Visa and Green Card Guide
Hospitals That Sponsor Green Cards for Nurses (2026)
Which U.S. hospitals sponsor green cards for international nurses in 2026, how sponsorship works, and where to find live green-card-sponsored nursing jobs.
U.S. hospitals and health systems do sponsor green cards for international nurses, most often through the employment-based EB-3 category. Below are major and rural systems known for international recruitment, how sponsorship works, and sponsored roles open on JibJob.
Do hospitals sponsor green cards for nurses?
They do. Because registered nurses are on the Department of Labor's Schedule A list, hospitals can petition for foreign-educated nurses without the lengthy labor-certification step most employment green cards require. Sponsorship usually runs through EB-3, and many large systems run international-recruitment programs to fill bedside and specialty vacancies.
In practice, sponsorship means the employer files the immigrant petition, covers attorney and filing costs in many cases, and commits to a permanent role at the prevailing wage once the nurse's priority date is current.
Major U.S. health systems
These large employers have established international-nurse or EB-3 pathways. Sponsorship availability changes by facility, specialty, and year, so confirm current openings directly.
HCA Healthcare Nationwide
One of the largest hospital operators in the U.S., with long-running international recruitment across acute-care facilities.
AdventHealth Southeast / Midwest
Faith-based system with high-volume nursing hiring and a history of foreign-nurse sponsorship.
Mayo Clinic MN / AZ / FL
Academic medical center that recruits specialty and bedside nurses internationally.
Cleveland Clinic OH / FL
Sponsors across critical-care and specialty units through global talent programs.
CommonSpirit Health / Trinity Health / Tenet Multi-state
Large multi-state systems with ongoing acute-care nursing demand and sponsorship pathways.
UPMC / Baylor Scott & White PA / TX
Regional anchors that file EB-3 petitions for hard-to-fill nursing roles.
Rural and critical-access hospitals
Rural and regional systems often need international nurses most, because shortages are deepest and candidate competition is lower. These markets can remain active sponsors even when larger national brands pause.
Sanford Health / Avera Health Dakotas / Upper Midwest
Dominant rural systems across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa, with persistent RN demand in critical-access settings.
Essentia Health / Altru Health System MN / ND
Regional employers serving rural communities with recurring bedside and specialty openings.
West Texas and Great Plains systems TX / KS / OK
UMC, Covenant, and regional hospitals across Lubbock, Amarillo, and the Permian Basin serve high-need markets that can reward sponsored applicants.
Green-card-sponsored nursing jobs on JibJob
Live roles from employers that sponsor, pulled from hospital hiring systems and updated daily.
How to apply as an international nurse
- Pass NCLEX-RN and secure a U.S. nursing license.
- Obtain a VisaScreen certificate from CGFNS.
- Apply to sponsoring employers, prioritizing rural and high-need systems.
- The employer files the I-140 under EB-3 and Schedule A.
- Wait for your priority date to become current, then complete consular processing or adjustment of status.
Frequently asked questions
Do hospitals pay for the green card?
Most sponsoring employers cover the I-140 petition and legal fees, and many offer relocation support. Some costs may fall to the applicant, so confirm terms in writing.
How long does EB-3 sponsorship take for nurses?
It depends on country of birth and the visa bulletin. It can be roughly 1-2 years for many countries and longer for countries with priority-date backlogs.
Can new-grad or non-RN healthcare workers get sponsored?
RNs have the clearest EB-3 pathway through Schedule A. CNAs, LPNs, and some allied roles are sponsored less often and case by case.
Which states have the most sponsoring hospitals?
Demand is highest in shortage-heavy rural markets, including the Dakotas, Minnesota, Nebraska, West Texas, and the Great Plains.