US immigration plans for nurses hit a major block

Those aspiring to go to US have to wait for the retrogression to be lifted

Sneha Shetty, a 31-year-old nurse from Bangalore, was through with 90% of her visa formalities and had even packed her bags. All she needed was a stamp on her US visa. That’s when retrogression struck, putting a spanner in the works. US immigration laws for registered nurses and physical therapists, which were already strict, have now become almost impossible thanks to retrogression of these employment-based visa categories (which means immigration visas in a certain employment category have been put on hold temporarily).

Shetty and thousands of nurses aspiring to go abroad, particularly to the US, have been left with no option but to wait for the retrogression to be lifted.

The recent US economic meltdown hasn’t helped matters either. “It’s been a year since then and I have decided to work in India as I am not sure when I will get an opportunity to go abroad,” said Shetty. “I am not sure if going abroad, in the current financial scenario, would be a good thing either,” added Anu Nair, 26, who also came to Mumbai only to see her hope of moving to the US being dashed to the ground.

“Several of my friends from Kerala had shifted to cities in the US and I knew there were several vacancies for nurses. However, unfortunately, I have been unable to get a visa,” said Nair. “The future is very uncertain as I don’t know when I will be able to go to the US,” she added.

However, the senior nursing staff in hospitals, both private as well as government, say this may work out to India’s advantage. “Hospitals across the country are facing a severe shortage of nurses and they will benefit if the brain drain stops,” said Belinda Fernandes, nursing manager, PD Hinduja Hospital, adding that she knew several nurses who were waiting for their visas to be processed. “This slump is going to continue till things change in the US,” said Fernandes.

On the other hand, the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), which is organising a conference to commemorate its centenary, says the future of nursing in India looks bright.

“During the two day conference, which starts on Tuesday, our members will be making certain recommendations to the government. We will recommend the revision of the salary structure of nursing staff, regulated working hours, travel allowance etc,” said Francesca Rebello, member TNAI, who works with the Prince Aly Khan Hospital.
“Another issue we will focus on is work environment. In Mumbai, nurses enjoy a lot of facilities, but that is not the case in other cities and in rural areas,” she said.

According to Rebello, while earlier every nurse aimed at fulfilling the great American dream, trained nurses are now not inclined to go to the US at all.

“There are fresh pastures opening up for nurses in the UK, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia,” said Rebello. “The next best option right now is working in the Gulf, which is also facing a shortage of nurses and which pays nurses up to one lakh per month,” said Jessy Thomas, a registered nurse who will be moving to the Gulf in January.