December 29, 2025

EB-3 Visa for Nurses: How Foreign RNs Can Qualify

Registered nurses are among the most sought-after healthcare professionals in the United States, and the EB-3 employment-based green card is a common permanent-residency pathway for foreign-educated RNs. This post explains how the EB-3 visa for nurses generally works, why nurses often benefit from a faster labor-certification route, and what credentialing steps to expect.

This is general information, not legal advice, and it does not guarantee any outcome.

Where Nurses Fit in EB-3

EB-3 stands for Employment-Based, Third Preference, and it covers skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. Registered nurse positions are typically sponsored in the Professional or Skilled Worker subcategory, depending on how the specific job is defined.

Every EB-3 case, including for nurses, requires:

1. A U.S. employer sponsor who files Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
2. A permanent, full-time job offer
3. A labor certification or a Schedule A designation

The nursing profession has an important advantage in that last requirement.

Schedule A: A Shortcut Around Standard PERM

The U.S. Department of Labor maintains Schedule A — a list of occupations for which it has already determined there are not enough available U.S. workers. Group I of Schedule A includes professional (registered) nurses and physical therapists.

Because these occupations are pre-certified, the employer does not have to complete the standard PERM recruitment process. Instead, the employer can file the I-140 with an uncertified labor certification application (ETA-9089) directly with USCIS. This can remove one time-consuming stage from the process, though it does not remove the credentialing, petition, and visa-availability steps.

Important: Schedule A is currently under active review by the U.S. Department of Labor (a Request for Information under RIN 1205-AC16), and the list could change. Always verify the current Schedule A status with the Department of Labor and your attorney.

How a Nurse Qualifies for Schedule A Group I

Under the regulation (20 CFR 656.5), a professional nurse generally qualifies for Schedule A Group I if the nurse:

• Holds a CGFNS Certificate, or
• Holds a full and unrestricted (permanent) state license to practice as a registered nurse, or
• Has passed the NCLEX-RN examination

Credentialing: VisaScreen and NCLEX

Foreign-educated nurses must also satisfy the federal Health Care Worker Certification requirement (under INA 212(a)(5)(C) and 8 CFR 212.15). The VisaScreen certificate issued by CGFNS satisfies this requirement. VisaScreen verifies:

• Education equivalent to a comparable U.S. program
• Valid and unrestricted professional licenses
• English-language competency (through approved exams, with some exemptions)
• For registered nurses, passage of the NCLEX-RN

Separately, state licensure is granted by each individual state board of nursing, and requirements vary by state. Passing the NCLEX-RN does not by itself guarantee a license in every state. Verify licensure requirements directly with the specific state board of nursing and with CGFNS.

The Rest of the Journey

After the I-140 is filed, the process continues with waiting for your priority date to be current on the monthly Visa Bulletin, then either adjustment of status (if you are in the U.S.) or consular processing through the National Visa Center and a DS-260 application (if you are abroad), followed by a medical exam and interview.

Employment-based green cards carry a per-country cap of roughly 7%, so applicants from high-demand countries face longer waits. Overseas Job Solutions focuses on workers from the Rest of World, including the Philippines, Mexico, and Nigeria, where the wait is generally more current. Wait times change monthly, so always check the live Visa Bulletin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do nurses need PERM labor certification? Often not in the standard form. Because professional nurses are on Schedule A Group I, the employer may file the I-140 with an uncertified labor application directly to USCIS, skipping standard PERM recruitment. Schedule A is under review, so verify current status.

Is passing the NCLEX enough to get a license? No. Passing the NCLEX-RN is a major step, but state boards of nursing grant licenses, and requirements vary by state. Confirm with the specific state board.

What is VisaScreen and do I need it? VisaScreen is a CGFNS certificate that satisfies the federal Health Care Worker Certification requirement for foreign nurses. It verifies education, licensure, English competency, and NCLEX-RN passage for RNs. It is generally required before a healthcare worker can be admitted.

Can my family immigrate with me? Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify as derivative applicants based on your approved petition.

A Few Important Reminders

Immigration and licensure outcomes are never guaranteed. No employer, agency, or attorney can promise you a job, an approved petition, a green card, a nursing license, or a specific timeline — these depend on your individual facts, government and board processing, and visa availability.

Government fees and processing rules change. Any fee or date referenced here is as of July 2026 — verify current figures at the official USCIS Fee Calculator: https://www.uscis.gov/feecalculator before relying on them.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance about your specific situation, please consult a licensed U.S. immigration attorney, and verify licensure with the relevant state board of nursing and CGFNS.

Sources

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — Employment-Based Immigration: Third Preference EB-3: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-third-preference-eb-3
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — Health Care Worker Certification: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-2
• U.S. Department of Labor — Schedule A (Foreign Labor Certification): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/programs/permanent
• Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 20 CFR 656.5 (Schedule A): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-V/part-656
• CGFNS International — VisaScreen: https://www.cgfns.org/services/certification/visascreen-visa-credentials-assessment/
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) — NCLEX: https://www.ncsbn.org/exams.page
• U.S. Department of State — The Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — Fee Calculator: https://www.uscis.gov/feecalculator