Working in the USA for Filipinos — Complete Guide 2026
The United States has the largest Filipino diaspora in the world, with over 4 million Filipino Americans. From nurses and IT professionals to engineers and caregivers, Filipinos are deeply embedded in the American workforce. This guide covers every visa pathway, job opportunity, and settlement option.
Filipino-American Statistics: Filipinos are the 3rd largest Asian American group. Over 150,000 Filipino-trained nurses work in the US. California, Hawaii, Texas, New York, and Illinois have the largest Filipino populations.
US Work Visa Options
H-1B (Specialty Occupation)
- For: IT professionals, engineers, accountants, architects, scientists requiring at least a bachelor's degree
- Cap: 85,000 per year (65,000 regular + 20,000 US master's). Lottery system in March for October start.
- Duration: 3 years, renewable to 6 years. Can lead to green card.
- Salary: Must meet prevailing wage for the occupation and location
- Employer sponsorship required
EB-3 (Employment-Based Green Card)
- For: Nurses, physical therapists, and other professionals with employer petition
- Process: Labour Certification (PERM) → I-140 petition → Immigrant visa or Adjustment of Status
- Wait time: Currently 2-5 years for Philippines-born applicants due to visa backlogs
- Result: Permanent resident (green card) from day one of arrival
- Most common pathway for Filipino nurses
Family-Based Immigration
- Immediate Relative: Spouse, parent, or unmarried child under 21 of US citizen. No quota, but processing takes 1-2 years.
- Family Preference: Siblings (F4 category). Wait time for Filipinos: 20-24 years (longest in the world due to per-country caps and high demand).
Other Visa Options
- J-1 (Exchange Visitor): Internships, training, au pair, teacher exchange. 1-3 years.
- L-1 (Intracompany Transfer): Managers/executives transferred from Philippine office to US office.
- O-1 (Extraordinary Ability): Artists, scientists, athletes, business professionals with exceptional achievements.
- DV Lottery: Philippines is NOT eligible (has sent more than 50,000 immigrants in the past 5 years).
Nursing in the USA — The Primary Pathway
Nursing remains the #1 profession for Filipino immigration to the USA. The typical pathway:
- CGFNS Certification — Credential evaluation through Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (4-8 months, ~USD 445)
- NCLEX-RN — US nursing licensure exam. Available at Pearson VUE centres in Manila and Cebu. Fee: USD 200. Pass rate for Filipino nurses: ~35-42%.
- VisaScreen — Immigration clearance certificate verifying education, licence, and English (USD 540)
- Employer Petition — Hospital or staffing agency files EB-3 green card petition
- Immigrant Visa Interview — At US Embassy Manila after priority date becomes current
- State Licensure — Some states (California) have additional requirements
Nurse Salary by State
| State | Average Salary | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|
| California | USD 120,000-150,000 | Very High |
| Hawaii | USD 100,000-125,000 | Very High |
| New York | USD 95,000-125,000 | High (NYC) |
| Texas | USD 75,000-100,000 | Moderate |
| Florida | USD 68,000-90,000 | Moderate |
| Illinois | USD 78,000-105,000 | Moderate (Chicago) |
Cost of Living & Salary Overview
Average Salaries by Profession (Filipino workers)
- Registered Nurse: USD 70,000-145,000/year
- Software Engineer: USD 80,000-160,000/year
- Mechanical Engineer: USD 65,000-100,000/year
- Accountant: USD 55,000-85,000/year
- Physical Therapist: USD 70,000-95,000/year
- Caregiver: USD 30,000-45,000/year
Tax & Deductions
US taxes are complex. Federal tax: 10-37% (progressive). State tax: 0-13.3% (varies — California highest, Texas/Florida/Nevada have no state income tax). Social Security: 6.2%. Medicare: 1.45%. Typical take-home is 65-75% of gross salary.
Filipino Community in the USA
- Largest communities: Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Honolulu, New York City, Chicago, San Diego, Las Vegas, Houston, Seattle
- Filipino-town (Historic Filipinotown): Los Angeles — designated cultural district
- Filipino restaurants & grocery: Jollibee (200+ US locations), Seafood City supermarkets, Max's Restaurant
- Philippine Consulates: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Agana (Guam)
- Community organisations: Filipino American National Historical Society, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)
Related Pages
Philippine Embassy DC
Address: 1600 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: +1 202-467-9300