Legislation could negatively impact nurse immigration

Legislation before the U.S. Congress could negatively impact nurse immigration from many countries, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). and , the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, would eliminate the per-country cap for immigrant visas. In a letter to the U.S. Senate last week expressing its members鈥 concerns, the AHA that this change would have dramatic consequences, 鈥渋ncluding eliminating the future ability of foreign-trained nurses to obtain visas for five to seven years or more.鈥 Foreign-trained nurses make up roughly 5% of the newly licensed nurse workforce each year and fill a critical staffing need in inner city and rural hospitals. If Congress decides to move ahead with the legislation, the AHA requested that lawmakers amend the law to create 鈥渁 carve-out from visa caps for a reasonable number of immigrant nurses each year.鈥 (AHA , 9/19/19)