EB-3 Schedule A Green Card for Nurses
The fast-track route to U.S. permanent residency for internationally educated nurses — exempt from PERM labor certification, unaffected by the H-1B fee, and the pathway Global Nurse Force has used to place 20,000+ nurses with U.S. hospital sponsors since 2000.
Key facts
- • Registered Nurses are a U.S. shortage occupation under 20 CFR 656.5
- • Bypasses PERM — saves 6-12 months vs standard EB-3
- • U.S. permanent residency (green card), not a temporary visa
- • Family members included (spouse + unmarried children under 21)
- • Zero placement fees for nurses — hospital pays
Why EB-3 Schedule A
The fastest legal route to a U.S. green card for nurses
No PERM step
Standard EB-3 requires PERM labor certification (6-12 months alone). Schedule A skips PERM entirely — the Department of Labor has pre-certified nurses as a national shortage occupation.
Unaffected by the H-1B fee
The $100,000 supplemental fee imposed September 2025 applies only to new H-1B petitions. EB-3 Schedule A continues normally. Global Nurse Force v. Trump challenges the H-1B fee; EB-3 is not in scope.
Permanent residency
EB-3 is an immigrant visa — you become a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card). Not tied to a specific employer after the required initial period. Spouse can work; children can study without F-1 status.
Eligibility
EB-3 Schedule A requirements
| Requirement | Who issues / verifies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN pass | NCSBN | Required for U.S. nursing licensure |
| VisaScreen Certificate | CGFNS International | Verifies credentials + English; required for immigrant visa |
| English proficiency | OET / IELTS / TOEFL | Accepted exam varies by country of education |
| U.S. state license eligibility | State Board of Nursing | For state of intended employment |
| U.S. hospital job offer | Hospital sponsor | Permanent full-time RN role — Global Nurse Force coordinates |
| Clinical experience | Most employers | Typically 2+ years (employer requirement, not USCIS) |
The process
From application to U.S. arrival
- 1
NCLEX-RN preparation + exam
Global Nurse Force provides structured NCLEX prep. You sit the exam at a Pearson VUE center in your country or in the U.S.
- 2
CGFNS / VisaScreen
Apply to CGFNS International for credential evaluation and the VisaScreen Certificate. Includes English-language verification.
- 3
Hospital matching + interview
GNF presents your profile to partner hospitals matching your specialty (Med-Surg, ICU, OR, ER, etc.). Interview via Zoom.
- 4
Job offer + I-140 filing
The U.S. hospital sponsor files Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker with USCIS, marked Schedule A — no PERM required.
- 5
Priority date + Visa Bulletin
Your I-140 receipt date becomes your priority date. Wait for it to become current per the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin.
- 6
Consular interview + medical
When current, attend an immigrant visa interview at the U.S. embassy in your country. Complete the panel-physician medical exam.
- 7
Travel + I-94 + green card
Enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. Physical green card arrives by mail within ~90 days.
- 8
Start work + GNF post-arrival support
Begin your hospital role. Global Nurse Force coordinates housing, banking, social security, and onboarding for the first 90 days.
Compared
EB-3 Schedule A vs H-1B vs TN visa
| EB-3 Schedule A | H-1B | TN visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Immigrant (green card) | Non-immigrant | Non-immigrant |
| Permanent residency | Yes | No (path possible via I-485) | No |
| Affected by $100K fee | No | Yes (currently litigated) | No |
| Annual cap | Per-country annual limit | Yes — 65K + 20K master's cap | No cap |
| Who qualifies | Any nationality | Any nationality | Canadian + Mexican only |
| Processing time | 12-24 months (priority date current) | ~6 months + lottery | Days at border |
| Spouse work auth | Yes (immigrant) | EAD (H-4 holders) | TD — no work auth |
Frequently asked
About EB-3 Schedule A
- What is EB-3 Schedule A?
- EB-3 Schedule A is a U.S. employment-based immigrant visa category that bypasses the PERM labor certification process for occupations the Department of Labor has pre-certified as having a national shortage. Registered Nurses (and physical therapists) are designated as a U.S. shortage occupation under 20 CFR 656.5, making them automatically eligible for Schedule A processing. This makes EB-3 Schedule A materially faster than other employment-based green cards for most occupations.
- Is EB-3 Schedule A affected by the $100,000 H-1B fee?
- No. The $100,000 supplemental fee imposed by Presidential Proclamation 10825 applies only to new H-1B petitions. EB-3 Schedule A is a separate immigrant visa category and continues to operate normally. The lawsuit Global Nurse Force v. Trump (4:25-cv-08454) challenges the H-1B fee and does not affect EB-3 processing.
- How long does EB-3 Schedule A take?
- Processing times vary by USCIS service center workload, priority date retrogression for the applicant's country of birth (especially India and Philippines), and U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin movement. Typical timeline from I-140 filing to U.S. arrival is 12-24 months for current priority dates and longer when retrogressed. Schedule A skips PERM (which alone usually adds 6-12 months), so it is materially faster than non-Schedule A EB-3.
- What are the requirements for EB-3 Schedule A?
- (1) An offer of permanent, full-time employment from a U.S. employer-sponsor; (2) a passing NCLEX-RN score; (3) a VisaScreen Certificate from CGFNS International; (4) English language proficiency (CGFNS verifies this via OET, IELTS, or other accepted exams depending on country of education); and (5) a valid passport and ability to obtain a U.S. immigrant visa. Most U.S. employers also require a minimum of 2 years of clinical nursing experience, though this is an employer requirement, not a USCIS one.
- Do I need to be in the U.S. to apply for EB-3 Schedule A?
- No. EB-3 Schedule A is most commonly used as consular processing — the nurse stays in their home country while the U.S. employer files Form I-140 with USCIS. Once approved and a visa number is available per the Visa Bulletin, the nurse attends a consular interview at the U.S. embassy in their country and receives an immigrant visa. Nurses already in the U.S. on another visa (H-1B, F-1 OPT, J-1, etc.) can use the Adjustment of Status pathway via Form I-485 instead — see our Change of Status guide.
- How does Global Nurse Force support EB-3 Schedule A candidates?
- Global Nurse Force places nurses directly with U.S. hospital sponsors that file Form I-140 Schedule A petitions. We provide NCLEX preparation, English exam support (OET/IELTS), CGFNS / VisaScreen application support, hospital matching and interview coordination, immigration attorney coordination through the employer's counsel, relocation assistance, and post-arrival support. Nurses pay no placement fees — costs are borne by the hiring hospital.
- What about Schedule A Group I vs Group II?
- Schedule A Group I covers Registered Nurses and Physical Therapists — the designation we use for EB-3 nurse processing. Schedule A Group II covers other categories (immigrants of exceptional ability in the sciences or arts, with formal documentation requirements) and is not relevant for nurse recruitment.
- Do priority dates matter for EB-3 Schedule A?
- Yes. EB-3 Schedule A still uses the EB-3 priority-date system. Nurses born in countries with significant immigrant demand (especially India and Philippines) face retrogression and longer wait times. The U.S. Department of State publishes the monthly Visa Bulletin showing which priority dates are current; Global Nurse Force publishes a monthly recap.
Ready to start your EB-3 Schedule A journey?
Global Nurse Force has placed 20,000+ nurses with U.S. hospital sponsors since 2000. Talk to our team about whether EB-3 Schedule A is the right pathway for you.