Nursing jobs in the USA from India
The complete pathway for Indian BSc Nursing and GNM graduates to register and work as RNs in the United States — via the EB-3 Schedule A green card (unaffected by the $100,000 H-1B fee).
Key facts — India to USA
- • EB-3 Schedule A green card — permanent U.S. residency
- • Not affected by the $100K H-1B fee (different visa)
- • Indian BSc Nursing + GNM both eligible (CGFNS evaluation required)
- • Zero placement fees — U.S. hospital pays GNF, not you
- • Kochi office (Kerala) + virtual consultations nationwide
- • Country Head: Joseph Cherian
Eligibility
BSc Nursing vs GNM — U.S. pathway by qualification
| Indian qualification | CGFNS evaluation | NCLEX eligibility | EB-3 Schedule A |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSc Nursing (4 yr) | Course-by-Course | Generally eligible | Yes |
| Post-Basic BSc Nursing (2 yr after GNM) | Course-by-Course | Generally eligible | Yes |
| MSc Nursing | Course-by-Course | Eligible | Yes |
| GNM (3.5 yr diploma) | CES Professional Report | State-dependent — some accept, others require bridging | Yes (after state license) |
| ANM (2 yr) | N/A | Not eligible for RN — additional education required | Not direct |
Notes: CGFNS = Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. CES = Credentials Evaluation Service. The exact CGFNS report type depends on the State Board of Nursing of the state where you intend to take the NCLEX. Global Nurse Force provides a free pre-engagement credential review against your target state.
Step by step
From Kochi to your first U.S. shift
- 1
Free credential review
Submit transcripts to the Kochi office or via email. We assess BSc/GNM/MSc against your target U.S. state's Board of Nursing requirements.
- 2
NCLEX-RN preparation
Structured online prep programme by Global Nurse Force. Typical timeline 3-9 months depending on starting level.
- 3
NCLEX-RN exam
Sit at Pearson VUE centres in India (Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata) or travel to the U.S. for the test.
- 4
CGFNS / VisaScreen
Apply to CGFNS International for credential evaluation and VisaScreen Certificate. Includes English-language verification (OET / IELTS / waiver assessment).
- 5
U.S. hospital interview
GNF presents your profile to partner hospitals. Specialty-matched interviews via Zoom. Hospitals retain hiring authority.
- 6
Form I-140 (EB-3 Schedule A)
Hospital sponsor files Form I-140 with USCIS marked Schedule A. No PERM labor certification required.
- 7
Priority date wait
India-born applicants face EB-3 retrogression per the monthly U.S. Visa Bulletin. Variable. EB-3 remains the primary pathway despite the wait.
- 8
Consular interview at U.S. embassy
When your priority date is current, attend immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or Consulate in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai.
- 9
Medical exam + travel
Panel-physician medical exam. Travel to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. GNF coordinates flights, first-week housing, banking.
- 10
Start work + 90-day support
Begin your U.S. hospital role. GNF post-arrival support through first 90 days: SSN, state license endorsement, onboarding.
Real cost
What does it actually cost?
| Cost item | Approx. amount (USD) | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Global Nurse Force placement fee | $0 | Hospital (not nurse) |
| NCLEX-RN exam fee | $200 | Nurse |
| CGFNS CES + VisaScreen | $540-$770 | Nurse |
| OET test (if needed) | $587 | Nurse |
| U.S. State BoN application | $75-$300 | Nurse |
| Immigrant visa fees (DS-260, USCIS) | $345 | Nurse |
| Panel-physician medical exam | $250-$500 | Nurse |
| Passport + travel | $1,000-$2,000 | Nurse (travel often reimbursed) |
Total candidate-side cost: approximately USD $3,000-5,000 across the full pathway. There are no agent fees, no broker fees, no Global Nurse Force placement fee — the WHO Code of Practice prohibits passing recruitment costs to the candidate.
Frequently asked
Indian nurses ask us
- Can an Indian nurse with a BSc Nursing or GNM qualification work in the USA?
- Yes for BSc Nursing graduates. GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery, the 3.5-year diploma) is also accepted by many U.S. State Boards of Nursing and by CGFNS for credential evaluation, but the path requires CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) and, in some cases, additional bridging coursework depending on the receiving state. BSc Nursing graduates have a more straightforward path. Global Nurse Force provides a free credential review before you commit to the pathway.
- Does the $100,000 H-1B fee affect Indian nurses?
- Not on the EB-3 Schedule A pathway, which is the route Global Nurse Force uses for Indian nurses. EB-3 Schedule A is an immigrant visa (green card) — it does not have the $100,000 supplemental fee that applies to H-1B petitions. The lawsuit Global Nurse Force v. Trump (4:25-cv-08454) challenges the H-1B fee; EB-3 is unaffected.
- What is the realistic timeline for an Indian nurse to reach the USA?
- From initial enrolment with Global Nurse Force to first U.S. hospital shift: typically 18-36 months, with significant variation. Major time sinks: (1) NCLEX-RN preparation and exam (3-9 months), (2) CGFNS VisaScreen processing (6-12 months), (3) U.S. hospital interview and Form I-140 filing (2-6 months), (4) priority-date wait per the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin (India is currently retrogressed for EB-3 — wait varies). Indians born in India face longer priority-date waits than nurses born in other countries; this is the largest single timing variable.
- What is priority date retrogression and how does it affect Indian nurses?
- The U.S. immigration system caps how many green cards can be issued to nationals of any single country per year. India consistently exceeds this cap for EB-3, so Indian-born applicants must wait in line ("priority date retrogression"). The wait varies year-to-year and is published in the monthly U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin. Even with retrogression, EB-3 Schedule A remains the primary pathway because (a) it is permanent residency, not a temporary visa, and (b) the alternative H-1B is now economically blocked by the $100,000 fee.
- What does it cost an Indian nurse to migrate through Global Nurse Force?
- Zero placement fees. Global Nurse Force operates a zero-cost candidate model — costs are borne by the hiring U.S. hospital sponsor in compliance with the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. The candidate pays only government-mandated costs (NCLEX exam fee, CGFNS application fees, consular interview fee, passport, travel) which together total approximately USD $1,500-3,000 depending on state.
- Where in India does Global Nurse Force operate?
- Global Nurse Force's India office is in Kochi, Kerala (3/106 Parappillil Building, Kannadikadu, NH66 Bypass, Maradu, 682304). Country Head: Joseph Cherian. We work with candidates from all Indian states — Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, and others — via in-person consultations in Kochi or virtually nationwide.
- Which Indian English exam is accepted? OET, IELTS, or PTE?
- OET and IELTS are both accepted. For nurses with Indian BSc Nursing where coursework was in English, CGFNS may waive the language exam entirely after document review — Global Nurse Force will assess your eligibility for this waiver during the free credential review. Most Indian candidates take OET (test designed specifically for healthcare professionals) because the medical-context content tends to favour clinically-trained candidates.
- What U.S. states do Indian nurses commonly land in?
- Global Nurse Force has placed Indian nurses across many U.S. states — Texas, California, Florida, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio are common. Your placement state depends on which partner hospital extends the job offer; you can express preferences, but the offer drives the location. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) gives you license portability across 40+ states once you hold an active multi-state license.
Start your journey from India to the USA
Visit our Kochi office, meet Country Head Joseph Cherian, or get a free credential review online. The first conversation costs you nothing.