Foreign Healthcare Worker Visas in Dallas, TX
Healthcare shortages have become an acute emergency in the United States and around the world. Without serious intervention, the shortage is expected to worsen. The causes are complex and difficult to fix in the short term—aging populations require more care, fewer individuals are enrolling in medical and nursing schools due to decreased interest by qualified candidates, and facilities lack the funding to expand capacity. Reduced public investment in medical research and growing public skepticism toward science, vaccines, and medicine have further limited available resources.
Rural hospitals across Texas and other areas of the United States are under severe strain. Without healthcare workers on the ground and with little or no broadband access for telemedicine, many rural communities must rely on transport to the nearest metropolitan hospital. This journey of hours can mean the difference between life and death for a patient in need.
Foreign healthcare workers can provide a reliable, affordable, and high-quality alternative. Hospitals and clinics in the U.S can petition for qualified workers, provided they meet state licensing and other eligibility requirements.
Immigration Pathways for Healthcare Workers
Healthcare workers from countries such as Ethiopia, India. and the Philippines can enter the United States under several visa options, depending on their qualifications and the type of healthcare work they will perform. For example, the H-1B visa is available for workers in specialty occupations, including certain healthcare roles, provided they meet the educational and professional requirements. The H-1B visa allows nonimmigrant workers to remain in the U.S. for up to six years. Additionally, qualified nurses may be eligible to fill shortages in medically underserved areas.
Under Section 203(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, physicians may qualify for a National Interest Waiver (NIW) if they agree to work full-time in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Many rural areas in Texas could meet this designation, which can increase the likelihood of approval by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Physicians and other healthcare workers admitted under these programs must work in these areas for an aggregate of five years before they can obtain lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. Physicians, nurses and other health care workers seeking to work in the U.S. must show that they have unrestricted licenses to practice in the state where they work. Each state has its own licensing and eligibility standards, and some have recently adopted special provisions to attract qualified foreign healthcare workers.
Hospitals and clinics seeking to hire foreign healthcare workers should, as a matter of ethical practice, clearly communicate all relevant facts, employment conditions, and geographic restrictions to potential recruits before they agree to immigrate to the United States.
Professional guidance from a skilled immigration law firm can help rural healthcare employers assess visa options and develop a sound strategy for building a sustainable healthcare workforce.
How Coleman Jackson, P.C. Helps Healthcare Employers
Our experienced Dallas-based business immigration attorneys can help rural and other healthcare providers build a sustainable foreign healthcare workforce. We can:
- Advise and counsel hospitals and clinics on U.S. immigration laws governing the hiring of foreign healthcare workers in compliance with DOL, USCIS, and federal tax regulations
- Assist with locating and screening qualified applicants from Ethiopia and other foreign countries
- Guide employers through the Department of Labor certification process, where applicable
- Prepare and file visa petitions and immigration applications with supporting documentation
- Advise healthcare workers and their employers on related immigration and pre-immigration tax law matters
- Represent healthcare workers and their families in family immigration matters, including work permit renewals, adjustment of status, and naturalization applications
Need a Skilled Business Immigration Attorney?
Contact the experienced attorneys and counselors at Coleman Jackson, Professional Corporation today at (214) 599-0431 to help build your foreign healthcare workforce ethically and in compliance with U.S. immigration law.
