The ever-present demand for healthcare professionals in the US is an opportune time for international registered nurses to pursue their nursing careers and fulfill their American dreams. The immigration process of prospective USRNs requires one to obtain an employment visa, among other things. However, how exactly can one know when to start and submit a visa application?
What is the Visa Bulletin?
Issued once a month by the US Department of State, the Visa Bulletin pertains to priority dates for filing family-based and employment-based visas. In addition, the bulletin estimates the waiting time an immigrant will have before they can process applications for available green cards.
While there are immigrant categories that do not have any wait time, various visa types are issued each year limitedly. Therefore, when the number of applicants exceeds the number of available visas, “priority dates” are given that serve as a queue to wait until there are available visas. Priority dates inform applicants when to apply for a visa and when visas are released.
Dates for Filing Employment-based Visa Applications
When going through the visa bulletin, there are two charts to monitor when filing employment-based visas. Indicated as Chart A and B, both charts list the dates, employment-based preferences, and countries corresponding to different categories.
April 2023 Visa Bulletin
Chart A is the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases indicating what is true as of the moment Visa Bulletin. This chart shows dates when green card numbers are available for a particular country and category. Categories whose final action date is “current” or are listed with “C” mean that applicants can file their visa applications regardless of any priority date.
Presently, the latest update regarding visa applications for the US, the filing of visas for April 2023 remains “current” for workers in their corresponding country and category. For example, nurses belong to the Employment-based Third Preference (EB-3) or 3rd category.
Chart A: FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES
On the other hand, Chart B states dates that the Immigration Service EXPECTS the priority dates would move to. Therefore, immigrant workers may refer to this chart for a good idea of the priority dates and submit their necessary documents within their designated timeframe.
Chart B: DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS
Employment-Based Immigrant Visas
Employment-based visas are granted to qualified applicants that are divided into five(5) preference categories. Foreign nationals who fall under these categories are briefly defined below:
1. Employment First Preference (E1): Priority Workers
People adept in the Sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Outstanding professors and researchers; and multinational managers or executives.
2. Employment Second Preference (E2): Professionals with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability
This category includes professionals with advanced degrees or beyond a baccalaureate degree. Additionally, they must have at least five years of progressive professional experience. Moreover, persons with exceptional ability and have a degree of expertise significantly above what is ordinarily encountered in the sciences, arts, or business.
3. Employment Third Preference (E3): Skilled workers, Professionals, and Unskilled Workers
Skilled workers should at least have two years of training experience, professionals must have college degrees, and unskilled workers must be capable of filling the position.
4. Employment Fourth Preference (E4): Certain Special Immigrants
Certain special immigrants include religious workers, former employees of the US, foreign service posts, translators, and other classes of noncitizens.
5. Employment Fifth Preference (E5): Immigrant Investors
This employment-based visa category is for immigrant investors who will invest in a job-creating enterprise that can employ at least ten full-time US workers.
Summing-up
Medical professionals who plan to migrate and work in the US must continuously be updated on the visa bulletin. In addition, knowing and learning what to expect from visa application schedules in the visa bulletin is crucial for US noncitizens who want to file for employment visas.
What better time is it to become a USRN than now? IPASS Processing is here to assist you with your visa application needs and make this process easier! For more inquiries, contact us now!
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