Schedule A visa

The shortage of registered nurses in the United States today is only going to grow worse as the baby boomer generation moves into retirement. Fortunately, the U.S. Government has made nursing immigration to the United States easier through the Schedule A visa.

For answers to your questions about Schedule A immigration for foreign nurses and physical therapists contact the immigration attorneys at Muston & Jack.

At Muston & Jack, P.C., we have more than 30 years of combined legal experience with all aspects of U.S. immigration law and provide timely and effective solutions and guidance to clients in the United States and elsewhere. Our practice includes:

Schedule A: Nurse and Physical Therapist Green Card Details

The Schedule A visa category is for nurses and physical therapists. Nurses and physical therapists are listed as shortage occupations and therefore do not need to undergo PERM (formerly known as labor certification) As a result, nurses and physical therapists can obtain their green cards very quickly.

For whom is Schedule A appropriate?

Registered nurses and physical therapists with a job offer from a U.S. employer.

What are the requirements for obtaining a Schedule A Visa?

For a nurse to obtain permanent residency through the Schedule A category, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

He or she must have a diploma from a nursing school in his or her country;
Have a Registered Nurse (RN) license in his or her country; and
Have a full and unrestricted license to practice professional nursing in the state of intended employment, or a certification that she has passed the examination given by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), or evidence that she has passed the NCLEX-RN licensing examination but cannot obtain a license because she lacks a social security number.

For a physical therapist to obtain permanent residency through the Schedule A category, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

He or she must have a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy or the equivalent; and
Have a license to practice in his or her state of intended employment; or
Have a letter from a state licensing agency stating that the applicant is qualified to take the state licensing examination.