The I-140 petition is vital to your immigration journey as a nurse. It is the step in which your employer, also known as the petitioner, requests that you be classified as a foreign worker with specialized skills or abilities. This blog outlines the requirements for nurses seeking permanent residency in the United States. To be successful, it is vital that you gather all of the required documents and follow the filing instructions closely. Filing an I-140 can be complicated, but with our guidance, it can be done timely and quickly.
The I-140, or the Immigrant Petition for International Workers, is the first step in obtaining a green card through employment. This petition is filed by your employer on your behalf and requires several documents to be completed. The I-140 instructions will list everything that needs to be included in the petition, but some of the critical documents that you will need are:
- A copy of your valid passport
- Your birth certificate
- Your educational degrees and transcripts
- Your employment history for the last five years
- Your nursing license
- An offer of full-time employment from your sponsoring employer
In addition to the documents listed above, your employer sponsor must provide 1) a job offer and accompanying Labor Certification from the Department of Labor, 2) evidence of the foreign worker’s qualifications and education, 3) a copy of the foreign worker’s resume or curriculum vitae, 4) proof of the employer’s ability to pay the offered wage, and 5) any requested additional evidence.
The timeline for filing this petition can vary depending on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processing times. Still, it generally takes 6-12 months for a decision to be made unless the petition is expedited. Almost all of our candidates qualify for premium filing, which lowers the approval timeline to 2-8 weeks.
If you are ready to begin the process of obtaining your green card and working as a nurse in the U.S., start your journey today. We will walk you through every step of the I-140 petition and ensure that everything is done correctly and in a timely manner. With our help, you can be on your way to permanent residency status and living your U.S. dream! Start your journey today.