In 2022 international nurse, Rodfel, fulfilled his ambition of becoming a Filipino nurse in the USA. After researching to determine which nursing agency was best to help him secure a Green Card, he chose to work with nurse recruitment agency, Conexus MedStaff. With assistance from Conexus throughout his immigration journey to secure an EB-3 visa for nurses, Rodfel overcame the challenges posed by six years of retrogression to finally land the American nursing job of his dreams.
EB-3 visa for Filipino nurses
Rodfel’s story began in 2007 when he graduated nursing school. While he never planned to be a nurse, it was his father who encouraged him to take up the profession, something Rodfel now calls ‘a blessing’.
For Rodfel, the pathway to obtaining an EB-3 visa for nurses was challenging. He applied to Conexus in 2014 in pursuit of a nursing career in the U.S. and his nurse Green Card visa was filed in 2016 – a time when Priority Dateswere in retrogression by up to six years. Read more about retrogression in this article.
Green Card setbacks
A few months later, Rodfel received the news that his application for an EB-3 visa for nurses had been denied. “Conexus never gave up on me,” he recounts. Conexus resubmitted his visa application, which was finally approved in 2018.
After taking his IELTS exam and preparing his supporting documents for the National Visa Center (NVC), Rodfel attended his USA embassy interview in 2020. “Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I got refused again,” Rodfel recalls. The rejection was especially difficult because his friend received approval at the same time. “We were actually standing bedside each other, having our interview simultaneously. So, that was very unfortunate.”
After this second setback and working through the pandemic in the Philippines, Rodfel made the decision to relocate to the UK. “There was an opening, there was a large opportunity because of the pandemic. They really needed nurses, so I went to the UK in February 2021, and I worked there.”
While Rodfel enjoyed his experiences in the UK, he didn’t give up on working as a nurse in the United States. There are many Filipino nurses in the USA, so he knew that Green Card sponsorship was possible. “I'm very grateful that I worked in in the UK, but I told Conexus I'm going to pursue my U.S. dream, whatever happens,” he explained. “Working in the UK prepared me for my future practice in the U.S. and I improved my communication skills.”
An American nurse job eight years in the making
Conexus refiled Rodfel’s I-140 petition in 2022, when Priority Dates were current, and his Green Card visa was finally issued in August 2022. After eight years of waiting, his dream of joining fellow Filipino nurses in the USA had come true.
Reflecting on his journey and how he remained hopeful throughout, Rodfel shared:
“I think the key is to be patient. Life is never a race and success is subjective. One thing I learned is that if you don't learn how to be happy with what you have right now, you'll never be happy with whatever you're going to get in the future.”
Rodfel attributes the success of his nurse immigration journey to the support he received from Conexus. “In my experience, Conexus is very reliable. They’ve been in this business for years and they know their thing. We’re not trials and errors to them, they’ve been sending nurses and medical technologists to the U.S. for years. They have a very competent immigration team.”
Nurse immigration advice
As for advice for his fellow international nurses who are feeling the pressure of retrogression, Rodfel has reassurance to offer. “I know the feeling of waiting, checking the Visa Bulletin every month, asking colleagues for updates. Retrogression is not your agency’s fault. It just happens. Take the opportunity to enjoy whatever you have right now with your family, your friends, enjoy your culture, enjoy your country, because when you leave, believe me, you’ll miss it.”
If you’re an international nurse or medical technologist seeking a new career in the U.S., apply now to learn how we can help you realize your version of the American dream.