LETTER TO NEW YORK TIMES
REGARDING RN SHORTAGE

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Since 1982, our law firm has helped health care facilities across the U.S. to obtain temporary visas and permanent residence for over 5,000 RN's. The following letter appeared in the March 29, 1999 issue of the New York Times.

March 25, 1999

To the Editor,

Re: "Registered Nurses in Short Supply at Hospitals Nationwide" (news article, March 23):

From the 1950's to the mid-90's, American hospitals imported several thousand foreign-born nurses each year. These nurses jumped through hoops to relocate, pass state licensing exams and deal with immigration red tape, yet their contributions were essential to the maintenance of the American health care system.

In 1995, Congress allowed the law that permitted foreign-born RN's to obtain temporary visas to the U.S. to expire, this despite a Government study which urged that the program be extended indefinitely. In 1996, Congress placed additional restrictions on the ability of foreign-born nurses to obtain permanent residence. With the number of new American nursing grads dropping each year, Congress should bring back a program that was working well.

Carl Shusterman
Los Angeles, March 25, 1999
The writer is an immigration lawyer.

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