The healthcare sector in the U.S. has opportunities for qualified foreign workers. Employers in professions that have an ongoing need for professional workers may be willing to sponsor eligible foreign workers. Jobs include nurses, physical therapists, doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare jobs. Although having a healthcare profession isn’t a direct route to the U.S. It is best to remember that most healthcare imports require a licensing, credentialing, or examination before attempting to work in the United States. Employers may be willing to sponsor an individual for a temporary work visa, or take advantage of an employment-based immigrant category such as the EB-3. In a few healthcare occupations, including professional nursing and physical therapy, there is also special treatment under the Schedule A regulations.
Healthcare Jobs in the USA With Visa Sponsorship
- Registered Nurses
Registered nursing is another very popular avenue towards working in health care for internationally educated health care professionals. Hospitals, health care systems and staffing companies in the U.S. are actively recruiting internationally educated nurses, and there are job listings for these positions posting international nurse visa sponsorship.
A professional nurse may also be eligible for the EB-3 category under Schedule A, Group I if they satisfy the relevant criteria. The circumstances where an applicant can go through this process are a little different to the usual PERM process for most other jobs: Foreign nurses will need to have their credentialing completed and satisfy U.S. requirements for nursing licensure beyond meeting your state’s requirements and the NCLEX-RN.
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- Physical Therapists
Physical therapists constitute an additional healthcare profession with recognized employment-based immigration categories. Schedule A, Group I lists physical therapists who demonstrate skills equivalent to those required to sit for the physical therapist licensing exam in the state where they are seeking a license.
The current listings for jobs also reveal that employers for physical therapy are advertising visa or green card sponsorship. Physiotherapists outside the United States are required to learn about credential evaluation, state licensing and other exams before working in the US.
- Physicians and Doctors
Hospitals and healthcare organizations may sponsor qualified international physicians, particularly for specialized positions and locations experiencing shortages.
Physician immigration can be more complicated than ordinary employment sponsorship because doctors must satisfy state medical licensing requirements in addition to immigration requirements. Depending on the circumstances, physicians may encounter routes involving J-1 waivers, H-1B or employment-based permanent residence. Therefore, foreign doctors should research both their immigration category and the licensing requirements of the state where they intend to work.
- Pharmacists
Pharmacists can also seek sponsorship from employers such as hospitals, pharmacies, health care organizations, and more. Though, foreign-trained pharmacists only fulfill the professional requirements for the state they intend to work in. Credential evaluation, examinations, and state licensing, among others, will be required for foreign-trained pharmacists depending on their time and career situation. During job searches, the applicants should seek out the agencies that hire internationally trained pharmacists and give sponsorship.
- Medical Technologists and Clinical Laboratory Professionals
The role of the medical laboratory technologist is to perform a wide variety of testing procedures that will allow physicians to accurately diagnose and treat patients. As pertains to the most suitable employment conditions and position, foreign-trained technologists might work within laboratories of hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and entire health systems.
Employers may specify their needs for education, professional certification and laboratory experience, and additional licensing may be required depending on the state. Applicants should make sure what specific qualification is being looked for before applying rather than assuming that a laboratory qualification from overseas will automatically translate to allowing you to work in the United States.
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- Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists help patients develop, recover or maintain skills needed for everyday activities. Qualified foreign occupational therapists may find employment with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics and home healthcare providers.
Visa sponsorship varies significantly between employers. Applicants should search specifically for terms such as “occupational therapist visa sponsorship,” “green card sponsorship”, and “international occupational therapist.” They should also verify the credentialing and licensing requirements for the state in which they want to practice.
- Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-language pathologists work with individuals who have communication and speech, language, or swallowing problems. Professionals who were trained outside the U. S. could get work in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation, facilities, and healthcare organizations. But the job sometimes calls for professional licensing and credentials.
There are still some international recruitment advertisements, which list speech and language therapists together with other rehabilitation therapists. Sponsorship has to be verified for each position.
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- Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapists provide care for patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary problems. They can work in hospitals, intensive care settings, rehabilitation facilities and other healthcare environments.
Foreign applicants should research state licensing and credential requirements before applying. Because respiratory therapy is a regulated healthcare profession, employers will generally need evidence that an international applicant can legally practice in the relevant jurisdiction.
- Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses
Experienced nurses with advanced qualifications may also find opportunities as nurse practitioners and other advanced practice professionals.
The requirements could be much greater than those for RNs, as there are specializations requiring other education, certifications, and different state licenses. Before applying, foreign-trained applicants are advised to check whether their educational and work transcripts are acceptable for the particular advanced practice position.
- Healthcare Managers and Administrators
Not all healthcare sponsorship opportunities involve patient care. Other types of hospitals, medical groups and healthcare companies have opportunities in administrative operations, health information, and healthcare management.
Many of these occupations are potential workers for professional work visa classifications where the job holder must have specialized knowledge and meet minimum educational levels. The Department of Labor states that the H-1B specialty occupation can include some health care-related and other professional skills when qualifications are met.
Which Visa Options Can Healthcare Workers Use?
The appropriate immigration route depends on the occupation, employer and qualifications.
H-1B Visa
The H-1B is for a “specialty occupation”. This means employment in a specialty occupation that calls for the theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge and the attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Healthcare-related jobs are eligible if the position meets the criteria of a specialty occupation, for example. Still, H-1B availability is limited in many cases because of statutory limits, so healthcare workers should not think that any prospective employer can sponsor an H-1B job opening.
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EB-3 Green Card
The EB-3 category covers skilled workers, professionals and certain other workers. It can be particularly relevant to healthcare professionals seeking permanent employment in the United States. Registered nurses and physical therapists have an additional advantage in that qualifying positions can fall under Schedule A, Group I.
Where to Find Healthcare Sponsorship Jobs
You can search for current healthcare opportunities through major job boards and immigration-focused employment databases.
- Indeed USA Healthcare Jobs
- LinkedIn Jobs
- Glassdoor Jobs
- MyVisaJobs
- USAJOBS
How to Apply for a Sponsored Healthcare Job
Once you find a suitable vacancy, follow these steps:
- Prepare your healthcare resume. Include your education, clinical experience, certifications, licenses and areas of specialization.
- Evaluate your credentials. Find out whether your foreign qualification needs to be evaluated or verified.
- Complete required examinations. Some healthcare professions require U.S. professional examinations before you can obtain a license.
- Check state licensing. Requirements can vary between states, so identify the state where the job is located.
- Apply to sponsoring employers. Prioritize vacancies that clearly mention international recruitment or visa sponsorship.
- Confirm the immigration category. Ask whether the employer is offering H-1B, EB-3 or another specific route.
- Complete the employer’s hiring process. This can include interviews, credential verification, reference checks and professional assessments.
- Allow the employer to begin the immigration process. Depending on the category, this may involve labor certification and/or an immigration petition.
With employment-based permanent immigration, DOL maintains that employer certification and/or USCIS petition processes may be followed; DOL approval is not a guarantee of visa issuance.
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Conclusion
It is still possible for U.S. employers who will sponsor a highly skilled foreign worker to find employment opportunities for you, mostly in the field of nursing, physiotherapy, and other skilled healthcare fields. It’s best to find the licensing requirements first, then seek out the true sponsoring employers, then apply through an agency or a website and ultimately validate exactly which visa a job pays into before signing your acceptance. Confirm all current requirements from the United States immigration body before starting.