EB-3 Schedule A is a lesser-known but highly valuable pathway for nurses and physical therapists looking to settle in the US. For this occupational group, the application skips the lengthy PERM labor certification step, significantly shortening processing time.
EB-3 Schedule A là gì
Schedule A is a list of occupations that the US Department of Labor (DOL) has pre-determined to be in domestic labor shortage. As a result, applications in this group are not required to obtain PERM labor certification.
Schedule A Group I covers two main occupations: registered nurses and physical therapists.
How the application process differs from a standard EB-3 case
Instead of filing PERM with the DOL first, the employer files the Form I-140 (immigrant petition) directly with an uncertified ETA-9089 form to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS itself, not the DOL, reviews the application according to DOL regulations.
Skipping the PERM stage saves many months of waiting, which is normally one of the biggest bottlenecks in the standard EB-3 pathway.
Conditions for nurses and physical therapists
For nurses, the application must demonstrate that the applicant meets one of the following conditions at the time of filing:
- A full, unrestricted nursing license in the state where they intend to work;
- A certificate from TruMerit (CGFNS) or an equivalent credentialing organization;
- Having passed the NCLEX-RN exam.
For physical therapists, the applicant needs a license to practice in the state where they intend to work. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this is a mandatory requirement for the Schedule A group.
Why Schedule A matters for Vietnamese workers
The nursing sector in the US is facing a severe shortage, making Schedule A a clear opportunity for Vietnamese nurses with a practicing certificate. The key is preparing English skills and passing the NCLEX-RN together with VisaScreen.
To understand the overall pathway, you can refer to the page US EB-3. The M2W team will provide detailed advice on practice requirements by state.
Read more: Overview of the EB-3 visa for US immigration · The Statue of Liberty: A symbol of the United States
