There are two primary requirements that you will have to fulfill:

For Physical Therapist:

You have to apply for credential evaluation to FCCPT/ICD/ICHP. If they find considerable, they will approve of you, and you can proceed to apply for eligibility to take the NPTE with FSBPT. After receiving the visitor visa to get here, you can take the exam in any testing site in the United States. Once FCCPT receives passing scores for the TOEFL, they will then issue a certificate (Visa Screen Certificate).

For Occupational Therapists:

You have to apply for credential evaluation to NBCOT, and if credentials are approved based on U.S. standard of education, you can proceed on using to take the exam. After receiving the visitor visa to get here, you can take the exam in any testing site in the United States. After passing the exam, you must also pass the TOEFL exam with a score of 220 or more. Once NBCOT receives both passing scores for the TOEFL, they will then issue a certificate (Visa Screen Certificate). 

I-140 - Employment-based Permanent Residency (Green Card)

The immigration method with the fewest requirements on the therapist and employer is to apply for an employment-based green card. The green card allows a therapist to work in the U.S. indefinitely.

Therapy is one of the few professions that does not require a labor certification to be filed before applying.

H-1B - For Positions Requiring at Least a Bachelor's Degree

The H-1B visa can be used to hire skilled professionals that have at least a bachelor's degree and are filling a position that requires the same level of education.

Most registered nurses and nursing jobs do not meet this requirement. If the U.S. employer is hiring foreign nurses for supervisory or management positions or subspecialty areas that require a bachelor's degree, an H-1B might be an option.

Additionally, if your facility hires nurses with bachelor's degrees almost exclusively, it is possible to make a case for using the H-1B to bring in international nursing talent.

Approval of an H-1B visa can take anywhere from two to six months.

H-1B's last for three years, and are eligible for another three-year extension.

TN - For Canadian or Mexican Nurses

Registered nurses who are Canadian or Mexican citizens can work in the U.S. on the T.N. visa, as long as they have a state or provincial nursing license. The TN visa typically takes from one to six weeks to approve and is suitable for one year. It may be renewed in yearly increments an unlimited number of times.

H-1C - For Facilities in Underserved Areas

The H-1C visa was created in 1999 specifically for hospitals in areas with low primary care physicians-to-patient ratios, typically in rural or inner-city locations. Facilities must meet additional stringent standards, so harsh, in fact, that the U.S. Department of Labor identified only 14 hospitals that qualified to hire nurses on H-1C visas. These 14 hospitals face additional restrictions: the INS will issue only 500 H-1C visas each year. The program limits the number of H-1C's issued, depending on the state population. H-1C visas are valid for three years and usually take two to six months to approve.

1. Information/Documentation needed from the foreign worker

Documentation is needed from the foreign worker to process his/her H-1B visa. There may be items that the foreign worker does not have or may not know. Those items that are not applicable are optional.

If spouse and children are residing in the U.S. at the time we file for the foreign worker's H-1B visa: the items listed are needed to process their H-4 visas.

2. Information/Documentation needed from the employer

Specific documents are needed from the employer to process an H-1B visa. Once an employer establishes a connection with us, we only need certain information.

After receiving the Prevailing Wage Determination, the Labor Condition Application (LCA) can be completed and posted at the worksite (to be left up for ten consecutive days in two conspicuous places). After we confirm the LCA is live, we can then file the LCA with the Department of Labor. In approximately 10 - 14 business days, the approved (certified) copy of this form will arrive in our office. We will fax a copy of the filed form to the employer, with instructions about giving a copy of the LCA to the (prospective) employee.

When we receive all the information from the foreign worker and the employer, the paperwork for the petition can begin. When all information has transferred onto the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) forms, authorized signatures obtained. When all the paperwork is signed, and the certified LCA arrives, all is packaged and sent to INS.

Credentials Evaluation (Education/Work):

If we are missing education credential evaluations, the INS requires that an assessment of credentials be performed and added as supporting documentation to the application. This evaluation is done to make sure that the foreign worker's degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree. If we are missing an assessment, we must have readable copies of official documents. These may include the foreign worker's degree certificate(s), transcripts, or mark sheets. The more information provided to us, the faster the education evaluation performs. Usually, the cost for an education evaluation is approximately $125.00; however, in some cases, it may cost more.

The credentialing process usually takes approximately two weeks to complete and is customarily performed at the same time that the Department of Labor is processing the LCA. Therefore, the credentialing process does typically not delay a file.

Approximately 4 - 8 weeks:

In about 14 - 21 days after mailing the I-129 Petition to INS, a "Receipt Notice of Action," Form I-797, is received in our office. When we accept that notice, it means that INS has received the file and is beginning to process it. If we don't get that notice in at least 21 days after mailing, we will investigate. If INS is satisfied with the file, they will send an "Approval Notice of Action," Form I-797, usually within 14 - 36 days of the Receipt Notice. If we do not hear anything after 36 days, we will investigate!

Occasionally, between the Receipt Notice and the Approval Notice, a letter from INS may be received requesting more information or clarification of a fact. With the employer's cooperation and the cooperation of the foreign worker, we comply with their request. If this happens, it can delay the process another 10 -14 (or more) days.

Additional information that may be helpful during the hiring process:

General questions that may be asked of the foreign workers during an interview to qualify a potential employee's immigration status.

