Healthcare organizations across the United States may soon see relief in staffing shortages thanks to a bipartisan bill now making its way through Congress. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act aims to make a limited number of green cards available to qualified, foreign-trained nurses and physicians without creating new visas, but rather reallocating those that have gone unused in previous years.
What the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act Proposes
Under the bill, up to 25,000 green cards would be allotted to internationally educated registered nurses, and up to 15,000 green cards would be reserved for physicians. These immigrant visas would be sourced from the pool of unused green cards left over from prior years meaning no increase in the overall visa cap, but more effective use of existing resources.
For employers, the bill comes with strict compliance requirements. Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations seeking to hire foreign-born clinicians must:
- Attest that hiring an international nurse or physician will not displace a U.S. worker.
- Ensure candidates meet U.S. licensing requirements for healthcare professionals.
- Pay applicable filing fees.
- Confirm candidates have passed national security and criminal background checks.
This structure aims to balance the urgent need for healthcare workers with safeguards for the domestic labor market.
Why This Matters to Healthcare Employers
The nursing shortage in the U.S. has reached critical levels, putting patient care, staffing ratios, and overall hospital operations at risk. Recruiting international nurses is not only a proven solution, but in many cases, a necessity. By unlocking unused immigrant visas, healthcare organizations could gain access to qualified talent more quickly helping to bridge gaps in essential services.
For international nurses and foreign-trained physicians, this bill offers a potential pathway to permanent residency that is faster than existing channels, meaning healthcare facilities can fill urgent vacancies while providing candidates with long-term stability.
The H-1B Visa Connection
This bill comes at a pivotal moment. Just days after the legislation was introduced, then-President Donald Trump issued a proclamation to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions beginning September 21, citing concerns about “systemic abuse” of the program and its impact on U.S. workers.
However, following urgent appeals from healthcare industry leaders, the administration began considering exemptions for physicians and medical residents from the fee starting September 23. Soon after, on September 25, the Department of Homeland Security released a proposed rule to alter the H-1B application process, shifting from a random lottery system to a weighted selection process.
These changes underscore just how much immigration policy affects the ability of U.S. healthcare organizations to recruit top talent from around the world.
How VisaMadeEZ Can Help
At VisaMadeEZ, we specialize in guiding healthcare employers through the complex immigration process from navigating legislation like the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act to managing nurse green card applications, EB-3 visas, and other pathways for international medical professionals.
With decades of combined experience, our team ensures that your recruitment of international nurses meets every legal requirement, helping you bring world-class talent to your organization quickly and compliantly.
Contact VisaMadeEZ today to learn how we can help your healthcare facility take advantage of upcoming immigration opportunities and fill critical staffing needs.
