Do nurses get a green card in the USA?

Yes, nurses can get a green card in the USA, often through a streamlined process (Schedule A) because they are in high demand, allowing them to bypass the lengthy PERM labor certification; they typically need an employer sponsor, a U.S. nursing license, and must meet specific educational/licensure requirements, including passing the NCLEX-RN and English tests, and obtaining a VisaScreen certificate.

Can nurses get a green card?

Yes. If you will apply for the 'green card' based upon employment as a registered nurse, then you MUST obtain the VisaScreen in order to be legally approved.

How long does it take nurses to get a green card?

Registered Nurses (RN) - Processing Time

The application for work authorization typically takes up to 90 days, sometimes longer, to complete. The green card process itself can take up to several months to over one year depending on the workload of the USCIS.

Do hospitals sponsor a green card?

You can apply for a green card with or without sponsorship from a hospital. If you would like a list of Mass General Brigham-recommended local immigration attorneys, please contact us. Employees that are eligible for a hospital-sponsored green card must use an approved attorney.

What is the green card for nurses 2025?

Employment-based immigration: third preference, or EB-3, is an immigration visa that allows nurses to be employed in the U.S. as permanent residents while working toward their citizenship. Under this process, healthcare employers sponsor nurses to obtain visas and become “green card” holders.

How Can Nurses Get A Green Card From An H-1B Visa? - US Citizenship Immigration Guide

Is the U.S. hiring foreign nurses?

Visa Restrictions and Their Impact

In June 2024, the U.S. State Department announced a pause on processing new visa applications for international nurses, effective since April 2023. Only applications submitted on or before December 2021 are currently being processed.

What is the new immigration law 2025 for green card holders?

New immigration rules for 2025, largely driven by the Trump Administration's policies and legislation like the Dignity Act, significantly impact green card holders and all non-citizens, focusing on stricter vetting, mandatory biometric entry/exit, expanded grounds for deportation (especially for criminal offenses like drug/gun/domestic violence), ending automatic EAD extensions, and enforcing stricter "public charge" rules, requiring more frequent screening and compliance with registration/reporting requirements.
 

Which is the fastest way to get a green card in the USA?

The fastest way to get a U.S. Green Card is typically by marrying a U.S. citizen (not a Green Card holder), which can take around 10-24 months for immediate relatives, or through certain extraordinary ability employment-based visas (like EB-1A) if you qualify, potentially allowing for filing concurrently with an I-485 and using premium processing for faster adjudication. Being an immediate relative (spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen) bypasses visa number limits, speeding things up significantly. 

Is it easy to immigrate to the USA as a nurse?

The US law mandates that nurses pass a screening procedure before obtaining an occupational visa. ERES is authorized to authenticate credentials for occupational visas for nine foreign healthcare professions, including registered nurses. There are different types of work visas you can consider.

Are nurses affected by new immigration rules?

UPDATE: After this was published on 20 November 2025, the home secretary announced the consultation on Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which sets out that nurses working in the NHS won't see their ILR qualifying period extended.

What is the fastest green card approval?

The fastest green card processing is generally for immediate relatives (spouses, unmarried children under 21, parents) of U.S. citizens, often taking 9-15 months if adjusting status in the U.S., with some reports of approvals within months for spouses of citizens. The EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) employment-based category can also be relatively fast (1-2 years) as it doesn't require employer sponsorship or a labor certification. Other categories like family preference or employment-based (non-EB-1A) involve longer waits due to visa caps and priority dates.
 

How much does it cost to get a green card?

Getting a green card costs anywhere from $1,700 to over $10,000, including government filing fees (around $1,200 - $3,000+ depending on status) and other expenses like medical exams, attorney fees, translations, and travel, with costs varying significantly by your specific application type (family, employment) and situation. The main fees are for forms like the I-485 (adjusting status) or I-130 (family petition) plus an USCIS Immigrant Fee (around $1,200-$1,760 for those adjusting status). 

Can I be a nurse if I'm undocumented?

Can I get employment as a nurse without an SSN and EAD? Undocumented individuals without an SSN can complete a background check, take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) if they have an ITIN, and get their professional license in CA.

How fast can a nurse get a green card?

He or she will receive work authorization (much more quickly than through consular processing) within approximately 90 - 120 days of filing the Petition for Alien Worker and Adjustment of Status application. Adjustment applications typically take 18 to 24 months at USCIS regional service centers.

What is the average salary for U.S. nurses?

The average salary for a registered nurse is $44.17 per hour in the United States and $12,000 overtime per year. 244.7k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated January 5, 2026).

How much income do you need to sponsor someone for a green card?

Green Card Sponsorship Income Summary

The minimum income for a household of 2 to sponsor a family member or spouse is $25,550 as of January 2026. Minimum income requirements are lower for active duty military members. The general income requirement is 125% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines or 100% for active duty military.

Do hospitals sponsor green cards for nurses?

Can a hospital sponsor a bedside Registered Nurse for a work visa in the United States? Most bedside RN positions do not qualify for the H1B, but they can be sponsored for the EB3 Schedule A green card.

What type of nurse is most in demand in the USA?

See below for 14 of the most in-demand nursing specialties, for many of which nurses can work day or night shifts or pursue certifications.

• Obstetric Nurse. ...
• Nurse Educator. ...
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) ...
• Outpatient Clinic Nurse. ...
• Home Healthcare Nurse. ...
• Telehealth Nursing. ...
• Mental Health Nursing. ...
• Gerontology Nursing.

Which visa is best for nurses in the USA?

The H-1B visa is an ideal option for international nurses with advanced degrees or specialized certifications, such as Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Specialists. To qualify, nurses must secure a direct hire international nurse recruitment offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor the visa.

What are common reasons green cards are denied?

Applicants for a green card must show they are “admissible” to the United States. USCIS frequently denies green card applications because of perceived moral issues. These include: Criminal convictions, such as violent crimes, drug offenses or fraud.

Who can sponsor you for a green card?

The spouse of a U.S. citizen; The unmarried child under 21 years of age of a U.S. citizen; or. The parent of a U.S. citizen (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age or older).

Which country gives a green card easily?

You can become a permanent resident via investments, marriage, naturalisation, etc. Some easiest countries to get citizenship to include Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, Thailand, Australia and Ireland. Most people move abroad to improve their financial prospects and ultimately become citizens of that country.

How many years do we need to stay in the U.S. to get a green card?

Getting a U.S. Green Card (Lawful Permanent Residency) takes anywhere from a few months to several years, depending heavily on your eligibility category (family, employment, asylum, etc.) and visa availability, with some family-based routes being faster if sponsored by a U.S. citizen spouse, while employment and other preferences face longer backlogs. After obtaining a Green Card, you typically wait 3 to 5 years (or less if married to a U.S. citizen) before you can apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization, which involves residency, good character, and tests. 

What is the Biden law for immigrants?

After courts struck down Trump's 2019 tightening of the public charge rule, Biden adopted a narrower version in September 2022 that prevents immigrants from becoming citizens if they will be primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.