In May, the U.S. Department of State announced that the EB-3 category for Filipino nurses, other professionals, and skilled and unskilled workers will be “current” as of July 2019 and will stay current until further notice. Award-winning U.S. Immigration attorney Gary J. Ilagan weighs in on this big announcement.
Why is this so exciting?
Just three years ago, the wait for a registered nurse (RN) in the Philippines to obtain a Green Card was more than 8 years. EB-3 Philippines will turn “current” in July, which is tremendous news for RNs and other workers because it means no more long waiting times in the Green Card application process, at least for now.
What do Filipino Registered Nurses need to do to qualify for an EB-3 Immigrant Visa?
In order for Filipino nurses to qualify they must first be sponsored by a U.S. employer. Since the PERM foreign labor certification process is not required for professional nurses and physical therapists, U.S. employers can more quickly file immigrant visa petitions and have their Filipino RNs and PTs immigrate to the U.S. a lot faster. Filipino RNs are required to pass the NCLEX-RN and must receive a VisaScreen Certificate in order to immigrate. Filipino PTs have to meet similar requirements.
What other Filipino workers are included in the EB-3 category becoming current?
Filipino professionals and skilled workers in the healthcare field include PTs & PT assistants, occupational therapists & OT assistants, medical technologists & technicians, speech language pathologists & audiologists, licensed vocational nurses, etc. Other EB-3 workers include many different professionals, skilled workers and unskilled workers. They range from accountants and bookkeepers to engineers and architects to IT professionals, professors, teachers and researchers, as well as restaurant managers, specialty cooks, childcare workers, etc.
Why should an employer consider hiring an experienced immigration attorney?
Experienced immigration attorneys understand how to navigate the often complex and confusing processes for obtaining an employment-based U.S. immigrant visa. The legal team at Fong Ilagan includes Board Certified immigration attorneys who are committed to providing clients with professional visa management through proficient immigration legal services. Gary J. Ilagan has over 23 years of experience in handling U.S. immigration matters and employee transfers for health care systems, hospitals, research organizations, and other employment-based transfers across many industries nationwide.
Contact attorney, Gary J. Ilagan, today for more information on EB-3 Visas for Filipino workers and other visas today at 713.772.2300.