Registered Nurse Visa Sponsorship Jobs in the USA: A Complete Guide

If you're an international nurse looking for nursing jobs in the USA for foreigners, the biggest question isn't whether there's demand. It's how to actually get hired with visa sponsorship. The process involves choosing the right visa (EB-3 green card, H-1B, or TN), passing the NCLEX-RN, completing credential verification, and finding employers that genuinely sponsor nurse visas rather than just listing "sponsorship available."

Visas for nurses in the USA

The U.S. nursing shortage is what makes visa sponsorship possible in the first place. HRSA projects a 10% RN shortage by 2027, with over 250,000 unfilled positions by 2030. The BLS estimates 193,000+ RN openings per year through 2032. That sustained demand is why hospitals invest in international recruitment and visa sponsorship.

Not all work visas make sense for nurses. The right one depends on your citizenship, education level, and whether you're looking for a temporary work visa or a permanent green card. Here's how the main options compare.

EB-3 visa for nurses (green card)

For most international nurses, the EB-3 employment-based green card is the strongest path to working in the U.S. long-term. It grants permanent residence, meaning you can live and work anywhere in the country without visa restrictions.

There's a major advantage for nurses specifically: registered nurses are a Schedule A occupation, which means the Department of Labor has already determined there aren't enough qualified U.S. workers to fill these roles. That exempts nurses from the PERM labor certification process, saving roughly 12–18 months compared to most other EB-3 applicants.

How nurses qualify:

• "Professional" subcategory: Requires a BSN (4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
• "Skilled worker" subcategory: Requires at least 2 years of nursing experience (for diploma or associate degree RNs)
• Permanent, full-time job offer from a U.S. healthcare employer
• Active RN license or eligibility for U.S. state licensure
• NCLEX-RN pass and VisaScreen certificate

Realistic timeline: 2–5 years total. The Schedule A exemption cuts the PERM phase, but you'll still wait for I-140 processing (6–9 months, or 15 days with premium processing) and visa availability. Wait times vary by country of birth. Most countries have minimal backlogs; applicants born in India, China, or the Philippines may face longer waits.

H-1B visa for nurses

The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa for specialty occupations. Nurses can qualify, but only with a BSN (diploma and associate degree RNs are not eligible) and a position that USCIS considers a specialty occupation. ICU, OR, ED, and NICU roles at higher wage levels tend to qualify more easily than general med-surg positions.

Key considerations for 2026:

• Cap-subject H-1Bs go through the lottery. Under the wage-weighted selection system, specialty nursing roles at Level II–IV wages get 2–4x lottery entries compared to Level I
• Cap-exempt employers skip the lottery entirely. University hospitals and academic medical centers are often cap-exempt, meaning no lottery, no annual cap, and no $100,000 supplemental fee
• Dual intent: You can pursue an EB-3 green card while on H-1B status
• Must pass NCLEX-RN and obtain VisaScreen certificate

Best for: Nurses with a BSN and 3+ years of specialty experience who want to start working in the U.S. faster than the EB-3 timeline allows, especially at cap-exempt academic medical centers.

TN visa for nurses

If you're a Canadian or Mexican citizen, the TN visa is the fastest way to start working as a nurse in the U.S. Registered nursing is a designated TN profession, so there's no lottery, no annual cap, and no $100,000 fee.

Requirements:

• Canadian or Mexican citizenship (not just permanent residence)
• Completion of nursing education (BSN, diploma, or associate degree all accepted)
• Valid RN license in Canada/Mexico or eligibility for U.S. state license
• NCLEX-RN pass (Canadian NCLEX results transfer)
• Job offer from a U.S. healthcare employer

Timeline: Canadian nurses can sometimes get TN status at the border in a single day. Mexican nurses apply at a U.S. consulate, typically within a few weeks.

Limitation: TN status doesn't directly lead to a green card. But many nurses start on TN and transition to EB-3 sponsorship once established with their employer.

E-3 visa for Australian nurses

Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa, which works similarly to the H-1B but with no lottery and a separate 10,500 annual cap that never fills (only 3,000–5,000 are issued in a typical year). Requires a BSN and LCA compliance. Processing takes weeks, not months.

