure, and the overall challenges with the TOEFL/TWE, TSE, TOEIC, and IELTS English language proficiency exams. If appropriate, we can help with submitting the applications and documentation to the CGFNS (including aggressive follow-up), and submitting forms for the visa at the consulate or with the BCIS for temporary work status or LPR status in the U.S.


STRIVE Act of 2007 Introduced in the House of Representatives Posted Mar 30, 2007

I-485 Reopened and Approved Based on Paroled Entry
Posted Oct 06, 2006

Predictions on Visa Availability for Nurses and Physical Therapists  Posted Sep 01, 2006

DOS Predictions on Retrogression - April 2006 Update
Posted Apr 14, 2006

Schedule A Visa Numbers : Cutoff Expected by Early FY2006
Posted Mar 24, 2006

Update on Issues at CSC
Posted Jan 27, 2006

National Visa Center for Consular Processing
Posted Oct 28, 2005

TSC Liaison Update
Posted Jul 08, 2005

EB3 Numbers Unavailable from July 1, 2005 Except for Schedule A Workers (more details)  Posted Jun 17, 2005

TSC Update - Feb to May 2005
Posted Jun 17, 2005

NewsFlash! EB3 Visa Numbers Unavailable from July 2005 : Exception Schedule A Workers  Posted Jun 14, 2005

NewsFlash! DOS Visa Bulletin Includes New Schedule A Category
Posted Jun 07, 2005

Visa Bulletin to Reflect New Schedule A Category
Posted May 20, 2005

NewsFlash! More Retrogression Predicted
Posted May 13, 2005

NewsFlash! H.R. 1268 Signed into Law
Posted May 12, 2005

Bill May Provide Limited Relief for Retrogression and H2Bs
Posted May 06, 2005

DOS Answers Questions on Employment-Based Visa Numbers
Posted Apr 29, 2005

CSC Liaison Update
Posted Mar 04, 2005

PERM Impacts Physical Therapist and Nurse Filings
Posted Feb 04, 2005

Employer Must Post Notice in Schedule A Cases
Posted Jan 28, 2005

Strategy to Expedite Immigrant Visas for Nurses
Posted Aug 13, 2004

Congress Urged to Postpone Looming VisaScreen Requirement
Posted Apr 09, 2004

Service Centers Add Nurse Category to Processing Times
Posted Mar 12, 2004

Special Administration of CGFNS Qualifying Exam for TN Nurses
Posted Mar 05, 2004

Service Center Update : December 2003
Posted Dec 26, 2003

The Impact of Immigration Policy on the U.S. Nursing Shortage
Posted Dec 12, 2003

VisaScreen Not Required Prior to Filing I-485
Posted Dec 05, 2003

Foreign Nurse Recruitment: Practical Considerations
Posted Nov 21, 2003

Employment Options for U.S.-Educated Foreign Nurses 
Posted Aug 15, 2003

New CGFNS Official Study Guide Published
Posted Jun 13, 2003

Opening of CGFNS Exam Centers in Delhi and Beijing
Posted May 30, 2003

CGFNS Posting Rosters for the Qualifying Exam Online
Posted May 23, 2003

VSC Update : May 13, 2003
Posted May 23, 2003

English Language Proficiency Exam Options for Nurses
Posted Apr 25, 2003

2003 CGFNS Exam Registration Deadlines
Posted Apr 18, 2003

VSC : Processing Times for I-140 Petitions for Nurses
Posted Apr 11, 2003

TOEFL Improves Test of Spoken English
Posted Feb 28, 2003

New English Tests for Health Care Workers
Posted Feb 21, 2003

Attorney Murthy on the Need for Nurses – New York Times
Posted Feb 14, 2003

Liberalization in I-140 Adjudication for Nurses
Posted Jan 17, 2003

INS Issues Guidance on H1Bs for Nurses
Posted Dec 27, 2002

New CGFNS Case Automated Status System
Posted Dec 20, 2002

MELAB Tests No Longer an Option for Health Care Professionals
Posted Dec 13, 2002

Navigating the CGFNS Maze for Nurses
Posted Nov 01, 2002

Nursing as a Route to the Green Card
Posted Oct 11, 2002

Nurses – Shortages and Options
Posted November 23, 2001

INS Issues Regulations for H1C Nurse Category
Posted June 16, 2001

Overview : H1C Visas for Registered Nurses
Posted May 11, 2001

Case Highlights Difficulties in Obtaining H1B Status for RNs
Posted Feb 29, 2000

Healthcare Workers Bill Signed into Law
Posted Dec 27, 1999

Difficulties in Certification Requirement for Health Care Workers
Posted Aug 3, 1999

Proposed H1C program - Nurses for Medically Underserved Areas
Posted Jun 20, 1999

Update on Section 343 for Health Care Workers
Posted May 29, 1999

New Cert. Requirements for Nurses and Occupational Therapists
Posted Feb 25, 1999

Partial Regs on Sec 343, Foreign Health Care Worker Provisions
Posted Nov 16, 1998

Lawsuit : INS Fails to Implement New Certification Requirements
Posted Sep 04, 1998

House Passes Bill Proposing New Tem Visa Program for Nurses
Posted Aug 19, 1998

Health Care Workers and Licensing Requirements Update
Posted Prior to May 1998

Health Care Workers Under Recent Laws
Posted Prior to May 1998

Nurses Certification Under IIRAIRA
Posted Prior to May 1998

Processing of Certain Foreign Health Care Workers
Posted Prior to May 1998