Healthcare Worker
Immigration, Done Right.
Specialized representation for nurses, physical therapists, and healthcare professionals navigating Schedule A, EB-3, and administrative processing delays.
A Firm That Understands Healthcare Immigration
Nurses, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals face a unique immigration landscape, one shaped by persistent workforce shortages, specialized visa pathways, and, in recent years, additional complications from travel ban policies and administrative processing delays. Tenorio Law has built particular depth in this area, representing healthcare workers and the hospitals and clinics that depend on them.
We understand the stakes. Behind every case is a nurse who has trained for years, passed licensing exams, and accepted a job offer, only to find their immigration case caught in delay. We bring both technical expertise and genuine urgency to every healthcare worker case we take on.
Schedule A: The Fast Track for Nurses and Physical Therapists
Schedule A is a Department of Labor designation for occupations facing a recognized, nationwide shortage of U.S. workers. For registered nurses and physical therapists holding a valid, full, unrestricted U.S. license and having passed required licensing exams, Schedule A allows employers to skip the standard PERM labor certification process entirely and file the I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS directly.
This matters enormously. Regular PERM labor certification is currently taking approximately 16 months, and that's before the I-140 and green card process even begins. Schedule A eliminates that bottleneck, allowing qualified nurses and physical therapists to move toward permanent residency considerably faster.
Important: Schedule A does not eliminate the visa bulletin wait. While Schedule A speeds up the petition process, your priority date still determines when a visa number becomes available, particularly if you were born in a high-demand country like the Philippines or India. Filing sooner under Schedule A still means establishing your place in line sooner, which matters significantly over the long term.
EB-3 and Other Pathways for Healthcare Workers
Most Schedule A nurses and physical therapists pursue their green card through the EB-3 (skilled worker) employment-based category. Physicians, medical technologists, and other healthcare occupations not covered by Schedule A typically pursue green cards through regular PERM labor certification, which we also guide employers and employees through from start to finish.
Navigating the Travel Ban and 221(g) Delays
We have direct, hands-on experience representing healthcare workers from travel ban-affected countries whose immigrant visa petitions were already approved, who completed their consular interviews, and who were then placed in 221(g) administrative processing with no clear resolution date, all while job offers and start dates hung in limbo. A June 2026 federal court ruling found that USCIS had unlawfully frozen benefit adjudications for nationals of 39 countries, a ruling that mattered deeply to many of the healthcare workers we represent. We stay closely engaged with developments like this because they directly affect our clients' lives and careers.
Guidance for Employers: Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
If you are a hospital, clinic, or healthcare staffing agency looking to sponsor nurses or physical therapists, we help you navigate Schedule A eligibility confirmation, prevailing wage determinations, I-140 petition preparation, and long-term workforce planning around visa bulletin movement. We also advise on H-1B options for healthcare roles that qualify as specialty occupations, and help you understand how recent policy changes, including the H-1B $100,000 fee proclamation, affect your hiring strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I qualify for Schedule A as a nurse?
If you hold a valid, full, unrestricted U.S. nursing license and have passed the required licensing exams (such as the NCLEX-RN), you likely qualify for Schedule A Group I. We can confirm your eligibility during a consultation.
My visa case has been stuck in 221(g) administrative processing for months. What can I do?
This is one of the most common situations we help with. We can review your case, identify what may be causing the delay, respond to any requests for information, and advocate for resolution. If you are from a travel ban-affected country, recent legal developments may also be relevant to your case.
How long does the Schedule A process take compared to regular PERM?
Schedule A bypasses the PERM recruitment process, which is currently taking around 16 months on its own. This means Schedule A cases can move to the I-140 filing stage significantly faster, though the overall green card timeline still depends on visa bulletin availability for your category and country of birth.
Can my employer sponsor me for Schedule A while I am working on a different visa?
In many cases, yes. We can evaluate your current status and timeline to determine the best strategy for transitioning toward a Schedule A-based green card while maintaining your current work authorization.
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
Every immigration journey is different. Let's talk through your situation and build a strategy together.