Most of the roles on this site need existing US work authorisation. A small number accept internationally educated nurses through the EB-3 employment-based immigrant visa. This guide explains the usual steps so you can judge whether the route is realistic for you.
1. Credentials and the NCLEX
- Apply to a US state board of nursing for licensure by examination. Many boards require a credentials evaluation of your nursing education.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN. It can be taken at Pearson VUE test centres in the United States and several other countries.
2. VisaScreen certificate
Foreign-educated healthcare workers need a VisaScreen certificate to work in the US. It checks your education, licence and English-language proficiency. Most nurses need an approved English test score unless they were educated in an exempt country.
3. A job offer and the EB-3 petition
A US employer offers you a permanent role and files an immigrant petition. Registered nursing is a shortage occupation, which simplifies the employer's part of the process. You then wait for a visa number to become available.
4. Timeline
The wait depends on your country of birth and demand. For some countries it is many months; for others it can be several years. The US State Department publishes the current position each month in the Visa Bulletin.
Protect yourself
- Lela Boom never charges a recruitment or placement fee. If you join our international nurses programme, the exam and immigration costs you pay are listed there in full before you commit.
- Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay for a guaranteed job offer, a visa, or "processing".
- Read our guide to spotting recruitment scams.
This is general information, not immigration advice. Immigration rules change, so speak to a qualified immigration attorney about your own case.