Your path to greater economic and professional opportunity in the United States begins when you sign your Pre-Deployment Contract Agreement. You will receive expert guidance and support from the Shearwater Health team throughout your 36-month contract at one of our client hospitals.

Through our team, you will receive expertise covering immigration processing, hospital matching, U.S. acculturation, and assignment preparation. You become a part of our team, and we are always available to answer your questions and ensure you are equipped to perform at your highest potential.

1. Is Shearwater Health a new company?

No, since 2002, Shearwater has welcomed thousands of bedside nurses worldwide to work at hospitals in the United States. Shearwater Health is now a certified ally for ethical international recruitment practices. This recognition is a testament to Shearwater Health’s vision to be the leader in efficient, scalable, and accessible healthcare solutions.

Most of our nurses have come from the Philippines, where we have several offices, but here is the full list of nationalities we’ve hired: Philippines, *Jamaica, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Ghana, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, South Africa, Chile, Pakistan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Guyana, Hong Kong, Jordan, Uganda, Brazil, Cameroon, El Salvador, South Korea.*

*Please note that the countries mentioned are subject to change based on our current hiring needs and requirements*

2. Is Shearwater Health an agency?

No, Shearwater Health is an employer and petitioner. Our nurses are employed on a contract term and matched to a bedside setting at one of our client hospitals. This gives us a solid incentive to prepare you for work in the United States and ensure you have a smooth transition and ongoing support in your work in the U.S.

1. What are the requirements to qualify for an interview?

Our requirements are simple:

• A BSN graduate with an active local nursing license. USRN profiles are preferred but not required.
• If currently employed, you must work in a secondary or tertiary hospital with a minimum of 100 beds, preferably a JCIA-accredited hospital.
• You must be able to communicate effectively in English.
• You must have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude.

In select cases, exceptions can be made to the nursing experience and the size of the facility depending on your expertise.

2. Is there a specific specialty I should try to gain experience in?

Shearwater Health hires nurses across all in-patient specialties, however, we do primarily hire Medical-Surgical, ICU, and ER nurses.

3. How long does it take from the time I sign an offer letter until I arrive in the U.S.?

Processing time can vary based on:

     1) How long it takes to complete the NCLEX review and exam. Most nurses need 6 months to fully prepare and apply for the NCLEX.       We will begin processing your visa after you pass the NCLEX.

     2) The timeframe the U.S. government requires to process paperwork for your visa, can vary. We expect that the process will take about 12-24 months.

     3) How long it takes a nurse to pass the English proficiency exam.

     4) The amount of time to successfully match a nurse with one of our client hospitals. We are careful to place our nurses at a facility that is the right fit for their preferences. Sometimes this is not immediate, but we believe it is important to the nurse’s success.

4. What if I already have IELTS and/or NCLEX and/or Visa Screen when I apply? Do you offer reimbursements?

Yes. If hired, you will be reimbursed for the expenses of your unexpired credentials, provided that you are able to show proof of passing and payment.

5. I have friends/coworkers who would like to apply; how do they do so?

Direct them to our website and have them apply online. The nurse you are referring to will list your name as their referral. You will earn a referral bonus if they sign on with us!

1. Do you sponsor me to take the NCLEX?

Yes, we pay all fees required for one attempt of the NCLEX. We pay for Kaplan NCLEX Institutional, a self-paced online review program. We will also pay all travel and accommodation fees for the one attempt if you live somewhere that does not have any NCLEX Testing Centers.

2. What US state will I be licensed in?

We license all nurses in New York, but this is not necessarily where our nurses will work. Once a nurse has been matched with a client hospital, we will endorse the New York license to the state where the client hospital is located.

3. What kind of review will you provide us?

You will be enrolled in the Kaplan NCLEX Institutional program, a self-paced online review course that provides 6 months of access. This program features content-focused, flexible NCLEX-RN review lessons that help you develop effective strategies. You can join live classes or watch recorded sessions at any time in any order.

4. When will my review begin?

Your review will begin once you receive your Kaplan NCLEX Institutional program Access.

5. When can I take my NCLEX exam?

Once you receive approval from the New York BON and a recommendation from the review, we will apply for your Authorization To Test (ATT). Your exam will be scheduled on a date set by the Company which is within the validity period of the Authorization to Test (“ATT”) issued by the NCSBN.

