Effective March 27, 2026, USCIS has approved a new credentialing organization authorized to issue certificates for foreign healthcare workers seeking entry or status adjustment in the United States. The newly approved organization, The Evaluation Company, joins a limited group of entities federally authorized to evaluate and certify foreign trained nurses for U.S. immigration purposes.
What the Federal Register Notice Says
Published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2026, USCIS confirmed the approval of The Evaluation Company following its review of Form I-905, Application for Authorization to Issue Certification for Health Care Workers, and consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The authorization is valid for five years, from March 27, 2026 through March 27, 2031.
The Evaluation Company is now authorized to issue certificates and certified statements under sections 212(a)(5)(C) and 212(r) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States to work as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed vocational nurses.
Why Credentialing Matters for Healthcare Worker Immigration
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, foreign nationals applying for immigration benefits to work in certain healthcare occupations face a specific admissibility requirement: they must present a certificate from an authorized credentialing organization before they can be admitted as a nonimmigrant or immigrant, or before a change of status or adjustment of status application can be approved.
This requirement exists across multiple immigration pathways, including nonimmigrant visa applications, immigrant visa petitions, consular processing, and adjustment of status. Without a valid certificate from an approved organization, a healthcare worker applicant is inadmissible regardless of the strength of any underlying petition.
Prior to this approval, federally authorized organizations included the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (now operating as TruMerit following a name change in December 2024), the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, and the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy. The addition of The Evaluation Company expands the available options specifically for nurses in the registered, licensed practical, and licensed vocational categories.
Strategic Implications for Foreign Trained Nurses
For registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed vocational nurses pursuing U.S. immigration, the practical significance of this development is access to an additional approved pathway for credentialing. The credentialing certificate is a threshold requirement, not an optional document. Any immigration strategy for a healthcare worker in a covered occupation must account for how and when that certificate will be obtained.
At Ahluwalia Law Offices, we work with healthcare employers and foreign trained professionals to build immigration strategies that address every layer of the process, including credentialing timelines, visa category selection, and adjustment of status planning. The addition of a new approved organization is a development worth understanding whether you are an employer planning a sponsorship or a nurse already in progress with a U.S. immigration matter.
If you have questions about how healthcare worker credentialing requirements apply to your specific visa category or immigration pathway, contact Ahluwalia Law Offices at 972-361-0606 (Dallas) | 713-600-4338 (Houston) or visit www.ahluwalilaw.com.
FAQ SECTION
Q: What is a healthcare worker credentialing certificate for immigration purposes?
A: It is a certificate issued by a USCIS authorized organization confirming that a foreign trained healthcare worker meets U.S. standards in their occupation. It is required for certain healthcare workers to be admissible as a nonimmigrant or immigrant, or to obtain a change of status or adjustment of status approval.
Q: Which healthcare workers are required to have a credentialing certificate?
A: Foreign nationals seeking U.S. immigration benefits for the purpose of working in certain healthcare occupations, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed vocational nurses, are among those subject to this requirement under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Q: Who is The Evaluation Company and what is it approved to do?
A: The Evaluation Company is a newly approved credentialing organization authorized by USCIS as of March 27, 2026 to issue certificates and certified statements for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed vocational nurses seeking U.S. immigration benefits. The authorization is valid through March 27, 2031.
Q: Does this change anything for nurses who already have a certificate from another approved organization?
A: No. Certificates from previously authorized organizations remain valid. This approval simply adds another approved option for nurses who have not yet obtained their credentialing certificate.
Q: Where can I find the current list of authorized healthcare credentialing organizations?
A: USCIS maintains an updated list of authorized organizations on its website at uscis.gov under the healthcare worker certification section. The Federal Register notice published March 27, 2026 also references this resource.
Q: How does the credentialing requirement affect my visa application timeline?
A: Obtaining a credentialing certificate can take several months. Because the certificate is a threshold admissibility requirement, it must be obtained before or in coordination with your visa or adjustment of status process. Planning the credentialing timeline alongside your immigration strategy is essential to avoiding delays.
Q: Can Ahluwalia Law Offices help a foreign trained nurse with the full immigration process?
A: Yes. Ahluwalia Law Offices assists healthcare employers and foreign trained nurses with employment based immigration matters including H1B, EB2, EB3, PERM, and adjustment of status.
