The United States needs nurses. Badly.

Immigrant nurses now represent approximately one in six registered nurses practicing in the US. Thirty-two percent of American hospitals reported hiring internationally educated nurses in recent years. The demand is not slowing down. It is accelerating.

For Pakistani nurses, this creates a real opportunity. Not a theoretical one. A real, documented, legal pathway to permanent residency in the United States through the EB-3 visa.

But here is the problem. Most Pakistani nurses hear about the EB-3 and get excited. Then they Google it. Then they get confused. Then they give up.

This guide exists so you do not give up. We are going to walk you through the entire EB-3 process, step by step, in plain language. No legal jargon. No vague promises. Just the facts, honestly.

What Is the EB-3 Visa?

The EB-3 visa is an employment-based immigrant visa. It is not a temporary work permit. It is not a visit visa. When your EB-3 is approved, you enter the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident. You get a green card. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 get green cards too.

For nurses, the EB-3 falls under the “Skilled Worker” or “Professional” category. You need a nursing degree, a US nursing license (NCLEX-RN), and a job offer from a US employer willing to sponsor you.

The employer files the case. The employer pays the government filing fees. Your job is to be qualified and ready.

Why Nurses Have a Faster Path: Schedule A

Here is something most guides do not explain clearly.

The US Department of Labor maintains a list called “Schedule A.” This list identifies occupations where there is a proven, chronic shortage of qualified American workers. Registered nurses are on this list. So are physical therapists.

What does this mean for you? It means your employer skips the entire PERM labor certification process. PERM is the step where the employer normally has to prove they could not find an American worker for the job. That process alone takes 10 to 18 months.

Nurses skip it entirely.

This is the single biggest advantage you have over other EB-3 applicants. While an engineer or an accountant waits over a year just for PERM certification, your employer can file the I-140 petition directly with USCIS. This can save you more than a year on your timeline.

The Complete EB-3 Process for Pakistani Nurses: 10 Steps

Step 1: Credential Evaluation

Your Pakistani nursing degree needs to be evaluated against US nursing standards. This is done by CGFNS International, now rebranded as TruMerit.

The Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report validates and authenticates your licenses, registrations, and diplomas. It tells US state boards of nursing that your education is comparable to what American nurses receive.

What you need to submit: Your complete academic transcript, sent directly from your nursing college (Aga Khan, Dow, Jinnah, or whichever institution you attended) to TruMerit. Documents must be in English. If your institution cannot provide an English translation, TruMerit can translate them for an additional fee.

A photocopy of your secondary school diploma or certificate. This requirement is waived if you completed secondary education more than 10 years ago.

An active, unrestricted nursing license from Pakistan. The Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) must verify your license directly to TruMerit.

How long it takes: The CES process commonly takes 3 to 6 months. The biggest variable is how quickly your nursing college and the PNC respond to verification requests. This is the step where most delays happen, and it is almost always because the nurse waited too long to request their own documents.

Pro tip: Start gathering your documents the day you decide to pursue this pathway. Contact your nursing college and PNC immediately. Do not wait until you “feel ready.” The paperwork takes time no matter when you start.

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam

The NCLEX-RN is the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Every nurse who wants to practice in the United States must pass it. There are no exceptions.

The exam tests clinical judgment, patient safety, and nursing decision-making skills. It is computer-adaptive, meaning the difficulty adjusts based on your responses. You need to demonstrate entry-level competence as an RN.

For Pakistani nurses, the good news is that the Pearson VUE testing center in Lahore makes it possible to take the NCLEX without leaving Pakistan. You apply through a US state board of nursing, receive your Authorization to Test (ATT), and schedule your exam.

Strong NCLEX preparation significantly increases your chances of passing on the first attempt. This is not an exam you want to take unprepared.

Step 3: English Language Proficiency

You need to demonstrate English proficiency through one of the approved tests: IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, or OET. The specific score requirements depend on the state board and the VisaScreen requirements.

This is not just a formality. Your English scores are required for both state nursing licensure and for the VisaScreen certificate that comes next. Take this seriously and prepare accordingly.

Step 4: VisaScreen Certificate

The VisaScreen Visa Credentials Assessment is the gating document for every foreign nurse seeking US immigration. You cannot complete the green card process without it.

VisaScreen bundles three evaluations into one: your education, your professional licenses, and your English proficiency. It is issued by TruMerit (formerly CGFNS) and is required under federal law for all foreign healthcare workers seeking immigrant or nonimmigrant work visas.

The current application fee is $740. Processing time is typically 3 to 6 months once all required documents are submitted. Start this as early as possible. Many nurses begin the VisaScreen process before they even identify a sponsoring employer.

Step 5: Job Placement with a US Employer

Once you have your credentials evaluated, your NCLEX passed, and your VisaScreen certificate in hand (or in progress), you are ready for job placement.

US healthcare employers, including hospitals, healthcare systems, and staffing agencies, actively recruit internationally educated nurses. The nursing shortage means qualified candidates are in demand.

Your employer must be willing to sponsor your EB-3 visa. This means they file the immigration paperwork on your behalf and pay the government filing fees. Not every employer sponsor, so finding the right match matters.

This is the step where having expert guidance makes the difference between months of frustration and a smooth placement.

Step 6: Schedule A Classification (No PERM Required)

Because nursing is a Schedule A occupation, your employer does not need to go through the PERM labor certification process. The Department of Labor has already determined that there are not enough qualified US workers to fill nursing positions.

Your employer files Form I-140 directly with USCIS, accompanied by an uncertified Form ETA-9089 and a valid prevailing wage determination. This saves 10 to 18 months compared to the standard EB-3 process.

