Philippine Nurse U.S. Visa & EB-3 Guide (2026)

Philippine Nurse EB-3 Roadmap

A Philippine nurse pursuing U.S. employment-based immigration generally has to complete several separate processes. U.S. nursing licensure, federal healthcare-worker screening, employer sponsorship, Schedule A labor-certification requirements, the I-140 petition, and immigrant-visa or adjustment processing are related but distinct steps.

1. Meet U.S. Nursing Licensure Requirements

The nurse must identify the state where the intended employment will occur and satisfy that state's Board of Nursing requirements. Foreign-educated applicants can face additional education, credential-verification, English-language, background-check and examination requirements. NCLEX-RN eligibility is determined through the applicable nursing regulatory body.

2. Pass the NCLEX-RN or Meet Another Schedule A Qualification

For professional nurses, 20 CFR § 656.5 provides multiple qualification alternatives for Schedule A, including a CGFNS certificate, a permanent full and unrestricted nursing license in the intended state of employment, or passage of NCLEX-RN. Therefore, the page should not imply that every nurse must complete exactly the same licensing sequence before Schedule A eligibility.

3. Complete the Applicable Healthcare-Worker Certification Process

Foreign healthcare workers can be subject to the certification requirement under INA § 212(a)(5)(C) and 8 CFR § 212.15. CGFNS is an approved credentialing organization for nurses. Certain qualifying nurses may instead use the statutory certified-statement route under INA § 212(r), so the applicable pathway must be determined from the nurse's circumstances.

4. Meet the CGFNS English Requirement When Applicable

CGFNS currently accepts several English-language examinations. For registered nurses, CGFNS lists IELTS Academic at 6.5 overall with 7.0 Speaking; TOEFL iBT at 81 overall with at least 24 Speaking and at least 57 in Reading, Listening and Writing; and OET at C+ in Reading, Writing and Listening with B in Speaking. CGFNS does not accept at-home versions of English-language proficiency examinations.

5. Find a Qualifying U.S. Employer

EB-3 sponsorship requires a qualifying permanent, full-time job offer and an employer willing to sponsor the nurse. The employer, rather than the nurse alone, carries the employer-side Schedule A filing and petition responsibilities.

6. Schedule A and Form I-140

Schedule A professional nursing uses a special labor-certification procedure under 20 CFR §§ 656.5 and 656.15. It avoids the normal PERM recruitment process, but the employer still has to comply with Schedule A requirements and submit the required documentation with the immigration filing. The Form I-9089 and Form I-140 are then adjudicated by USCIS.

7. Wait for an Available EB-3 Visa Number

Schedule A does not eliminate the annual numerical limits on employment-based immigrant visas. Visa availability depends on the applicant's priority date, preference category and country of chargeability. In the August 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 Philippines Final Action Date is August 1, 2023, while the Dates for Filing date is January 1, 2024.

8. Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status

Once the case reaches the appropriate stage and an immigrant visa number is available, the applicant follows the applicable immigrant-visa or adjustment-of-status process. The exact procedure depends on whether the nurse is processing through a U.S. consulate abroad or is eligible to adjust status inside the United States.