CGFNS International reports nurse migration rates to the U.S. remained high in 2024

CGFNS International released a report last month concluding that nurse migration to the US remains high as healthcare systems continue to look to foreign-educated nurses to address persistent staffing shortages.

In 2024, CGFNS received 24,733 VisaScreen applications, down 4.6% from 2023, but still nearly 200% above pre-pandemic fiscal year 2018.

Allocation by country and visa type

Candidates with credentials from the Philippines accounted for more than 51% of issued VisaScreen certificates in 2024, followed by Canada with 8%, and Kenya with 6.5%.

76% of visa screen certificates issued by CGFNS were issued to candidates seeking permanent green cards, followed by candidates seeking TN visas (12%) and H-1Bs (11%).

According to the President and CEO of CGFNS, the report’s findings confirm that U.S. healthcare systems, “continue to depend on nurse immigrants to address persistent staffing shortages.”

Looking ahead

The report states that between 6% and 16% of registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S. are foreign-born, representing between 258,000 and 688,000 migrant nurses as of 2023. 

High immigration rates in the face of barriers such as visa retrogression highlight the continued appeal of nurse migration as a pathway for career advancement and economic opportunity.

However, visa retrogression persists, alongside new, likely stricter, immigration policies from the Trump Administration.

The report notes that while an increase in visa wait times may strain direct-hire models, staffing agencies can more effectively absorb wait periods, making staffing and recruitment even more essential for nursing immigration to the US in the coming years.

April 2025 Visa Bulletin: Finally - Movement Forward for ALL EB-2 and EB-3 Categories

The Department of State has just issued the April 2025 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment:

Table B: Dates for Filing

USCIS will continue to use the Table A Final Action Dates chart for I-485 employment-based filings in April 2025. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

EB-2 China progressed 5 months, the most progress for any category since the start of the fiscal year in October 2024.

EB-3 Philippines and Rest of World moved forward 1 month, the most progress in that category since the start of the fiscal year in October 2024.

EB-2: EB-2 categories in all chargeability areas made progress forward in April 2025:

• EB-2 China: 5 months
• EB-2 India: 1 month
• EB-2 Rest of World, Mexico and the Philippines: 5 weeks

EB-3: EB-3 categories in all chargeability areas made progress forward in April 2025:

• EB-3 China: 3 months
• EB-3 India: 2 months
• EB-3 Rest of World, Mexico and the Philippines: 1 month

EB-1: EB-1 categories made no progress in any chargeability area. Rest of World, Mexico and the Philippines remain current in the EB-1 category.

FY 2026 H-1B CAP Lottery

The fiscal year 2026 (March 2025) H-1B cap registration period will open this week, at noon eastern on March 7, 2025 and run through noon eastern on March 24, 2025.

H-1B CAP registrations are submitted electronically via USCIS’s website. H-1B CAP lottery winners are then eligible to submit an H-1B petition between April 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025.

The H-1B CAP lottery is open to employees filling positions requiring Bachelor’s degrees, which may include healthcare occupations such as Medical Technologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and even Registered Nurses.

This year, USCIS has increased its CAP registration fee from $10 to $215 per registration.

Further information on this year’s CAP lottery can be found on USCIS's H-1B Electronic Registration Process website. 

CGFNS International to Change Its Name to TruMerit™

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) announced it will change its name to TruMerit™.

Immigration regulations require that when filing an immigration petition for certain healthcare occupations, including Registered Nurses, the Petitioner must include a healthcare worker’s certificate (sometimes called a Visa Screen) from an authorized credentialing organization, such as CGFNS.

CGFNS indicated the name change will be the centerpiece of a comprehensive rebranding of the organization, which will also involve changes to its website, customer portals, credentials and certificates, and social media channels. The rebranding effort will begin rolling out in mid-March and will be completed by the summer.

