In April 2022, MUfiled a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, requesting a completedataset of all I-140 registered nurse immigrant petitions approved betweenFiscal Year (FY) 2018 – Fiscal Year 2022. The USCIS finally responded, producing a 443 page list of I-140immigrant petitions approved between FY 2018 – FY 2022 for registered nurses. MUhas summarized the data provided by the USCIS below:
|
|
FY 2018 |
FY 2019 |
FY 2020 |
FY2021 |
FY 2022 |
|
Total # of Approved RN I-140s |
3905 |
5695 |
7484 |
7489 |
12095 |
As indicated bythe data produced by the USCIS, there has been a steady increase in the numberof approved I-140 immigrant petitions for registered nurses, with a notablejump in FY 2022, reflecting a critical need among U.S. employers for foreignnational registered nurses. The demand among U.S. employers, coupled with agrowing nursing workforce shortage should persuade Congress to embrace legislation,such as the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, which seeks to address thenation’s shortage of nurses in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In summary, thedata produced by USCIS not only illustrates the urgent demand for foreignnational registered nurses but also reinforces the need for legislativemeasures to address this critical shortage in healthcare.