H.R. 7351: National Urgent Recruitment for Skilled Employees Visa Act of 2026

This bill, known as the National Urgent Recruitment for Skilled Employees Visa Act of 2026, aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to facilitate the recruitment of nonimmigrant nurses in the United States, particularly in areas that are facing a nursing shortage.

Key Provisions

• Increase in Visa Numbers: The bill proposes to significantly increase the number of nonimmigrant visas available for nurses from 500 to 20,000 each year. This increase is intended for nurses working in designated shortage areas as identified by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
• Staffing Ratio Requirement: The legislation mandates that any healthcare facility employing these nurses must have a policy in place regarding the ratio of healthcare providers to patients. This is designed to ensure quality care and address concerns about nurse workloads.
• Regulatory Framework: The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of State to establish regulations to implement these changes within one year of the bill's enactment.
• Effective Date: The provisions outlined in the bill would take effect immediately upon enactment, applying to nonimmigrant visa petitions submitted under a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Purpose

The primary objective of this legislation is to address the ongoing nursing shortages in certain regions of the United States by allowing more foreign nurses to work in these areas through an expedited visa process. By increasing the number of available visas and ensuring that proper staffing ratios are maintained, the bill seeks to improve healthcare access and quality for underserved populations.

Implementation

The implementation of this bill will involve coordination between health and immigration authorities, who will be responsible for developing the necessary regulations to ensure that the increased number of visas and the staffing policies are effectively managed and monitored.

Relevant Companies