H-1C Program for Nurses Reauthorized

On December 26, 2006, USCIS Associate Director Michael Aytes issued a memorandum notifying the Service Centers of the reauthorization of the H-1C Program for nurses.  

The H-1C Program was created through the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1999 (NRDAA) in order to reduce the shortage of qualified nurses in health professional shortage areas. The NRDAA allowed qualified hospitals to employ temporary foreign workers as registered nurses for up to three years on H-1C visas. The NRDAA expired on June 13, 2005.  

On December 20, 2006, Congress reauthorized the H-1C program for an additional three years through the passage of Public Law 109-423.  The elements of the H-1C program remain unchanged (more information on H-1C eligibility and application procedures can be found here). The provisions of Public Law 109-423 are effective immediately and USCIS will be publishing revisions to its regulations in the near future.

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