Why Choose Staffing During Retrogression & Why Experience Matters
What Is Retrogression & Priority Date?
Retrogression happens when visa demand exceeds supply.
Your priority date is the date your I-140 is filed. This is what determines when you can move forward for a visa interview.
For example, for February, the priority date cutoff is June 1, 2023.
This means only nurses whose I-140 was filed on or before June 1, 2023 are being scheduled for consular interviews.
If your priority date is later than that, you will need to wait until it becomes current.
Common Myths About Staffing
There are a lot of misconceptions about staffing. Let’s address a few:
1. “I will make less money with staffing.”
This is not true.
AMN pays at the high end of the prevailing wage, so you are not earning less.
2. “There are fewer location options.”
Again, not true.
AMN is one of the largest staffing companies in the U.S., and we have opportunities across many states, depending on your specialization.
3. “I can’t choose my location.”
You can choose.
We ask for your preferred states and present hospital options accordingly.
You always have the final say. If you don’t like the offer, we will present other options.
4. “I need to decide my location now.”
No.
You have time to research locations while your green card is being processed.
5. “I need to pass the English exam before applying.”
No.
We can file your green card even without an English exam.
If you haven’t taken it yet, we can enroll you in an English Review Center to help you prepare.
In-Demand Specializations
We currently have many opportunities for:
- Telemetry
- ICU
- Med-Surg
- ER
- Psych Nurses
Apply Now
How to Apply with AMN (Easy as ABC)
- A – Apply
Submit your application online. - B – Brief Conversation
A recruiter will contact you to discuss your experience and preferences. - C – Commence Your Journey
We begin your U.S. journey and file your green card within 15–30 working days to establish your priority date.
Why Experience Matters
Many nurses think that passing the NCLEX is enough. It is not.
U.S. hospitals are looking for nurses with:
- Current bedside experience
- Experience in an acute care setting
- At least 1 year of experience
- Preferably in a tertiary hospital or a hospital with 100+ bed capacity
Minimum Requirements:
- NCLEX (required)
- English exam (can follow later)
- At least 1 year of acute bedside experience
- Any nursing degree accepted:
- Diploma
- Associate
- Bachelor’s
- Master’s
Staffing Opportunities Across the U.S.
We have opportunities in almost every state, depending on your specialization.
We encourage nurses to be flexible with location, especially during retrogression.
Direct Hire Opportunities (Limited Slots)
AMN is the only agency that offers both staffing and direct hire options.
1. Pennsylvania – Direct Hire (February Interview)
We are looking for nurses with priority dates in:
- Med-Surg
- IMC
- Cath Lab
- Interventional Radiology
These hospitals prefer nurses who can start as soon as possible.
Benefits Include:
- Salary based on experience and qualifications
- 2-year contract (minimum commitment)
- $2,500 initial allowance
- $1,000 relocation
- $10,000 sign-on bonus
- Medical, dental, and life insurance
- Vacation & 401(k)
2. Long-Term Care – Direct Hire (This Week’s Interviews)
Locations:
- Florida
- Arizona
- Montana
- Oregon
Requirements:
- Priority date
- NCLEX passer
- Currently working in a multi-patient setting
Even though direct hire slots are limited right now, we have many staffing opportunities available.
Our recruiters will be happy to contact you and discuss your options in detail.
Start your process now to establish your priority date and move closer to your U.S. nursing journey.
So, I’ll now open the floor for any questions. Do you have any questions for me right now?
I’ll try to answer as many as I can.
Frequently Asked Questions About Retrogression
Q: How long is the overall processing time during retrogression?
Janice:
Unless the priority date becomes current, I really can’t give an exact timeline. Right now, the priority date is June 1, 2023, which means we are more than two years behind.
There are times when the priority date doesn’t move for three to four months, so it really depends on how fast it advances.
If the movement continues at the same pace, we are looking at approximately two to two and a half years of waiting time. But again, this all depends on visa bulletin movement.
Q: I had four years of experience, but it was four years ago. Now I work in primary health care. Do I qualify?
Hospitals are looking for current bedside experience, especially in an acute care setting.
Even if you had experience four years ago, unfortunately, that is considered outdated. Clients really prefer recent and continuous bedside experience.
Q: What about Indian-born nurses?
Hi Hannah!
Do you already have a priority date?
Right now, due to severe retrogression for India, the cutoff date is November 15 (very far back).
Because of this, we can only assist Indian-born nurses who already have a pending or previously approved I-140 petition. We can help recapture that petition.
However, we cannot file new petitions for Indian-born nurses at this time because of the long retrogression.
If your previous petition was rescinded or abandoned and you still have your I-140 approval notice, we can work on recapturing it.
Q: What should nurses do while waiting for their priority date to become current?
Continue working in bedside care.
This is very important.
We strongly advise nurses to:
Stay in bedside roles
Avoid shifting to non-bedside positions
Upgrade your skills
Get certifications (BLS, ACLS, etc.)
Keep your clinical experience current
Hospitals will still assess your current experience once your priority date becomes current.
Q: Can I apply if I transfer to Med-Surg?
Ericson, that depends on your current specialization and experience.
Please send in your resume and application.
