For most internationally educated nurses, the EB-3 employment-based immigrant visa is the main route to working in the United States. Unlike temporary work visas, it gives you a green card (permanent residence) when you arrive, and your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can usually come with you. Here’s how the process works, step by step.
US immigration rules, fees and waiting times change often. Always check USCIS, the US Department of State and your employer’s immigration attorney for the latest information. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Why nurses use EB-3
- Registered nursing is a Schedule A occupation, which the US Department of Labor has pre-certified as having a shortage of US workers.
- This means employers can skip the lengthy PERM labor market test (advertising and recruitment) required for most jobs.
- Instead, the employer files the labor certification form directly with the I-140 petition to USCIS.
- The H-1B temporary visa is rarely available for general RN roles, because most RN jobs don’t require a bachelor’s degree.
Step 1: Meet the basic requirements
- A nursing qualification equivalent to US RN education
- A current, unrestricted licence in your home country
- Usually at least 1–2 years of recent clinical experience (employers often prefer acute care)
Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN
Most employers need you to have passed the NCLEX-RN, or be eligible to sit it, before they file your petition. You apply to a US state board of nursing for authorisation to test, and you can take the exam at Pearson VUE centres in many countries, including the UK, India, the Philippines and several others. Nigerian nurses often travel to a country with an international test centre.
Some states require a credential evaluation (for example, CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service) as part of the licensing application.
Step 3: Take an English test
Unless you were educated in certain English-speaking countries, you’ll need an approved English test for the VisaScreen certificate. Accepted tests have included IELTS (Academic or General), TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and OET. Check CGFNS for current score requirements.
Step 4: Get your VisaScreen certificate
US law requires foreign healthcare workers to obtain a Healthcare Worker Certificate before receiving a visa. For nurses this is usually the CGFNS VisaScreen, which verifies your education, licence and English proficiency. You need it before your consular interview.
Step 5: Find a US employer or recruitment agency
- Many hospitals sponsor nurses directly. Others work through staffing or recruitment agencies.
- Read your contract carefully: look at salary, location, length of commitment, breach fees and who pays legal and travel costs.
- Be wary of agencies that charge you large upfront fees or promise guaranteed timelines.
Step 6: Prevailing wage and I-140 petition
- Your employer gets a prevailing wage determination from the Department of Labor.
- They file Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) with USCIS, along with the Schedule A labor certification form and evidence of your qualifications.
- The date USCIS receives the I-140 becomes your priority date, your place in the queue.
- Employers can often pay for premium processing to speed up the I-140 decision.
Step 7: Wait for your priority date to become current
There are annual limits on EB-3 green cards, with per-country caps. Each month, the US Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, which shows which priority dates can move forward.
- Find the EB-3 “Professionals and Skilled Workers” row and your country of birth column (for example, “All Chargeability Areas” for Nigeria, or separate columns for India, China, the Philippines and Mexico).
- When the “Final Action Date” is later than your priority date, you can move to the final stage.
- In recent years EB-3 has been backlogged for most countries, so waiting times can be long. Check the latest bulletin each month.
Step 8: National Visa Center (NVC)
- After I-140 approval, your case moves to the NVC.
- Pay the immigrant visa fees and submit the DS-260 online application for you and your family.
- Upload civil documents: birth certificates, marriage certificate, police certificates, passports.
Step 9: Medical exam and interview
- Complete a medical examination with an embassy-approved panel physician, including required vaccinations.
- Attend your interview at the US embassy or consulate (for Nigerian immigrant visas, usually the US Consulate General in Lagos).
- Bring your VisaScreen certificate, passport, interview letter and all original documents.
- Before paying fees or booking travel, check the State Department website for any current entry restrictions or proclamations that affect your nationality.
Step 10: Travel and become a permanent resident
- If approved, you’ll receive an immigrant visa in your passport.
- Pay the USCIS immigrant fee before travelling so your green card can be produced.
- You become a permanent resident when you enter the US. Your physical green card is mailed to your US address.
- Get your state RN licence finalised (if not already), complete orientation and start work.
How long does it take?
It varies widely. The paperwork stages (NCLEX, VisaScreen, I-140) can take around 1–2 years, but the biggest factor is the Visa Bulletin backlog for your country of birth. Some nurses wait several years for their priority date to become current.
Tips for a smoother journey
- Start NCLEX and English tests early, as they’re within your control.
- Keep your home licence active throughout.
- Collect police certificates, birth certificates and transcripts in advance.
- Ask your employer whether they pay for your family’s fees and relocation.
- Continue working clinically while you wait, so your skills stay current.