MARCH 2025 VISA BULLETIN: Movement Forward for all EB-2 plus EB-3 China and India

The Department of State has just issued the March 2025 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment:

Table B: Dates for Filing

In keeping with February 2025, USCIS will continue to use the Table A Final Action Dates chart for I-485 employment-based filings in March 2025. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

EB-2 All Other, China, India, Mexico, and Philippines: EB-2 categories in all chargeability areas made moderate progress forward in March 2025:

• EB-2 Rest of World, India, Mexico and the Philippines: 6 weeks
• EB-2 China: 2 weeks

EB-3 China and India: EB-3 categories for China and India moved forward 4 weeks and 6 weeks, respectively. No other chargeability areas moved forward in the EB-3 category.

EB-1: EB-1 categories made no progress in any chargeability area.

English Exam Score Set at 50 for International Nurses: Could Increase in Future, says HRSA

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) announced that it will reset its standard passing English exam score to 50, after raising the standard to 63 in the Fall of 2024.

Immigration regulations require that when filing an immigration petition for certain healthcare occupations, including Registered Nurses, the Petitioner must include a healthcare worker’s certificate (sometimes called a Visa Screen) from an authorized credentialing organization. A passing English exam score is required for Visa Screen issuance.

One such English exam, the PTE, will now have a standardized passing score of 50 across all Visa Screen providers.

However, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) could soon increase the standardized English exam score across all providers.

To determine the appropriate English exam score requirement to protect patient safety and to safeguard healthcare professionals coming into the U.S. to work, HRSA has asked for comments through the Federal Register and will be reviewing a comprehensive report on English proficiency standards within the coming month.

H-1B 2025 Cap Webinar

MU Law will be hosting a FREE webinar for our clients and friends on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 2PM Eastern (1PM Central).

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about:

• H-1B Cap Basics, Registration Process, and 2025 Changes
• What is a Specialty Occupation?
• Special Issues for Staffing Companies, Third Party Placements
• Cap-gap for F-1s as well as CPT/OPT maintenance
• Q&A

PLEASE JOIN US!

February 2025 Visa Bulletin: Little Movement and an Adjustment of Status Update

The Department of State has just issued the February 2025 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these priority dates or earlier may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment:

Table B: Dates for Filing

In a change from the past several months, the USCIS will use the Table A Final Action Dates chart for I-485 employment-based filings in February 2025. As the Final Action Dates chart generally moves slower than the Dates for Filing chart, this means a longer wait time for those intending to file Adjustments of Status in February 2025. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

EB-2, EB-3 China and India: EB-2 and EB-3 categories for China and India made the following progress forward in the February 2025 visa bulletin:

• EB-2 India: 2 weeks
• EB-3 India: 2 weeks
• EB-3 China: 1 month

EB-1 (all chargeability areas), EB-2 China, and EB-2 and EB-3 All Other, Mexico, and Philippines: These categories made no progress forward.

DHS Increases Flexibility for CAP-Exempt Work Placements

In its recent update to H-1B program requirements, DHS revised its regulation on H-1B CAP-exemptions for beneficiaries who are staffed at universities and certain nonprofits.

H-1B CAP exemption allows an employer to file an H-1B CAP case on behalf of an employee at any time in the fiscal year, outside of the usual annual limits on H-1Bs imposed by the H-1B CAP. H-1B CAP exemption is particularly useful for employers seeking to employ beneficiaries in the healthcare industry, where staffing needs are particularly urgent.

DHS is revising its CAP-exempt regulation to note that beneficiaries qualify for H-1B cap exemption when they spend at least half of their time providing essential work to a qualifying institution.

Previously, the regulation required a beneficiary to spend the majority of their time performing duties at a qualifying institution.

First, the revision reduces the time requirement by noting that the employee need only spend 50% of their time providing work to a qualifying institution.

Second, the revision allows for remote work, including telehealth, to count toward an employee’s time requirement for CAP-exemption, while the previous regulation required an employee’s physical presence at a qualifying institution.

In DHS’s final rule, the agency acknowledges that its CAP-exempt regulation revision may slightly expand who is eligible for the cap exemption. DHS’s intention is that the revision will increase flexibility for employers and beneficiaries, as well as better represent modern employment situations.