For many nurses and healthcare workers, obtaining a green card through employment sponsorship is a path toward long-term stability in the United States. Yet the process can feel confusing, especially with different visa categories, timelines, and employer commitments to understand.
This guide offers a clear, factual breakdown of:
Here’s everything you need to know, along with the most common questions we hear from healthcare workers exploring sponsorship opportunities.
Nurse sponsorship occurs when a U.S. employer agrees to sponsor a healthcare worker for permanent residency (a green card). This is most often done under the EB-3 immigrant visa category, which allows employers to fill long-term staffing shortages.
RNs benefit from Schedule A classification, which removes the PERM labor certification step and streamlines the process.
You may qualify for EB-3 nurse sponsorship if you meet the professional and licensing requirements for your role and are able to work in a long-term, full-time position.
In many situations, the answer is yes—though cases like DACA or pending asylum may require attorney involvement and are handled more carefully.
Here’s a typical pathway for EB-3 nurse green card sponsorship, whether working with an agency, a hospital, or an intermediary.
Employers first determine whether a candidate meets:
We frequently receive the question of why employers ask for multi-year commitments. This is because the EB-3 process is long and resource-intensive. For example, CNAs are often told their process may take 4–6 years, and employers align commitments to that timeline.
Estimated timeline: 4–9 months
The U.S. Department of Labor confirms that the wage offered meets federal standards for the specific role and location. This step does not require worker involvement and is handled by the employer.
Estimated timeline: 6–10 months or 15 days with optional premium processing (however, times can vary significantly based on government processing)
The I-140 filing:
A common misconception is that premium processing speeds up the entire green card timeline. In reality, it only speeds up the I-140 decision and does not shorten the wait for a visa number to become available.
This stage varies based on visa bulletin movement and retrogression.
Current estimates for EB-3 nurses suggest a 2–4 year wait, though this may change.
This is typically the longest part of the process and generates many questions from workers trying to understand why timelines fluctuate.
Once the priority date becomes current, the applicant’s legal representation will choose an option based on the applicant’s status and current political climate:
Statuses that allow Adjustment of Status include:
All of the above are considered lawful statuses in the U.S.
However, candidates with pending asylum are not in lawful status.
Even though they are allowed to remain in the U.S. while their case is pending without accumulating unlawful presence, they do not hold a recognized immigration status that permits Adjustment of Status.
Because of this, they would generally need to go through Consular Processing, even if they are already in the U.S.
Applies anytime the worker cannot adjust status inside the U.S., even if they are physically present here.
This includes situations where the person:
Dependents (spouse + unmarried children under 21) are included in the I-140 processing but only informationally.
They formally apply later during the Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing stage when the priority date for the primary applicant becomes current.
That stage typically takes an additional 9–12 months but dependents are processed in parallel with the primary applicant. No additional time is added due to there being dependents
After approval:
Though timelines vary, common estimates include:
Registered Nurses & Physical Therapists:
All other Roles (including CNAs):
Note that the above “commitment lengths” are for the Flint program only. Depending on how you navigate the sponsorship process, that commitment length can become much longer.
For more information and details on the commitment length for your specific scenario, submit a Flint application.
Remember that an employer willing to sponsor you is making a significant investment in you. Because of that, employers typically expect a medium to long-term work commitment in return.
In general, employers sponsoring EB-3 green cards expect:
Workers often ask why commitments are tied to EB-3 timelines, and employers typically explain that the commitment reflects the duration and cost of the sponsorship process.
Many healthcare workers search for nursing agencies that offer sponsorship because agencies can help manage the complex logistics of:
In some programs, the candidate’s immigration costs (filing fees and attorney fees) are covered. This comes up often in questions from workers exploring their options and trying to understand what support they can expect.
Because offerings vary widely, workers should always confirm details before signing any agreement.
Common requirements include:
EB-3 remains one of the most reliable immigration pathways because it offers:
Understanding how green card sponsorship works is the first step toward building long-term stability and a meaningful career in the United States. While the EB-3 process can feel complex, the right support, employer partnership, and guidance can make the journey far more manageable.
If you’re a healthcare worker seeking a clear path to permanent residency and long-term employment, Flint offers a structured, no-cost sponsorship pathway that aligns directly with the process described above. If you believe you meet the qualifications and are ready to explore opportunities with U.S. facilities that sponsor green cards, you can begin the process by applying with Flint.
