EB-3 nurse sponsorship, Schedule A, NCLEX-RN, visa screening, salaries, recruitment agencies, green cards, and US embassy requirements.
EB-3 registered nurse jobs in the US offer qualifying foreign-trained nurses an employer-sponsored route to permanent residence. Hospitals and healthcare staffing companies may sponsor nurses for permanent positions, but immigration approval, professional licensing, and permission to begin work are separate requirements.
Applicants should understand Schedule A sponsorship, NCLEX-RN, healthcare-worker certification, and the Visa Bulletin before signing a recruitment contract or paying immigration consultants.
What Is EB-3 Nurse Sponsorship?
EB-3 is an employment-based immigrant category covering professionals, skilled workers and other qualifying workers. A nurse’s classification depends on the position’s requirements and the applicant’s qualifications. Not every nurse must hold a bachelor’s degree merely because the job is sponsored under EB-3.
The sponsor offers qualifying permanent employment and files an I-140 immigrant petition. Overseas applicants normally complete immigrant visa processing through the National Visa Center and an assigned US embassy or consulate when a visa number is available.
EB-3 is a green card pathway, not a temporary seasonal work visa. An approved I-140 alone does not authorize employment or entry.
How Schedule A Works for Registered Nurses
Professional nurses fall within Schedule A, Group I. This designation allows the employer to submit the labor-certification application directly with the immigration filing rather than complete the ordinary PERM labor-market testing process.
The employer still needs the applicable prevailing wage determination and notice of filing. For the nurse, the regulations require evidence of one of the following:
The specified CGFNS certification.
A full, unrestricted permanent nursing licence in the intended state.
Passage of NCLEX-RN.
Schedule A does not eliminate state licensing requirements, healthcare-worker certification, immigrant visa quotas or admissibility checks. It is not a separate visa and does not guarantee rapid approval.
Nurse Jobs Available to International Applicants
Nursing area
Typical work setting
Medical-surgical nursing
Hospital inpatient units
Critical care
ICU and high-dependency units
Emergency nursing
Emergency departments
Operating-room nursing
Surgical services
Rehabilitation nursing
Rehabilitation facilities
Long-term care
Skilled nursing facilities
Recruiters may prioritise recent acute-care experience. Requirements vary by sponsor and clinical assignment, so confirm whether your experience meets the actual vacancy.
Construction jobs are outside this nursing pathway. Construction workers may qualify under separate immigration arrangements, but they cannot use the Schedule A professional-nurse designation.
US Registered Nurse Salary Ranges
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual RN wage of $97,550 for May 2025. The lowest 10% earned below $68,940, while the highest 10% earned above $137,470.
National wage measure
Annual earnings
Lowest 10% threshold
Below $68,940
Median
$97,550
Highest 10% threshold
Above $137,470
These are national workforce statistics, not guaranteed starting salaries for foreign-trained nurses. Pay varies by state, specialty, experience, shifts and employer.
Compare the written base wage, guaranteed hours, shift differentials, overtime arrangements, benefits and deductions. A large relocation package can be outweighed by low pay or substantial early-termination charges.
Licensing, NCLEX-RN and VisaScreen
State Nursing Licence
Choose the state where you expect to practise and review its board of nursing requirements before purchasing credential services. Boards can differ in education evaluation, English proficiency, background checks and other requirements.
All US nursing boards use NCLEX-RN for registered nurse licensure, but passing the examination does not by itself complete every state licensing requirement.
Apply to the relevant nursing regulator and follow the exam registration process. Purchase NCLEX preparation courses only after understanding your eligibility and required documentation.
An agency may offer exam support before you pass, but admission to its program does not guarantee state licensure.
VisaScreen and Credential Evaluation
VisaScreen, offered by TruMerit, formerly CGFNS International, assesses education, professional licences, English proficiency and nursing-examination evidence for federal healthcare-worker screening.
Do not confuse a state-board credential evaluation, CGFNS certification, VisaScreen and a US nursing licence. They serve different purposes.
Use the current accepted English tests and exemption rules. English-medium education does not automatically establish an exemption for every applicant.
Prepare the documents required for your particular stage:
Passport and birth certificate.
Nursing diploma or degree and official transcripts.
Professional registration and licence verification.
Employment references and detailed clinical CV.
NCLEX-RN results and relevant state-board records.
Accepted English-test results, where required.
Healthcare-worker certificate, usually VisaScreen.
Signed employment offer and sponsorship information.
Police certificates required for immigrant visa processing.
Marriage and children’s documents for accompanying family.
Certified translations where required.
DS-260 confirmation and panel-physician medical results for the interview stage.
