From Kenya to your US nursing career
Kenyan-trained nurses have several US visa options — EB-3 + Schedule A, H-1B, F-1 → OPT → EB-3, and EB-2 NIW. Kenya ranked 4th among CGFNS VisaScreen source countries in FY 2023.
Available US visa pathways
The six US work visa pathways most relevant to internationally-trained nurses. Status reflects eligibility for nationals of Kenya, not certainty of approval.
| Pathway | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
EB-3 + Schedule A Permanent (green card) | Available | ~2yr wait (Rest of World). |
TN (USMCA) Temporary, renewable | Not applicable | Kenya is not party to USMCA. |
H-1B1 (FTA) Temporary, Chile/Singapore only | Not applicable | Reserved for Chilean and Singaporean nationals only. |
H-1B Temporary, lottery-capped (cap-exempt employers exist) | Conditional | Requires BSN + specialty role; lottery-capped, but cap-exempt employers (universities, teaching hospitals, nonprofits) are not subject to the lottery. |
EB-2 NIW Permanent (green card), self-petition | Conditional | — |
F-1 → OPT → EB-3 Student → permanent path | Available | — |
Source: USCIS, DOL Schedule A, USMCA Annex 16-A. Last updated April 2026.
EB-3 priority date queue (May 2026)
If you file for an employment-based green card, the wait depends on your country of chargeability. Where each category stands today:
- Rest of World(yours)~2 years
- Mexico~2 years
- Philippines~3 years
- China~5 years
- India12+ years
Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for May 2026 (travel.state.gov). Refreshed monthly.
The Kenya nurse diaspora in the US
Kenyan-trained nurses are increasingly visible in the US workforce. Kenya ranked 4th among top source countries for CGFNS VisaScreen certificates in FY 2023 — a significant jump that reflects both growing demand and active recruitment pipelines (CGFNS 2023 Nurse Migration Report). Kenya's nursing exodus has been described as reaching critical levels, with economic factors and nurse-to-patient ratios driving migration despite domestic shortages.
Sources: CGFNS 2023 Nurse Migration Report, HRSA NSSRN, NCSBN National Nursing Workforce Study, Migration Policy Institute.
CGFNS & NCLEX-RN
Kenya ranked 4th among VisaScreen source countries in FY 2023 and has shown consistent growth in applications over the past six years. Like other African source countries, Kenya appears on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023, with only 8.7 nurses per 10,000 population across the African region — the lowest of any WHO region (CGFNS 2023 Nurse Migration Report).
Sources: CGFNS 2023 Nurse Migration Report (Bakhshi, Álvarez, Cook, Maiyer — CGFNS International, Inc.), NCSBN NCLEX examination statistics.
NCLEX-RN testing centers in Kenya
Kenya has an NCLEX testing center operated by Pearson VUE:
- Nairobi
Source: Pearson VUE / NCSBN international NCLEX testing center list. Locations may change quarterly — verify on nclex.com before scheduling.
What you'll need to clear in Kenya
Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) handles credential verification.