You can also leave your email address, and we’ll contact you to discuss your options in detail.
Q: I just passed NCLEX and will start bedside work this March. Do I qualify?
John, congratulations on passing NCLEX!
For direct hire, most hospitals require:
A pending I-140 petition
At least two years of experience
For now, you can start building your bedside experience. Once you meet the experience requirement, you can apply for staffing opportunities.
Q: Are sign-on bonuses available?
Yes.
For staffing:
Bonuses can go up to $15,000, depending on the hospital and assignment.
For direct hire:
Bonuses vary per hospital.
Some hospitals pay bonuses:
Upfront
Every six months
Or after one year
This will be discussed in detail with your recruiter.
Q: How long does I-140 approval take right now?
For new petitions, we file regular processing because premium processing doesn’t make sense during retrogression.
Regular processing can take:
6 months to 1 year
If your country of birth becomes current while your I-140 is still pending, we can upgrade to premium processing at that time.
Q: I have 2 years and 11 months of experience with a 4-month gap. Do I qualify?
Yes, Junette.
A four-month gap is acceptable.
Please send in your application to:
www.amnhealthcare.com/international
Our recruiters will contact you to discuss your options.
Q: Do you offer refresher or transition training?
Yes.
We have a clinical team and offer transitional training modules to support nurses before placement.
Q: Are there staffing opportunities in Pennsylvania?
Joanna, please submit your application and list Pennsylvania as your preferred state.
Our recruiters will check available options for you and discuss nearby alternatives if needed.
Q: Can I-140 be approved without English proficiency?
Yes.
English exams are required for:
VisaScreen
License endorsement (depending on the state)
But your I-140 can still be approved without it.
We will enroll you in a review center to help you prepare for IELTS or TOEFL.
Q: I have five years of PACU experience. Do I qualify?
At the moment, we have very limited opportunities for PACU.
If you can return to Med-Surg or acute bedside care, that would improve your chances.
Please still submit your application so we can review your options.
Q: Is freestanding ER considered bedside experience?
Yes—depending on the acuity level.
Please submit your resume with:
Case types
Patient volume
Facility level
Our clinical team will review your profile.
Q: Do you have opportunities for Medical Technologists?
At the moment, we do not have direct hire roles for Med Techs.
There may be H-1B staffing opportunities, but I will need to confirm this with our staffing team and get back to you.
Q: When is the best time to take IELTS?
At the earliest possible time, once you feel ready.
VisaScreen is valid for five years, so it’s best to complete it early.
If you have more questions, please leave them in the chat.
We will get back to you individually.
I’ll now leave you with a short video from one of our nurses, Mark.
He was a rescinded direct-hire nurse, but through staffing, he was able to:
Recapture his I-140
Find a new employer
Successfully move to the U.S.
Thank you so much for joining us today.
I really appreciate your time and your questions.
Mark’s Testimonial
I started my journey back in 2009. I was single and unsure about my direction in life, even though I was already a nurse.
Fast forward—I got married, and my wife and I tried to build our careers and business in the Philippines. We were grateful for that journey.
Then the pandemic came, and it became clear that God was calling me to continue my American journey. I wasn’t convinced at first, but my wife affirmed it. That was our turning point.
I restarted my U.S. journey in 2021 and passed NCLEX in 2022. The process wasn’t easy, but it was worth the fight.
Then came retrogression. And just 30 days before my embassy interview, I received heartbreaking news—my direct-hire offer was rescinded.
The excitement turned into emotional torture.
But AMN Healthcare—especially OGP—caught me during that difficult time. They immediately helped me find another employer.
In less than a month, I received a new job offer through staffing.
They recaptured my I-140, and everything moved quickly.
I thought I would have to wait for years again—but it only took a few months.
Now I’m working in the U.S.
We bought our first car.
Soon, we’ll have our own home.
My rescinded journey lasted only five months.
It was heartbreaking—but it was just a comma, not a period, in my life story.
We’ve traveled to Chicago, Florida, Texas, Georgia, California, and many more states.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the AMN OGP family.
You made our American dream come true for me, my wife, and my children.
____
Hello everyone! Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening.
Welcome to AMN Academy.
I am your host, Joy Bansag, and I work as a Placement Manager with AMN Healthcare. Welcome, and please let us know in the chat which country you’re watching from today.
We’ll be talking about why staffing is the best option during retrogression and why experience matters.
Hello! Hi Gladys, how are you?
Hi Wilma, welcome!
Hi Paul Zia!
Hi Surjit, hello!
Thank you all for joining us today.
Topic Overview
Today, we will be discussing:
- Why staffing is the best option during retrogression
- Why experience matters
- Common myths about staffing
- How to apply with AMN Healthcare
- Current direct and staffing opportunities
About Me
I’ve been working in this industry for more than 20 years, and during that time, I have encountered many periods of retrogression. Retrogression is a normal process. It happens because there are more applicants than available visas, and I’m sure many nurses here are already aware of this.
That’s why it is very important to have your I-140 filed as soon as possible to establish your priority date.
At AMN, we can file your green card within 15 to 30 working days, depending on how quickly you can complete your requirements. From licensing to immigration, until you complete your contract with us, we will be with you every step of the way.