Immigration Pathway: Come to the U.S. to Work as a Physical Therapist if You Want to Immigrate!
Come to the U.S. to Work as a Physical Therapist if You Want to Immigrate!
Attorneys:Attorney Jeff Zhengquan Xie,Attorney Jiarui Yin,Attorney Qian Zhao,Attorney Haochun Ling, Xiao Xiang
Many people go through high school, then college, then graduate school. After completing their graduate studies, they find it hard to land a job in their field, so they go back to school to pursue a master’s degree in another discipline.
Even after earning two or three master’s degrees, they still opt to pursue a doctoral degree!
Approaching the age of thirty, they are still struggling with job hunting and worrying about obtaining permanent residency in the U.S.
We do not intend to discourage students who have worked diligently to earn advanced degrees, nor does this article negate the efforts and value of higher education. We simply aim to offer a new perspective on immigration for readers interested in relocating to the U.S.
U.S. immigration law favors foreign professionals with advanced education, but it does not only prioritize highly educated individuals for immigration.
What many people do not realize is that a foreign physical therapist may find it easier to immigrate to the U.S. than a foreign national with an advanced academic degree.
A Physical Therapist is a healthcare professional who specializes in preventing, treating, and managing movement disorders caused by illness or injury.
Physical therapists typically use modalities, manual therapy, and exercise (collectively known as physical therapy), supplemented by assistive technologies, to enhance patients’ physical function and improve their quality of life.
The physical therapy services they provide play a crucial role in facilitating patients’ speedy recovery.
Physical therapists usually work in hospitals and clinics, collaborating with physicians to help patients regain physical and mental functional abilities.
However, this profession has long faced a severe talent shortage in the U.S. For this reason, U.S. immigration law actively welcomes professionals in this field to immigrate.
Under U.S. immigration regulations, many highly educated professionals must first undergo the labor certification process administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Only after labor certification is approved can U.S. employers file immigration petitions on their behalf.
In contrast, foreign physical therapists do not need to go through the Department of Labor certification process and can file immigration applications directly with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This eliminates a time-consuming, cumbersome, costly, and potentially unsuccessful step.
From this perspective, we advise foreign students pursuing degrees in fields with limited practical applications to consider switching careers as early as possible.
Why?
There are numerous reasons, and examples are readily available.
Computer programmers will soon be replaced by AI robots, as robots can write code much faster than humans and do not require rest.
But AI robots will likely struggle to replace physical therapists—or at least cannot fully take over their roles.
A degree in business administration was once highly sought-after and prestigious, yet foreign graduates now find it difficult to secure jobs that truly match their qualifications in the U.S.
Why?
Either there is an oversupply of such talent, or U.S. companies are reluctant to hire a newly graduated foreign national to manage company or department operations.
Physical therapy is different. Professionals in this field are inherently in short supply in the U.S. job market.
Not only does this profession offer a shortcut in immigration, but it also provides competitive compensation:
According to online data from sources such as
www.salary.com, the salary range for entry-level physical therapists in the Atlanta area is between $62,564 and $100,817.
By comparison, it may not be the highest-paying job, but it is more than sufficient for a comfortable living. Is that not the case?
The above overview is prepared by XIE LAW OFFICES,LLC. to provide legal information to the Chinese community. It is primarily for academic discussion purposes and does not constitute legal advice on specific cases. If you already have legal representation, please consult your own attorney, who is familiar with the details of your case. Clients of Xie & Associates Law Firm, as well as readers who have not yet retained legal counsel, may contact Attorney Xie for specific legal questions. If you wish to reprint this document, please do so in full without any deletions, and clearly indicate the source.
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