6. When will I get my ATT? How long is it valid?

The Authority To Test (ATT) will be issued once ATT registration is completed. The ATT is valid for 6 months.

7. Where will I take my NCLEX? We do not have a test center here.

There are various locations/countries where you can take the NCLEX, but Shearwater Health will determine your final testing site depending on various reasons like current residency, availability of test slots, travel requirements, and travel notices. As a rule, but may change:

• If you are located in Europe, you will be scheduled in London. If you are in Africa, you will be scheduled in South Africa.
• You will be scheduled in the US or Brazil if you are in the Caribbean.
• If you reside in the Middle East, you will test in India or the Philippines.
• If you are in the Philippines, you will test in Manila or Makati.

8. If I have to travel to take the NCLEX, will SWH sponsor my airfare and hotel accommodation?

Yes, these will both be fully sponsored on your first NCLEX take.

9. What if I fail the NCLEX?

We have diagnostic tools that are excellent indicators of your ability to pass the exam. We won’t let you take the exam if we believe you might fail. If you do fail, we will temporarily halt the sponsorship, and once you pass, you may continue your application with us, and we’ll resume sponsoring your Immigration and Credentialing applications going to the U.S.

1. Who will pay the CES verification requests?

Shearwater Health will sponsor the CGFNS services application fee, but the nurse is responsible for all verification request fees.

2. Who will submit my CES verification requests?

You will submit your requests directly to your Nursing School and local Nursing Council. The School and Nursing Council will then submit the verifications directly to CGFNS.

3. Is it okay to sign the CGFNS Transcript verification form and the PRC license verification form electronically?

Some schools and licensing authorities allow electronic signatures, but some do not. We highly suggest that you sign the forms by hand to avoid any delays.

4. How long is the issuance of CES?

This depends on the length of time it takes for all documents to be received and accepted by CGFNS. Based on the current timeline, this takes 4-5 months.

1. Can Shearwater Health provide me with financial assistance on my English proficiency exam?

Yes, Shearwater will provide sponsorship if you meet the eligibility requirements.

2. When am I required to take the English proficiency exam?

Our current policy is to register nurses for the exam once your petition has been filed to USCIS. You will receive a notification from our team when this happens.

3. Since I haven’t passed my English proficiency exam yet, will it affect my visa application?

Yes, it is very likely that your process will be affected. The English Proficiency Examination is one of the major requirements for a VisaScreen certificate, and the timing of the exam is important. If you opt to delay the exam, you will not be issued a VisaScreen which will then cause a delay in your visa issuance (VisaScreen is a requirement at the Embassy Interview).

1. As my employer, what type of visa will you provide me?

We petition nurses under the Employment-Based, Third Preference Immigrant Visa (EB3 visa). This visa allows for permanent residency in the United States for a principal applicant (you) as well as a spouse and dependent children. We pay for all of your visa processing, but you are required to reimburse us for any dependent visa and green card fees ($565 per dependent).

2. How long is my visa valid? Do I receive a permanent resident card?

Your visa is good for one year from the date of admission into the US. Once you arrive in the United States you receive a temporary I-551 stamp that indicates you have permanent resident status and has the date you entered the US. You should receive your green card about one to three months after you arrive in the United States. This green card will replace the visa in your passport. Your green card will be good for 10 years, and you can renew it indefinitely. You are also eligble to apply for citizenship after 5 years in the U.S.

3. Do I have to pay you back for any of the sponsorship expenses?

No, you never have to pay us back for any of the expenses. We pay for all of your processing fees. You will find no hidden charges such as “administration fees,” “immigration fees,” or “salary deduction” in the U.S. for your NCLEX or immigration processing. The only immigration expense you will reimburse is the dependent visa and green card fee ($565 per dependent). This will be paid back via salary deduction once you arrive in the U.S.

4. Can I switch jobs during my visa processing?

It is possible. It is important that you remain employed in an acute care setting while undergoing visa processing. If you choose to switch hospitals or units while being processed, the proposed hospital and nursing unit must be approved by Shearwater Health prior to interviewing for such a position. If we think the change will jeopardize your chances to work in the U.S., we will not approve the change. It’s also important to avoid signing any long-term employment contracts while undergoing immigration processing without first consulting the Shearwater team.