Step 7: Employer Files Form I-140

The I-140 is the Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. This is the formal petition asking USCIS to approve you for permanent residency based on employment.

The employer files this form. It includes your personal information, qualifications, and the employer’s proof that they can pay the prevailing wage for the position. The filing fee is $715 or more, paid by the employer.

With premium processing, USCIS can adjudicate the I-140 in as little as 15 business days. Without premium processing, it takes longer.

The date your I-140 is filed becomes your “priority date.” This date is critical because it determines your place in line for a visa number.

Step 8: Wait for Visa Availability

This is the step no one likes but everyone must go through.

The US government issues approximately 40,000 EB-3 visas per year. Three-quarters of those are reserved for skilled workers and professionals. But demand exceeds supply, so not everyone can receive their visa immediately.

The State Department publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that shows which priority dates are “current.” If your priority date is current, you can move forward. If it is not current, you wait.

For Pakistani nurses, the wait times are generally shorter than for countries like India (which has a backlog of 10+ years) or China. Most Pakistani nurses fall under the “All Chargeability” category, which has been moving forward steadily.

Your priority date is secure once your I-140 is filed. Retrogression (when dates move backward temporarily) does not cancel or reset your case. Your progress resumes automatically when your date becomes current again.

Step 9: Consular Processing (DS-260)

Once your priority date is current, you move to the final stage before arriving in the US.

For nurses outside the United States, this means consular processing. You submit Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application), attend an interview at the US Embassy (in Islamabad for Pakistani nurses), and complete a medical examination.

This stage includes paying Department of State fees, submitting civil documents, police clearances, and completing biometric processing.

Step 10: Green Card Approved

Once your visa is approved and stamped, you have six months to enter the United States. Your green card will be mailed to your US address after you arrive.

You are now a Lawful Permanent Resident. You can live and work anywhere in the US. Your spouse can work. Your children can attend American schools. After five years, you can apply for US citizenship.

Realistic Timeline: How Long Does This Actually Take?

For Pakistani nurses using the Schedule A pathway, here is a realistic breakdown:

Credential evaluation and document gathering: 3 to 6 months.

NCLEX preparation and exam: 3 to 12 months depending on preparation.

VisaScreen processing: 3 to 6 months (can overlap with NCLEX prep).

Job placement and employer matching: 1 to 3 months.

I-140 filing and processing: 15 days with premium processing, or 6 to 12 months standard.

Visa bulletin wait: varies, but Pakistani nurses are generally in a favorable position.

Consular processing: 3 to 6 months.

Total realistic timeline: 12 to 30 months from start to US arrival. The nurses who move fastest are the ones who start their documents early, prepare seriously for NCLEX, and work with experienced guidance throughout the process.

What the EB-3 Green Card Gives You

Permanent residency in the United States. Not a temporary visa. Not a work permit that expires. A green card.

Your spouse receives a green card and can work anywhere in the US without restrictions.

Your unmarried children under 21 receive green cards and access to the American education system.

After five years of permanent residency, you can apply for US citizenship.

You are not tied to one employer forever. While you begin with the sponsoring employer, permanent residency gives you the freedom to eventually change jobs, change states, and build the career you want.

The Biggest Mistakes Pakistani Nurses Make

Waiting too long to start documents. Your nursing college and PNC will take time to process your requests. Start now. Not next month. Not after Ramadan. Now.

Underestimating NCLEX preparation. The NCLEX is not your Pakistani nursing exam. It tests clinical judgment and critical thinking in ways you may not be used to. Dedicated preparation is essential.

Trusting unverified agents. The EB-3 pathway is legitimate and well-documented. You do not need to pay an “agent” to find you a job. Real EB-3 sponsorship involves a US employer who genuinely needs your skills and is willing to sponsor your visa through proper legal channels.

Not understanding the timeline. This is not a three-month process. It is a multi-year commitment. The nurses who succeed are the ones who plan ahead, stay organized, and keep moving forward through each step.

How Nurses Beyond Borders Supports Your Journey

At Nurses Beyond Borders, we specialize in guiding internationally educated nurses through every stage of this process. We are a CGFNS-authorized consultancy, and we work exclusively with nurses from Pakistan and the Gulf region who want to build careers in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Our five-stage service funnel is designed to match the EB-3 pathway:

Credentialing guidance. We help you gather, organize, and submit the right documents to TruMerit (formerly CGFNS) so your credential evaluation moves as quickly as possible.

NCLEX preparation support. Through our NCLEX coaching program and QBank platform, we help you prepare with structured study plans, practice questions, and clinical review.

Case management. From the day you start until the day you arrive in the US, we track your case, manage your timeline, and keep you informed at every step.

VisaScreen coordination. We guide you through the VisaScreen application, ensuring your education, licensure, and English proficiency documentation is complete and accurate.

Job placement. We connect you with US healthcare employers who are actively hiring and willing to sponsor EB-3 visas for qualified nurses.

We tell you, honestly. This process takes time. It takes preparation. It takes patience. But it works. Thousands of internationally educated nurses move to the US every year through this exact pathway.

If you are a Pakistani nurse ready to start your journey, we are here to walk beside you every step of the way.

Talk to us. No pressure. No hype. Just an honest conversation about where you are and what comes next.

Contact Nurses Beyond Borders: nursesbeyondborders.org/contact

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and processing times are subject to change. Nurses Beyond Borders is a CGFNS-authorized nursing immigration consultancy. For legal advice specific to your immigration case, consult a licensed immigration attorney.

Last updated: July 2026