The demand for international healthcare professionals in the United States has never been higher. However, visa retrogression presents a significant challenge for employers relying on international talent to fill critical staffing gaps. Understanding retrogression and its impact can help healthcare facilities strategically navigate these delays and maintain workforce stability.
What Is Visa Retrogression?
Visa retrogression occurs when the demand for visas in a particular category or country exceeds the number available for that month. For healthcare employers, this primarily affects the EB visa category, which covers skilled workers, including nurses and other medical professionals.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) manages this backlog by adjusting the cut-off dates in its monthly visa bulletin. Sometimes, a priority date that was current one month may no longer be valid the next. Retrogression typically occurs toward the end of the fiscal year (September 30) as visa allocations are depleted. However, when the new fiscal year begins on October 1, a new supply of visas is made available, and usually, but not always, returns the dates to where they were before retrogression.
While new visa numbers become available on October 1, DOS processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis according to the applicant’s priority date—the date on which United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives the employer’s petition on behalf of the nurse. Due to the current retrogression, only those nurses whose petitions were filed on or before December 1, 2022, will be eligible for an embassy appointment and, subsequently, a visa to enter the United States.
For the current cycle, under the EB-3 category, all countries are experiencing retrogression with priority dates set to December 1, 2022, except for China and India, which have even earlier cut-off dates.
Why Does Retrogression Happen?
The U.S. government limits the number of visas issued annually in each category. The EB-3 category is capped at 140,000 visas per year, with no more than 7% allocated to any one country. These visas are not exclusively for nurses but also cover other professionals such as physicians, teachers, IT workers, and accountants. High-demand countries like the Philippines, India, and China frequently experience retrogression due to the sheer volume of applicants.
How Retrogression Impacts Healthcare Facilities
For hospitals and healthcare facilities, retrogression can create workforce shortages and operational challenges, including:
- Delayed Onboarding: International nurses who have already accepted offers may face extended waiting periods before they can enter the U.S. and begin work.
- Increased Reliance on Temporary Staffing: Hospitals may need to turn to travel nurses or per diem staff to cover gaps.
- Uncertainty in Workforce Planning: Facilities counting on international hires must adjust staffing projections due to unpredictable visa processing times.
- Potential Impact on Patient Care: Staffing shortages can affect nurse-to-patient ratios, potentially leading to burnout and lower quality of care.
Strategies for Managing Retrogression
While retrogression is beyond an employer’s control, there are proactive steps healthcare organizations can take to mitigate its impact.
Maintain Communication with Your Epic International Staffing Representative
Epic Staffing Group, Epic International Staffing’s parent company, offers both travel and direct-hire solutions to help hospitals address immediate and long-term staffing needs. Our team remains in constant communication with international nurses, ensuring they are engaged and prepared to transition as soon as their visa dates become current.
Advocate for Legislative Solutions
Employers can play an active role in addressing the root causes of visa retrogression by:
- Contacting their state Senate and House representatives to emphasize the impact of retrogression on healthcare staffing and patient care.
- Supporting the Healthcare Workforce Resiliency Act (HWRA), a bipartisan bill aimed at recapturing 25,000 previously unused visas for nurses and 15,000 for physicians.
- Partnering with organizations advocating for legislative reforms, including the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, and the National Rural Health Association.
At Epic International Staffing, we can provide assistance with advocacy efforts, including letter-writing campaigns and in-person meetings with policymakers.
Diversify Staffing Strategies
While waiting for priority dates to move forward, healthcare organizations can explore additional staffing options available through Epic Staffing Group.
- Utilize Travel Nursing Solutions: Epic Staffing Group provides travel nurses via our Epic Travel Staffing business as an interim solution to help maintain staffing levels.
- Explore Alternative Visa Programs: Our team can assist in identifying other visa pathways to bring clinicians into the U.S., helping to meet staffing needs more efficiently.
- Connect with Your Epic International Staffing Account Manager: We encourage healthcare facilities to reach out to their Epic representative to discuss tailored staffing programs designed to address immediate and long-term workforce challenges.
Planning for the Future
Although retrogression creates uncertainty, healthcare facilities that take a proactive approach can minimize disruptions. By staying informed, advocating for policy changes, and leveraging flexible staffing solutions, hospitals can ensure continuity of care and workforce stability.
At Epic International Staffing, we are committed to helping healthcare facilities navigate visa retrogression challenges. Contact us today to explore staffing solutions and advocacy efforts that can support your organization’s long-term success.