Schools and regulators often must send records directly. Keep names and dates consistent across your passport, transcripts and registration documents.
Steps to Get Employer Sponsorship
Assess your qualifications against the intended state and employer requirements.
Apply through a verified hospital or international nurse recruitment company.
Review the contract, salary, location, repayment clauses and sponsorship commitments.
Complete the required credential evaluation, exams and licensing steps.
The employer obtains the necessary wage determination and notice of filing, then submits the Schedule A/I-140 package.
Track your priority date against the official Visa Bulletin. Petition processing and visa-number waiting are separate.
Complete National Visa Center instructions, including DS-260 and civil documents when requested.
Attend the assigned immigrant visa interview with required healthcare certification and medical documents.
After approval, enter under the immigrant visa and complete employer onboarding and state licensing requirements.
Do not resign or buy nonrefundable flights solely because an I-140 has been approved. Premium processing, when available, does not accelerate the visa queue.
International Recruitment Companies and Applications
The following companies advertise international nurse sponsorship programs. They are recruitment or staffing organisations, not proof of a specific hospital vacancy. Confirm who will employ you, petition for you and assign your worksite.
Avant Healthcare Professionals
Address: 2301 Lucien Way, Suite 360, Maitland, FL 32751, USA.
Telephone: +1 407-681-2999. US toll-free: +1 888-681-2999.
Avant advertises green card sponsorship and support for international registered nurses, including licensing and transition assistance. It may accept applications before NCLEX passage. Ask for the exact immigrant category, eligibility criteria and contract obligations.
Health Carousel International, PassportUSA
Address: 4000 Smith Road, Suite 500, Cincinnati, OH 45209, USA.
PassportUSA states that it files EB-3 petitions for nurses. Confirm placement location, salary, family costs and responsibility for credentialing and relocation expenses.
O’Grady Peyton International
International telephone: +1 912-352-0684, option 4.
Its program advertises permanent residency sponsorship and nurse placement. The reviewed contact page does not publish a street address, so request the current office address directly rather than relying on old directories.
Permanent Residence and Family Benefits
Unlike H-2A or H-2B temporary work, EB-3 is itself a permanent residence route. Overseas beneficiaries normally become lawful permanent residents upon admission using an approved immigrant visa.
Eligible spouses and unmarried children under 21 may qualify as derivative immigrants, subject to the applicable rules and visa availability. Green card status supports permanent residence and employment, but professional licensing remains necessary for nursing practice.
Employer health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave, flights and temporary housing are contractual benefits, not universal green card entitlements. Confirm waiting periods and dependent coverage. Relocation assistance does not guarantee free long-term accommodation.
Express Entry and RCIP are Canadian programs and cannot provide US residence. Nurses considering Canada separately can research:
These programs have different eligibility rules. Provincial nursing registration remains separate from immigration. RCIP contacts depend on the participating community, while PNP contacts depend on the province. There is no universal recruitment-office address for them.
Current Visa Restrictions for Nigerian Applicants
The State Department says the separate January 2026 immigrant visa pause affecting 75 nationalities ended on 21 August 2026.
However, its separately published Presidential Proclamation 10998 guidance still lists Nigeria among countries subject to immigrant visa restrictions, with exceptions and scope conditions. Ending the 75-country pause must not be interpreted as removing every nationality restriction.
Before committing to an EB-3 nurse contract, ask the sponsor’s licensed immigration lawyer to assess whether issuance or admission restrictions apply to you. Neither NCLEX passage nor I-140 approval creates an automatic exception.
Embassy Contacts and Work Visa Verification
US mission in Nigeria
Address and main telephone
Embassy Abuja
1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District. +234-209-461-4328
Consulate Lagos
2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island. +234-201-460-3400
These are main switchboards, not dedicated immigrant visa enquiry numbers. Follow the interview location and instructions assigned by the National Visa Center rather than choosing a post yourself.
EB-3 consular applicants use DS-260, not the DS-160 temporary visa form. Medical examinations must be completed through an approved panel physician according to interview instructions.
Recruitment Contracts and Immigration Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid agents guaranteeing immediate green cards, fake hospital offers, altered references, expired credential documents and claims that Schedule A removes all immigration requirements.
Before signing, obtain a written breakdown of legal fees, exams, credential evaluation, dependent costs, airfare and housing. Review minimum service periods, deployment conditions, overtime and repayment obligations.
Ask an independent immigration lawyer or employment lawyer to explain unclear clauses. Confirm whom the sponsor’s lawyer represents. Visa consultants and relocation services cannot grant visas or override nursing boards.
When comparing international health insurance, check coverage during the gap before employer insurance begins. Use official application portals and never send original passports to an unverified recruiter.
