The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently issued guidance which clarifies what nursing occupations will be considered “specialty occupations” eligible for H-1B status. In order to qualify for an H-1B, a position must be a “specialty occupation.” To be a “specialty occupation”, a position must require at least a four-year degree. Because many nursing occupations do not require a four-year degree, nurses have faced difficulty qualifying for H-1B status.
This new guidance recognizes trends in nursing by which more and more nursing jobs are restricted to those with four-year degrees and specialized training. More specifically, the July 2014 policy memoranda confirms that Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN’s) i.e. nurses that utilize extended and expanded skills, experience and knowledge in assessing, planning, implementing, diagnosing and evaluating patients will, in most cases, be eligible for H-1B status.
To view the USCIS memo on H-1B-qualified nursing jobs, click here. For more information on visas for nurses and allied health professionals, contact us.