1. How can a petition be upgraded?

If your Priority Date becomes current, we will evaluate your petition to see if it is eligible to upgrade to premium processing.

2. When will we expect to have our response for the petitions that were upgraded?

USCIS will begin processing the request and provide a response within 15 calendar days of receipt of the request.

3. Regarding the preferred location once it’s filed can I still change the location once I reach the NVC stage?

USCIS automatically assigns your case based on your current country of residency at the time of filing. If you transfer to a different country while waiting for embassy interview, we can request to transfer your case. The review timeline and approval of case transfer depends on the new embassy consulate. Your NVC case complete or embassy interview scheduling will be delayed until the request has been completed.

4. What is RFE? How does it differ from NOID?

RFE stands for Request For Evidence. This is a letter that comes in response to an I-140 petition that the government feels is not complete. An RFE is mainly different from a NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny) because of the time that the government allows us to respond to it.

5. What will happen if my petition gets denied?

We will evaluate the reason for denial and refile for you under premium processing.

6. For denied applications, is there a chance for premium processing to be utilized in submitting for a refile?

Yes, absolutely. We will always use premium processing if a petition is denied and we are refiling.

7. When will I have my priority date?

You should get a priority date when a receipt notice is issued, but it will not be final until you receive an Approval Notice.

8. I was born in a country that is experiencing retrogression; do I have to wait for my Priority Date becomes current?

After your petition is approved by USCIS, you will have to wait for your priority date to become current. Then, the NVC can continue with the processing of your immigrant visa application.

9. Will premium processing also apply in NVC and embassy?

No, premium processing will only apply when filing petitions.

1. I’ll get married soon, how will I add my spouse as my dependent on the petition?

We can add your new spouse at the filing of your petition or anytime between NVC and Embassy Interview stages. We will need copies of his or her civil documents and active passport. Your NVC case complete or embassy interview scheduling will be delayed until the request has been completed.

2. Will there be a conflict in the future if ever I decided on getting married?

Not at all. Just make sure that you do not change your name in the middle of the immigration process to avoid any delay with your application. We would also encourage you to go ahead and marry before your Embassy Interview because of the risks involved with adding a dependent after the interview. These risks involve having to use a different visa category for your new spouse, which you would have to do on your own because this is out of the scope of our practice.

3. Can I include my nanny/my parents/my sibling as my dependent?

No, the US government only allows spouses and children to be sponsored as dependents.

4. Can I bring my dependents on my travel to the US?

Yes! You can most definitely bring your dependents on your travel to the U.S. We value the importance of your family during the period of your transition and we are here to support you. However, life in the US can be expensive, so we encourage everyone to get their “footing” first and be financially prepared to better support and provide for your family. 

5. What if I have a baby between now and when I arrive to the US?

That is completely fine, but we do discourage pregnancy right before deployment to the US. If you have a baby after we have filed your I-140 petition, the child can still be added either during the NVC stage or the Embassy interview stage.

1. If Shearwater Health is my employer and the petitioner how do I get my hospital assignment?

Shearwater has client hospitals all over the United States, and we are always adding more. All are excellent Tertiary Acute Care Hospitals and Joint Commission approved. Some are Magnet Facilities. The hospital assignment will be determined by one or more interviews with client hospitals and your decision to work there.

2. So I get to decide? And I stay in one hospital?

That is correct. It is your decision whether to select an offered position or not. Having an open-mind about the placement process is best as we work hard to provide a good fit for you. We believe in One-Hospital-One Nurse-One Time, and we guarantee you won’t moved around from hospital to hospital during your contract period. This way, you can settle into your new community sooner and know you will not have to uproot your family or friendships made in the U.S.

3. When will I be matched to a US client?

The matching process is triggered by our hospital clients’ needs. We search through our nurse pipeline to find nurses with the right experience and potential arrival date to set you up for a successful interview and subsequent transition to the hospital. Usually, you will be considered for a match when you reach Case Complete with the NVC.

4. Is it necessary to have a client hospital prior to my embassy interview?

Yes, it is required by the US government that we show you have a job lined up in the US. In the case that this does not happen, we will make sure you are matched to a client prior to your deployment.

