Schedule A Designation: Professional nursing is designated as a "Schedule A" occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor. This allows U.S. employers to bypass the lengthy PERM Labor Certification process and file Form I-140 directly, saving up to 18 months of processing time.
CGFNS English Test Requirements
Select your English test to view minimum score criteria for the VisaScreen certificate:
Required Passing Scores:
đ Overall Target: 6.5 Academic
đŖī¸ Speaking Section: 7.0
âšī¸ Rules: General Training IELTS is not accepted. Only the Academic module meets the CGFNS VisaScreen standard.
The Licensing & EB-3 Sponsor Pipeline
The complete workflow from nursing graduate in the Philippines to practicing RN in the U.S.:
| Phase | Process Step | Required Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Licensure | Apply to a U.S. State Board of Nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. | Passing score report & state nursing license. |
| 2. Immigration Screening | Apply for CGFNS VisaScreen certificate verifying credentials and English language proficiency. | VisaScreen Certificate (Federal requirement). |
| 3. Filing | U.S. employer sponsors you by filing a Schedule A Form I-140 directly with USCIS. | Approved I-140 petition & priority date. |
| 4. Visa Interview | Undergo consular processing at the U.S. Embassy in Manila when your priority date is current. | Physical immigrant visa stamp in your passport. |
Philippines EB-3 Backlogs: Although Schedule A bypasses the PERM stage, Filipino nurses are still subject to annual per-country limits in the EB-3 visa category. Monitor the U.S. State Department Visa Bulletin final action dates under the "Philippines" column.