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.