If the foreign worker is residing in the U.S. and has maintained a valid immigration status, he or she may now go to work for the new employer.

If the foreign worker is outside the U.S., they may now go to the U.S. Embassy listed on the I-129 petition to have the visa issued and stamped, after which, they may enter the U.S.

Please note that there are many, many situations and types of visas that a person could experience. The above information will hopefully give you a brief overview of the most common things you will need to know before applying for the H-1B visa. Anytime you have questions about a particular situation, contact an immigration attorney.

Approximately 6 - 10 weeks, if all goes well!

As soon as an employer suspects they will be hiring a new foreign worker, the completion of the Prevailing Wage Determination and Labor Condition Application can begin. Depending on the state, obtaining the Prevailing Wage Determination varies in difficulty and time involved (from a few days to 2 weeks or more).

To begin the Prevailing Wage Determination and the Labor Condition Application, we will need the following information:

1. Kind of the profession
2. Job title and requirements (educational & experience) for the job
3. Salary to be paid
4. Employer's name and address
5. The physical address where the foreign worker will perform the job
6. Setting where the job will be

1. Information/Documentation needed from the foreign worker

Documentation is needed from the foreign worker to process his/her H-1B visa. There may be items that the foreign worker does not have or may not know. Those items that are not applicable are optional.

If spouse and children are residing in the U.S. at the time we file for the foreign worker's H-1B visa: the items listed are needed to process their H-4 visas.

2. Information/Documentation needed from the employer

Specific documents are needed from the employer to process an H-1B visa. Once an employer establishes a connection with us, we only need certain information.

After receiving the Prevailing Wage Determination, the Labor Condition Application (LCA) can be completed and posted at the worksite (to be left up for ten consecutive days in two conspicuous places). After we confirm the LCA is live, we can then file the LCA with the Department of Labor. In approximately 10 - 14 business days, the approved (certified) copy of this form will arrive in our office. We will fax a copy of the filed form to the employer, with instructions about giving a copy of the LCA to the (prospective) employee.

When we receive all the information from the foreign worker and the employer, the paperwork for the petition can begin. When all information has transferred onto the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) forms, authorized signatures obtained. When all the paperwork is signed, and the certified LCA arrives, all is packaged and sent to INS.

Credentials Evaluation (Education/Work):

If we are missing education credential evaluations, the INS requires that an assessment of credentials be performed and added as supporting documentation to the application. This evaluation is done to make sure that the foreign worker's degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree. If we are missing an assessment, we must have readable copies of official documents. These may include the foreign worker's degree certificate(s), transcripts, or mark sheets. The more information provided to us, the faster the education evaluation performs. Usually, the cost for an education evaluation is approximately $125.00; however, in some cases, it may cost more.

The credentialing process usually takes approximately two weeks to complete and is customarily performed at the same time that the Department of Labor is processing the LCA. Therefore, the credentialing process does typically not delay a file.

Approximately 4 - 8 weeks:

In about 14 - 21 days after mailing the I-129 Petition to INS, a "Receipt Notice of Action," Form I-797, is received in our office. When we accept that notice, it means that INS has received the file and is beginning to process it. If we don't get that notice in at least 21 days after mailing, we will investigate. If INS is satisfied with the file, they will send an "Approval Notice of Action," Form I-797, usually within 14 - 36 days of the Receipt Notice. If we do not hear anything after 36 days, we will investigate!

Occasionally, between the Receipt Notice and the Approval Notice, a letter from INS may be received requesting more information or clarification of a fact. With the employer's cooperation and the cooperation of the foreign worker, we comply with their request. If this happens, it can delay the process another 10 -14 (or more) days.

Additional information that may be helpful during the hiring process:

General questions that may be asked of the foreign workers during an interview to qualify a potential employee's immigration status.

If the foreign worker is residing in the U.S. and has maintained a valid immigration status, he or she may now go to work for the new employer.

If the foreign worker is outside the U.S., they may now go to the U.S. Embassy listed on the I-129 petition to have the visa issued and stamped, after which, they may enter the U.S.

Please note that there are many, many situations and types of visas that a person could experience. The above information will hopefully give you a brief overview of the most common things you will need to know before applying for the H-1B visa. Anytime you have questions about a particular situation, contact an immigration attorney.

Permanent residence status, symbolized to many people by the so-called "green card," which is pink, confers on foreign nationals the right to live and work in the U.S. without time limitations.

The two most common ways to obtain permanent residence is by close family ties to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or through employment with a U.S.-based employer. For purposes of this discussion, the work-based visa will be our focus. There are two main phases of the process.

Phase I: The alien must be sponsored by the employer, who files a petition with INS to have the alien classified as a person qualified to immigrate.

Phase II: Once the alien is found qualified to immigrate, he or she may proceed to apply for permanent resident status. The application can be made through Consular Processing or by Adjustment of Status.

Once the immigrant visa is issued, the permanent resident may then travel freely on the permit and may accept employment without restrictions. We recommend that the foreign worker remain employed by the sponsoring employer for at least six (6) months after the visa is issued to show good intent regarding the employment relationship. 

The above information has been taken from immigration-related sources, readily available to the public. Do not take this as legal advice or legal direction. The information shown is much condensed. If an H-1B visa is in your future, be sure to contact an immigration specialist to assist in the process.