5. My friend has a hospital assignment, why don’t I?

Try not to compare your placement experience with your friends. This is a thoughtful process where we are assessing a number of criteria from our hospital partners to find the right profile match from our nurse pipeline. This has proven to make transition to the U.S. a smooth process. Our goal is always to get you to the U.S., working and thriving as soon as possible, but the key to thriving is helping you attain the right position.

6. If I am promoted to Charge nurse, will it affect my application?

It will not affect your application if you are still working at the bedside for at least 8-16 hours per week. This need is to ensure that you are clinically viable which will be important to US hospital clients. It is important that you continue working at the bedside until you deploy to the US.

7. Where in the US will I be working? What states do you typically place in?

The states we place in change depending on our clients hospitals’ needs. Right now we are actively placing in 14 states that are spread out throughout the US.

8. What are the pre-deployment trainings you offer? When will I be enrolled, and is this really a requirement?

Along with other modules you will be provided, the Kaplan iHuman is a program designed to prepare you for work in the US hospital setting. It is offered once you reach Case Complete with the NVC and completion of the program is required in order to deploy to the US.

9. I am now in Case Complete, why have I not been placed with a Client Hospital?

We know that as you near the finish line of the immigration process you are anxious and anticipating your hospital placement. We want you to have a client/hospital assignment too! However, the placement process is not triggered by the nurse immigration status but rather by client hospital need/request. Nurses are typically presented to clients anywhere from the Case Complete stage of immigration through the Embassy Interview stage. Finding the right match is the most important thing, so be patient as we seek the right fit for you.

10. I have a Client Hospital, but I learned from a friend that there is an open opportunity elsewhere – can you still submit me?

Once you have accepted a position with a client hospital, you have made a commitment to the hospital, and Shearwater has made a commitment to the hospital in your name so you cannot be submitted for another opportunity. We do not force any of our nurses to accept client assignment, which is why we ask that you are thoughtful and talk through your concerns with the Shearwater team before accepting or rejecting a hospital offer. We only submit nurses to one hospital at a time out of respect to our hospital clients.

11. What happens if I decline the offer? How soon can I be matched again?

It is okay to decline a hospital offer. We do ask that you speak to a Shearwater team member prior to declining so that your questions and concerns can be discussed. If you do decline an offer you will be matched with another hospital however there will likely be a delay as we identify opportunities at other client for nurses with your skill set. If no other opportunities are readily available, the delay may be longer.

12. What happens if I have a Client Hospital already, and I decide to postpone my deployment, will the Client Hospital client wait for me?

This is addressed on a case-by-case basis. Your hospital is eagerly awaiting your arrival and holding an open position for you. Because of this, some hospitals may not be able to wait, while others will have more flexibility. If you have concerns that you need to delay your deployment make sure you communicate this concern with the Shearwater deployment team.

13. How long am I allowed to think about the offer before signing?

Our clients are anxiously awaiting your response after they have offered you a position. If you have questions or concerns about the hospital, the city where the hospital is located, or the unit, be sure to communicate those to the Shearwater Health Nurse Development Team. It is a standard expectation that you would make a decision within 72 hours of the offer, but this may be extended if you have questions that need to be answered.

14. Can I be matched to a second hospital before I accept the first offer?

No, out of respect to our client hospitals we will only submit you to one client at a time.

1. I’m currently pregnant, do I still need to submit an updated CXR before traveling to the U.S.?

For pregnant women, we can use your last CXR result that was taken.

2. When will I get deployed to the US?

You will be deployed to the US as soon as you have a client hospital, an active RN license in the state you will be working in and a valid EB3 Visa. We will look at the hospital’s orientation dates as well as the availability of our team and other nurses to travel alongside you. We prefer to arrive our nurses in groups so that you have a built-in support system. If you have other factors that need to be considered when planning the date of deployment, such as a notice period, please let our team know as soon as possible.

3. I have 90-day notice and can be shortened to a week if we pay a certain amount. Who will sponsor this?

This decision will be made by the Shearwater Health team. We will take total amount, projected travel date, orientation dates at the US client hospital and several other factors into account.

4. When is the best time to resign from my current job?

There are many variables that we consider before recommending resignation and these can vary from one case to another. We always want you to wait to resign until you have a visa in hand, a client assignment and an ongoing license endorsement application. We prefer that you have a license issued because the endorsement process can take months to complete.