Best for: Australian nurses with a BSN who want a fast, low-competition path to U.S. employment. E-3 spouses can also apply for work authorization.

O-1 visa for nurses with extraordinary ability

The O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability. Very few nurses qualify, but it's an option if you have significant publications, national awards, or recognized clinical innovations. No lottery, no annual cap.

How to get licensed as an international nurse in the U.S.

Before any hospital will sponsor your visa, you need to complete three credential steps.

Step 1: VisaScreen certificate

VisaScreen is run by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (now TruMerit). It verifies that your foreign nursing education meets U.S. standards. This is a federal requirement and no visa petition can be filed without it.

What it covers:

• Education analysis (transcript and curriculum review)
• License verification from your home country
• English proficiency scores (IELTS, OET, or TOEFL)
• NCLEX-RN pass confirmation

Processing time: 4–8 weeks after all documents are submitted. Start this first, as it's usually the longest single step.

Step 2: English proficiency testing

You need to pass one of three accepted English exams. Here's how they compare:

The OET is worth considering if you're more comfortable with clinical English than academic English. Its scenarios are based on real nursing situations.

Step 3: NCLEX-RN examination

The NCLEX-RN is the mandatory U.S. nursing licensure exam. You cannot practice nursing in any U.S. state without passing it.

What to know:

• Computerized adaptive test (CAT): 75–145 questions, max 5 hours
• First-time international pass rate: roughly 45–55% (vs. 80–85% for U.S.-educated nurses)
• Apply through the state board of nursing where you plan to work
• ATT (authorization to test) takes 4–12 weeks depending on the state

Prep resources: UWorld and the Saunders Comprehensive Review are the most widely recommended by international nurses who've passed.

Nursing jobs in the USA for foreigners: how to find employers that sponsor

Not every hospital sponsors visas, and not every one that claims to will actually follow through.

Here's how to focus your search:

Which employers sponsor nurse visas?

The hospitals most likely to sponsor international nurses are:

• Magnet-designated hospitals: These are accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and tend to have established international recruitment programs
• Academic medical centers and university hospitals: Many are cap-exempt for H-1B purposes, meaning no lottery and no $100K fee
• Large health systems (HCA Healthcare, Ascension, CommonSpirit, Advent Health): High volume means established immigration departments and experience with the process
• Hospitals in high-shortage states: Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and rural areas across the country face the steepest nursing shortages and are more likely to invest in sponsorship

Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsors

Migrate Mate allows you to easily filter by:

• Visa type: H-1B visa, EB-3 visa green card, TN visa, E-3 visa, OPT, etc
• Occupation: Registered Nurse, ICU Nurse, OR Nurse, ED Nurse
• Location: Target high-shortage states or specific metros

Once you find matching employers, use Migrate Mate's recruiter contact information to reach out directly and ask about their visa sponsorship process.

Search Nurse Visa Sponsorship Jobs →

Common mistakes international nurses make

Applying before your credentials are complete

Hospitals won't invest in sponsorship for a nurse who hasn't passed NCLEX or obtained VisaScreen certification. Complete all three credential steps first. Applications without credentials are screened out early.

Only targeting general med-surg positions

Under the wage-weighted H-1B visa lottery, Level I positions get just 1 lottery entry vs. 4 for Level IV. General med-surg roles are more likely to fall at Level I. If you can gain specialty experience (ICU, ED, OR, NICU) in your home country before applying, you'll qualify for higher-paying positions with better lottery odds.

Ignoring cap-exempt employers

Many nurses focus only on cap-subject H-1B visa roles, which means dealing with the lottery and its uncertainty. University hospitals and academic medical centers are often cap-exempt, meaning no lottery, no annual cap, and no $100K fee. These should be at the top of your list.

Limiting yourself geographically

States with lower nursing shortages have more competition from U.S.-trained nurses, making sponsorship less likely. High-shortage states like Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia have the strongest demand and the most motivation to sponsor internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions