Visa and Green Card Guide
Green Card for Nurses: EB-3, Schedule A, and Sponsorship
A practical guide to EB-3 sponsorship for international nurses: Schedule A, licensing, VisaScreen, employer questions, priority dates, costs, and current jobs.
Registered nurses have a specific employment-based green-card route through EB-3 and Schedule A, but it is not automatic and it is not the right pathway for every healthcare worker. This guide explains what the process requires, which questions change the timeline, and what to verify before relying on an employer or agency.
Why nurses have an easier path
Registered nurses sit on the Department of Labor's Schedule A list, a short list of occupations the government recognizes as having a national shortage. That removes the PERM labor-certification step that slows most employment green cards, letting hospitals petition directly under the EB-3 category.
Are you eligible?
- A nursing degree or foreign equivalent and an active or attainable U.S. RN license.
- Ability to pass the NCLEX-RN.
- A VisaScreen certificate from CGFNS for credentials and English proficiency.
- A full-time, permanent offer from a sponsoring U.S. employer.
The process, in 6 steps
Pass NCLEX-RN and get licensed
Secure a U.S. RN license in your target state or a compact state.
Read the full step →Complete VisaScreen
CGFNS verifies your education, license, and English proficiency before the visa stage.
Read the full step →Land a sponsoring employer
Apply to hospitals that file EB-3. Rural and high-need systems often sponsor most readily.
Read the full step →Employer files Form I-140
The petition under EB-3 and Schedule A sets your priority date, which is your place in line.
Read the full step →Wait for your priority date
Visa availability depends on country of birth. Track it in our monthly visa-bulletin update.
Read the full step →Consular processing or adjustment
The final step to permanent residency happens abroad through consular processing or in the U.S. through adjustment of status.
Read the full step →Why there is no honest one-size-fits-all timeline
| Timeline factor | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Petition processing | How long USCIS takes to decide the employer’s I-140 petition |
| Country of chargeability and priority date | Your place in the employment-based visa-number line |
| Monthly Visa Bulletin | Whether a visa number can move to the next stage |
| Licensing and VisaScreen | Whether professional and immigration credentials are ready |
| Consular or adjustment processing | The final government process after a visa number is available |
An approved petition does not mean a visa number is immediately available. Check the latest priority dates and ask the sponsor which part of the process its estimate includes.
What does it cost?
Most sponsoring employers cover the I-140 petition and attorney fees, and many add relocation support. Applicants typically cover immigrant-visa or adjustment fees and personal costs such as exams or travel. Always get the cost split in writing before accepting.
Find green-card-sponsored nursing jobs
Live EB-3 and visa-sponsored roles from hospitals that sponsor, updated daily.
Browse sponsored jobsFrequently asked questions
Is EB-3 or EB-2 better for nurses?
Most nurses go EB-3, since standard RN roles do not meet EB-2's advanced-degree threshold. APRNs and NPs with a master's may qualify for EB-2 in some cases.
Do I need a job offer before I start?
Yes. Employment-based green cards require a sponsoring employer's petition.
Can I bring my family?
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 are generally included as derivative beneficiaries.