17 December 2007

American immigration extended for nurses

The US Congress has extended the American visa category for registered nurses. The H-1C visa was first introduced in 1999 and allows nurses to work for up to three years in the health system in areas where there are shortages of nursing professionals. The last Congress session approved the extension of this American visa category for another three years.

The H-1C visa is limited to 500 nurses per year and each US state is further limited to 25 nurses annually under the programme. Health facilities sponsor nurses for this visa and must submit documentation attesting to the lack of qualified nurses.

Hospitals that meet the definition of "facility" have been extended, meaning that many more now meet the H-1C American visa regulatory requirements.

Despite the limitations, the H-1C visa is a significant opportunity for British registered nurses wanting to spend some time working in the US or are considering American immigration.

Anyone applying for an American visa should begin by taking the American Visa Bureau's online American visa application to see if they meet the basic legislative requirements.