1. How long is my contract with Shearwater Health?

36 months depending on your client assignment. Your contract can be extended if you take unpaid leave while in the US (example: you have a baby and take maternity leave).

2. Do you provide continuing education/clinical support during my contract?

Yes, Shearwater Health and your client facility will provide clinical resources to help you adjust to a new working environment. This includes, but is not limited to, helpful articles, one-on-one coaching sessions, and continuing education modules. Shearwater will sponsor the renewal of any certification courses required for your job. If continuing education modules are needed for your license renewal, Shearwater can assist in finding where these courses are offered.

3. What will my pay rate be in the U.S.?

On average our nurses make about $67,000 per year. The hourly pay rate varies depending on the geographical location of the client hospital and the U.S. Department of Labor’s prevailing wage.

4. Does Shearwater offer any form of career advancement?

Yes! Shearwater recently rolled out a program called the Clinical Ladder. The Clinical Ladder is a structured system to provide staff nurses career advancement while remaining at the bedside, providing direct patient care. It is used to recognize professional development and differentiates levels of nursing expertise and contribution. Clinical ladder advancement is recognized by healthcare organizations across the nation and will be a great addition to your resume. This is also a way our nurses will be able to earn pay increases during their contract.

5. Can you tell me more about the Clinical Ladder?

Shearwater nurses are encouraged to perform activities in order to move up the clinical ladder and receive pay increases. There are four categories for activities: Clinical Practice, Leadership, Growth & Development, and Community. Examples of these activities are Continuing Education courses, Performance Evaluation from manager, charge nurse/team lead, mentor/preceptor, cross training in another unit, timely renewal of licenses/certifications, academic progress towards advanced degree, attending a Shearwater event, participating in welcome week for a new Shearwater nurse, participating in Shearwater newsletter/blog/Instagram, referring a nurse to Shearwater. You will have access to members of the Shearwater clinical team to outline how you can best achieve these advancements.

6. Does Shearwater have benefits such as medical insurance?

Yes! When you arrive to the US you will able to elect insurances such as medical, dental, vision, life, accident. You will receive a login to our benefits portal to view all details of each insurance, as well as the price point per paycheck. Your benefits are effective the day you land in the US.

7. Am I allowed to do a lateral transfer to other unit when am there in the event I don’t like my present unit?

It’s important to understand that you have been offered a position to a specific unit. This is because there is a need for nurses in that particular unit and your skill sets have been deemed suitable for that unit. You should anticipate that you will start your contract and complete you contract in the same unit, but if you are approached by the hospital about transferring to another unit, this is something that can be considered.

8. What if I did something wrong on my duty? Example: An error during my orientation phase.

Nurses are human too, meaning nurses may make mistakes. You will receive training to help provide you with expectations for patient care and safety, however, mistakes do happen on occasion. U.S. hospitals have a process for completing incident reports. Reporting your errors and helping assess the cause of the error is viewed favorably. Where nurses get in trouble with errors/mistakes is when they hide or do not report the error or when they are grossly negligent leading to loss of life or limb. We do provide malpractice insurance for our nurses in case of a more serious mistake, however, most mistakes are dealt with inside the hospital and usually result in remediation training.

9. I feel like I am doing poorly in my first month at work, how can Shearwater help me?

Shearwater has a team of experienced nurse leaders who will be available to provide guidance. This could include on-site shadowing and skills remediation. The overall goal for both Shearwater and your hospital is that you will be successful and thrive. Shearwater clinicians and your hospital nurse leaders will work together to provide you with clear expectations and guidance and training so that you will be successful. It’s OK to admit when you need help.

10. I have concerns with my clinical duty, to whom shall I raise my concerns?

We encourage our nurses to raise any specific concerns on their unit or on their shift to their charge nurse or nurse manager at the hospital first. This is following an appropriate chain of command and a respected way to handle concerns in the U.S. However, if you do not feel that your concerns are being heard or handled appropriately, the clinical leaders at Shearwater will work to advocate for you and find resolution to your concerns.

ABD Overseas Manpower Corporation

DMW license No.: DMW-360-LB-05242024-R

Accreditation No.: 100823066

Beware of illegal recruiters | No fees to be collected

35th Floor Seven Neo Building, 5th Avenue, E-square Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, 1634

Shearwater Health U.S. Nurse Migration