The NURSE Visa Act: A Proposed 20,000 New Nurse Visas for Shortage-Area Hospitals
February 25, 2026
The NURSE Visa Act: A Proposed 20,000 New Nurse Visas for Shortage-Area Hospitals
New legislation introduced in the House of Representatives could temporarily expand visa options for international nurses and potentially provide a faster pathway to address workforce shortages.
On February 4, 2026, Representative Don Beyer introduced the National Urgent Recruitment for Skilled Employees (NURSE) Visa Act of 2025. The bill would create 20,000 new temporary work visas each year for nurses working in areas where the federal government has identified a nursing shortage.
While the bill has been introduced and is not yet law, it represents another potential tool to strengthen the U.S. nursing workforce.
What the NURSE Visa Act Would Do
The legislation would reinstate and expand the H-1C visa program, a temporary visa category originally created in 1999 to address nurse shortages, which expired in 2009.
If enacted, the bill would:
- Increase the Annual Visa Cap: Raise the limit from 500 visas under the previous program to 20,000 H-1C visas per fiscal year.
- Limit Eligibility to Designated Shortage Areas: Restrict participation to facilities located in regions identified by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as having nursing workforce shortages.
- Eligibility is based on federal designation and is not limited to rural hospitals.
- Require Staffing Ratio Policies: Require participating hospitals to maintain provider-to-patient staffing ratio policies.
- Provide Temporary Work Authorization: Allow nurses to work in the U.S. for up to three years (not extendable beyond that period)
*It’s important to note that this visa is different from the H-1B visa. The proposal does not include the $100,000 employer fee currently associated with certain H-1B filings.
H-1C and EB-3: How They Compare
Today, most international nurses come to the United States through the EB-3 immigrant visa process, which provides permanent residency. EB-3 offers a long-term solution, but timelines can be extended due to visa backlogs and country caps.
The proposed H-1C visa, by contrast, would be a temporary work visa designed specifically for registered nurses in federally designated shortage areas. Here is how the two pathways differ:
EB-3
- Leads to permanent residency
- Can involve multi-year processing timelines
- Available nationwide, subject to visa availability
Proposed H-1C Expansion
- Temporary work authorization for up to three years
- Limited to hospitals in HRSA-designated shortage areas
- Designed specifically for nurses
- Faster visa processing timeline
The H-1C program would not replace EB-3. Instead, it could provide an additional, shorter-term option for eligible hospitals.
Which Facilities Would Qualify for H1-C?
Eligibility would depend on several factors, including:
- Whether the hospital is located in a HRSA-designated nursing shortage area
- Whether the facility meets federal program requirements
- Compliance with required staffing ratio standards
The program would not be limited strictly to rural hospitals, but rather to facilities nationwide that meet federal shortage and eligibility criteria.
Why This Proposed Legislation Matters for Healthcare Employers
The U.S. healthcare system continues to face ongoing nurse staffing shortages. Federal projections released in HRSA’s December 2025 Health Workforce Analysis estimate a shortage of more than 267,000 full-time registered nurses in 2028, followed by an expected gap of roughly 204,000 full-time RNs in 2033.
Many hospitals, particularly those in federally designated shortage areas, are already feeling the pressure of these long-term trends.
International nurses are already playing an important role in supporting care delivery across the country. Additional visa pathways could help eligible hospitals respond more quickly to staffing gaps while longer-term immigration processes continue.
WWHS Continues to Monitor This Legislation
WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions will continue monitoring developments and evaluating how this proposal, if enacted, could support healthcare employers and their international recruitment strategies.
For questions about this legislation or international direct hire nursing, please contact us here: https://client.healthstaff.org/contact-us
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