Healthcare representatives have claimed that foreign nurses are facing longer waits for US visas regardless of shortages in this sector.
Experienced and qualified nurses are highly sought after, with the Health Resources & Services Administration anticipating a yearly shortage of tens of thousands of registered nurses, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to Sinead Carbery from the AMN Healthcare company, the number of visa applicants exceeds the available visa slots.
Carbery, as cited by MarketPlace, noted that the waiting time for nurses applying for a US visa has grown to nearly 2.5 years. Unless expanding the number of available visa slots, she anticipates wait times to increase by six months each year.
Unless we do something legislatively, it’s only going to get worse.
Nursing Visa Backlog Improved During Pandemic, Immigration Attorney Says
As further reported, the backlog of nursing visas has varied notably over the past ten years. The immigration attorney Chris Musillo said that the situation actually improved during the pandemic.
From an immigration visa perspective, it allowed the US government to prioritize certain kinds of workers. Like health care workers, which we desperately needed.
With the visa process now back to normal, the backlog has returned, causing dissatisfaction among healthcare providers, according to the immigration attorney Elissa Taub.
I have told employers at this point, ‘Honestly, I can’t tell you how long it’s going to take for this nurse to come. This avenue is not going to be a good way for you to fill your needs today.
Taub further said that some employers are considering other visa options, while others may choose not to hire international workers at all.
However, the demand is expected to remain strong, as Taub says some employers are “so desperate”.
Nursing Professor Recommends Employers Increase Efforts to Retain Nurses
Regarding this issue, NYU nursing professor Allison Squires suggests employers seeking to hire foreign workers to increase efforts to retain existing nurses. Studies indicate that nearly one in five nurses left their jobs in 2023, as further reported by MarketPlace.
Where the work needs to happen though is really around the work environment.
She said that creating a safer, more supportive work culture will help employers retain both U.S.- and foreign-born nurses.
According to Squires, maintaining safer and more supportive workplaces would help employers retain US and foreign nursing staff.