Notice of Approval of New Credentialing Organization for Healthcare Workers for Certain Immigration Purposes

On October 25, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a notice of the approval of a new credentialing organization, International Education Evaluations, LLC, for certain healthcare workers for certain immigration purposes.  Under relevant sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, an individual seeking admission to the U.S. as an immigrant or nonimmigrant (whether applying for admission, a change of status, or adjustment of status in the U.S.) for the purpose of working in certain health care occupations must present a certificate from an authorized credentialing organization.  Under applicable regulations, DHS expressly authorizes the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), and the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) to issue such certificates.

DHS, after consulting with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also established standards for the approval of additional credentialing organizations.  USCIS created an adjudication framework for the filing and processing of these applications using form I-905, Application for Authorization to Issue Certification for Healthcare Workers.  These regulations also provide for periodic review and termination of credentialing authority for organizations if necessary.