There is a lot of talk about the H-1B visa this September. Why?
Effective September 21, 2025, a new $100,000 H-1B fee will be applied to any new solicitation for an H-1B visa. This visa enables foreign workers from outside the United States to work in healthcare or other specialized areas.
A shimmer of hope: This policy does not impact petitions or renewals filed for workers already in the country.
At the same time, demand for the EB‑3 Visa, the primary green card pathway for internationally educated nurses, continues to exceed the number of slots available. This barrier is often due to factors such as visa retrogression and mounting visa backlogs.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
“Sometimes, a priority date that is current one month will not be current the next month, or the cut-off date will move backward to an earlier date. This is called visa retrogression, which occurs when more people apply for a visa in a particular category than there are visas available for that month.”
The result? Many applicants face long delays—some extending years—despite having valid job offers from U.S. employers.
While the administration argues these measures aim to protect U.S. jobs and encourage domestic hiring, healthcare leaders caution that such restrictions may worsen the ongoing nursing shortage.
Many U.S. hospitals, particularly in rural and high-need areas, depend on internationally trained nurses to maintain safe staffing levels.
Access to national interest waiver options—which allow professionals of exceptional ability—remains limited. This is creating additional uncertainty for employers seeking urgent staffing solutions in critical care, long-term care, and emergency departments.
These policy shifts have implications for healthcare staffing, especially in facilities already struggling to recruit and retain qualified personnel.
For hospital systems and policymakers alike, the changes raise urgent questions about the direction of U.S. workforce policy and the future of immigration reform in meeting long-term healthcare demands.
What nurses and facilities can do now
As these H-1B visa and other visa issues continue to affect staffing pipelines, domestic nurses can play a critical role in supporting care continuity.
If you're a nurse with flexible availability, consider picking up PRN shifts through Nursa. These shifts are well-paid, and you can design them to fit your schedule. This allows you to make an immediate impact where help is needed most.
If you are a facility and are short-staffed, post open shifts on Nursa to quickly connect with qualified, local clinicians ready to work. With real-time access to available nurses, you can fill critical gaps fast and maintain safe, high-quality care for your patients.
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